The first weekend of Coachella 2026 is over. It was quite the three days out in the desert, too. Pop stars made head-turning creative choices, rock favorites brought boundless energy, and icons continued to innovate. Consequently, there were so many great sets and individual moments worth looking back on. The weather offered some scares, but ultimately, the festival will be remembered by the highlights. So far, after just one weekend, Coachella has proven there’s so much to love about the never-boring contemporary music landscape.
Turnstile
Turnstile’s big moment came at a sensitive time for the band. At the start of their set, the band played a set of pre-recorded videos, one of which was from the elder Yates, which got some big cheers from the audience. Once the show got going, it boasted the classic Turnstile intensity, complete with a mosh pit, Brendan crowd-surfing, and favorites like “Never Enough” and “Blackout.”
Not For Radio
After a long day trudging across festival grounds in the hot sun, it’s a big ask to show up to a late-night set. It’s not nearly as bad, though, when you’re staying up for Not For Radio, the solo project of The Marías’ María Zardoya. She went on at around midnight on Friday, but her gorgeous sleepy-hours performance was worth pushing the limits of fatigue.
Sabrina Carpenter
Sabrina Carpenter’s set was a spectacle, featuring appearances from Sam Elliott, Susan Sarandon, Will Ferrell, and Samuel L. Jackson. The whole thing was showmanship at its finest.
Geese
Geese were at it again at Coachella this past weekend, throwing in a snippet of Justin Bieber’s “Baby,” presumably as a nod to Bieber headlining the fest.
Nine Inch Noize
Nine Inch Nails have welcomed a new collaborator into their creative universe: Boys Noize. They joined forces as Nine Inch Noize, making their big debut at Coachella with a set full of masterful re-workings.
PinkPantheress
PinkPantheress went heavy on the collaborators, sharing the stage with The Dare and Thundercat, proving her ability to shine both with partners and on her own.
Justin Bieber
Bieber was perhaps the biggest star in the desert last weekend, but his set was one of the most divisive. Having a YouTube watch party on stage at the biggest festival in the world is a big swing, but it’s one that paid off as the headlining set turned into a fun, casual, nostalgia-fueled hang.
Sombr
Sombr’s performance was highlighted by bringing Billy Corgan on stage for “1979.” It was endearing to see him just be a fan, too.
Wet Leg
Wet Leg’s late-afternoon set was full of energy and charm, and even a surprise appearance from Horsegiirl.
FKA Twigs
FKA Twigs brought back her pole-dancing prowess for a particularly moving rendition of “Cellophane,” and it was a striking way to put a bow on Weekend 1.
