I have major fomo from not dancing in the desert this weekend, but here are 10 songs from my favorite artists who performed at the 2026 Coachella Music Festival!
The first time I danced in the desert was in 2023, the year Frank Ocean was set to headline and then famously canceled weekend two, which just happened to be my debut weekend. I remember missing class because I was literally sobbing, not knowing if I’d ever get the chance to see him perform. My friends had to convince me to stick it out. Our living arrangements were already set, our outfits were planned, and the excitement for the festival had been building for weeks.
I’m so glad they did, because it ended up being one of the best weekends of my life. Even though Blink-182 stepped in last minute for my “nowhere to be found” GOAT Frank Ocean, I still had an amazing time.
This year’s lineup didn’t really move me at first, until I started scrolling and instantly felt the FOMO. So here are some of my favorites that performed, while I watched front row from my bed, streaming on YouTube!
“Another Baby!”- Dijon
If I could create my own Coachella lineup, Dijon would most definitely headline all three days. Ever since his debut album Absolutely, the Washington State–born producer, singer, and songwriter has won me over with his soulful yet folk-like, raspy voice. His influence over the past couple of years has arguably pushed the 33-year-old into the mainstream, as he was a co-producer of Justin Bieber’s latest album SWAG, which debuted with 163,000 album units in the U.S. in its first week.
“CRANK”- Slayyyter
I had no idea who Slayyyter was until I saw her Coachella debut performance, but after watching the festival’s YouTube livestream from my bedside, I converted into a fan. The St. Louis–born singer took the Mojave Stage at 3 p.m., which is quite early for a set and considered an amateur slot, but her high-energy performance attracted a crowd so big it was described as a career-defining moment, as the audience was spilling out of the tent. The electro-pop sound is something I’m adjusting to, but her catchy delivery is so infectious that I found myself studying her discography.
“YUKON”- Justin Bieber
“Bieberchella” was easily one of the hottest topics over the weekend. Like most tweens in the 2010s, I grew up a Belieber, so hearing Justin Bieber sing his older songs felt a little healing. At the same time, there’s been a lot of online discourse calling the performance underwhelming. Some people pointed out that if artists like Beyoncé or Taylor Swift sat and casually sang along to old YouTube videos, they’d probably face way harsher criticism. Others have said this might’ve been one of the only ways Bieber could revisit those fan-favorite songs, since he sold his music catalog in 2023 to his former manager Scooter Braun.
“Point and Kill”- Little Simz
The British aren’t coming, they’re already here. UK artists have been steadily captivating U.S. audiences, and Little Simz is easily at the top of that list. Blending neo-soul and hip-hop, the North London rapper brought a grounded but powerful energy to the Mojave stage, calling out political issues and music industry chaos while still keeping the crowd fully locked in.I’d love to see her live in the near future.
I hope you enjoyed the read! For more content, follow me on Instagram and Spotify:@sydneyy._
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