Coachella 2026: Justin Bieber launches a big comeback in the desert | Coachella

Justin Bieber is gearing up for a big return to performing live at this year’s Coachella festival, where rainy weather is expected to be a spoiler.

The Canadian singer will face his biggest live stage since abandoning his 2022 tour due to health concerns. Bieber suffered from “complete paralysis” on one side of his face after being diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome. “I wish it wasn’t like that, but obviously my body is telling me I have to slow down,” he said at the time.

Last year, he said that the idea of ​​touring again was “very discouraging” for him and that he was not planning to tour officially anytime soon. “I’m putting on a great show for you guys at Coachella, to get ready and get inspired,” he also told fans on Twitch.

Held in California’s Coachella Valley, the annual music festival will host approximately 125,000 music fans daily on seven stages presenting a diverse lineup of artists including fellow superstars Sabrina Carpenter and Karol G. Other artists include Moby, EZ, David Byrne, Addison Rae, The Strokes, Somber, Iggy Pop, Ethel Kane and Labrinth over the course of two weekends.

Tickets sold out in just three days, an encouraging sign of fan interest for the second year in a row after the 2024 edition suffered the slowest sales so far.

Coachella is also set to host the return of The xx, where they will play their first major festival in eight years before releasing their first album since 2017. Last week saw a surprise show in Mexico City, heralded as “the beginning of our next chapter together.”

Carpenter, who is performing at Coachella in 2024, promised that her headlining set would be the “most ambitious” show she has ever performed. “This is probably the most time I’ve ever spent sitting down and talking about the show while we were building it,” she said in an interview with Marc Jacobs this week.

On Sunday, Colombian singer Karol G will become the first-ever Latin star at Coachella. She recently spoke out about being warned against making any anti-ICE statements due to concerns it could affect her visa. “You become bait, because some people want to show their power,” she said in an interview with Playboy magazine. She also added that she was “willing to say” ICE out but “this is something that goes beyond what I need to do to protect myself.”

This week’s schedule sees the surprise addition of Jack White while no-shows will include punk duo Lambrini Girls after guitarist Phoebe Looney announced on Instagram that she is suffering from a “severe brain injury”. Girl group Katseye member Manon will also miss the festival as she is still on hiatus to “focus on her health and well-being.”

After last year saw near-record temperatures, rising to 102 F (39 C), leading to an increase in heat-related visits to nearby hospitals, this weekend sees the potential for rain. Previous reports of a possible thunderstorm have since been downgraded, but the weather will still see a dramatic shift from its 2025 highs.