Indio, California – Sabrina Carpenter took fans on a nostalgic journey through a Hollywood-themed fantasy world on Friday as Coachella wrapped up its first day in the California desert.
The 26-year-old headliner packed 20 songs into a Tinseltown-inspired set complete with A-lister cameos, vintage film props, and a “Sabrinawood” billboard in huge white letters.
The Manchild singer made her Coachella debut in 2024, the year she released her catchy summer smash Espresso.
“Two years ago, I wanted to put on a little song for Coachella,” Carpenter said on Friday as fans belted out the words to the megahit.
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Her performance also included live debuts from her latest album, Man’s Best Friend, as well as appearances from Susan Sarandon and Will Ferrell.
The star-studded Coachella line-up – which also features headliners Justin Bieber and Colombia’s Karol G – will grace the stage in Indio on two consecutive weekends, kicking off the US music festival circuit for 2026.
The party continues across Coachella’s nine stages on Saturday, with a heavy dose of yesteryear’s biggest stars.
The 90s are back with industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails, who will team up with German producer Boys Noize for a performance, and the aughts will be repped by New York City rockers The Strokes – who are slated to release a new album in June after a six-year hiatus.
But peak nostalgia may hit like a bout of “Bieber fever,” on the heels of the 32-year-old singer’s comeback at the Grammy Awards this year, with hits such as Sorry and Where Are U Now.
The night will also feature performances by techno stalwarts like Armin van Buuren and Adam Beyer, K-pop stars such as Taemin, and British dance sensation PinkPantheress.
French DJ and producer David Guetta returns to the desert in Indio, and David Byrne, the legendary co-founder of Talking Heads, will make an appearance.
