Sabrina Carpenter, Justin Bieber and Karol G headline the 25th edition at Empire Polo Club in Indio
The California desert is alive again. Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival returned today for its landmark 25th edition, drawing thousands of fans to the Empire Polo Club in Indio for what promises to be one of the most talked-about lineups in the festival’s history. Running across two consecutive weekends from April 10 to 19, the event features three of the biggest names in pop music sharing headline billing, and that is before factoring in the viral chaos that leaked rehearsal footage of Justin Bieber has already unleashed on the resale ticket market.
Sabrina Carpenter opens the 25th edition
Sabrina Carpenter took the headline slot on opening night, delivering what she described ahead of the festival as the most ambitious production of her career. The Manchild singer first appeared at Coachella in 2024, the same year her song Espresso became one of the defining pop moments of the summer. Today’s performance marks a significant step up in scale, and anticipation has been building for weeks among fans who have followed her rise closely.
Sharing the bill on opening night were emerging artist Teddy Swims, girl group KATSEYE, and veteran electronic artist Moby. Closing out the first night was Italian DJ Anyma, who premiered a new immersive audiovisual production called ÆDEN, which is set to tour internationally after Coachella, with stops in Milan, London and Seoul.
@nowtoronto Justin Bieber is set to headline one of the biggest music festivals this weekend, #Coachella, ♬ original sound – Now Toronto
Justin Bieber’s return sends ticket prices soaring
Saturday belongs to Justin Bieber, and the frenzy surrounding his appearance has taken on a life of its own. Leaked footage of his rehearsals circulated widely this week, showing the 32-year-old running through a setlist packed with fan favorites from across his career, including Sorry, One Less Lonely Girl and Boyfriend. The clips made clear that rather than previewing new material, Bieber is leaning fully into a nostalgia-driven performance, and that revelation sent resale prices into overdrive almost immediately.
Weekend passes that originally went on sale for $649 back in September have since climbed to nearly $4,000 on the secondary market. Bieber last performed on tour in 2022 before cutting the run short following a diagnosis of Ramsay Hunt syndrome, and with uncertainty still surrounding his future touring plans, fans appear determined not to miss what feels like a rare opportunity.
Saturday’s bill extends well beyond Bieber, with techno heavyweights Armin van Buuren and Adam Beyer, K-pop star Taemin, British dance artist PinkPantheress, French DJ and producer David Guetta, and Talking Heads co-founder David Byrne all set to perform. One of the more intriguing additions is Nine Inch Noize, a new collaboration between industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails and German producer Boys Noize, who recently announced a joint album. The main stage also makes room for influencer-turned-artist Addison Rae alongside New York rock band The Strokes, who return after a six-year break with a new album arriving in June.
Karol G makes Coachella history on Sunday
Sunday’s headline slot goes to Karol G, who becomes the first Latina artist to headline Coachella. The Colombian reggaeton star, an eight-time Latin Grammy Award winner, made her Coachella debut in 2022 with a widely praised performance that honored Latin music legends including Selena, Celia Cruz and Daddy Yankee. This year she is expected to channel the vibrant Caribbean showgirl aesthetic of her latest project, Tropicoqueta.
Sunday also marks the long-awaited festival debut of South Korean group BIGBANG, celebrating their 20th anniversary with a high-profile return to the international stage. Rounding out the day are punk legend Iggy Pop, electronic music icon Fatboy Slim, Major Lazer, indie-pop band Foster the People and British artist FKA twigs.
The entire festival closes with something entirely different: a screening under the desert sky of the first episode of the third season of Euphoria, the HBO drama starring Zendaya, making its return to television after a four-year absence. For those who cannot make it to Indio, the full festival will stream live on YouTube throughout both weekends.