Justin Bieber headlines Coachella with nostalgia-fuelled set
Justin Bieber headlines Coachella with nostalgia-fuelled set
A tribute to his roots on the iconic stage
Justin Bieber returned to Coachella’s main stage as the much-anticipated headliner, delivering a performance steeped in nostalgia. At 32, the singer spent much of Saturday night’s show seated before a laptop, singing to pre-recorded YouTube versions of his older tracks, including “Baby” and “Never Say Never.” This choice delighted fans, with Bieber seemingly paying homage to the platform that launched his career.
During the concert, he also revisited early clips from his teenage years, showcasing them on a large screen and engaging with live comments on the YouTube stream of his set. This marked his most significant live appearance in four years, following the cancellation of his Justice world tour due to health issues. Bieber had previously revealed he was diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome in 2022, a condition linked to shingles that caused facial paralysis.
“It’s not clocking to you, I’m standing on business,” Bieber declared in a viral moment from his set, sparking discussions about his mental state.
His performance began with a solo appearance on an otherwise empty stage, featuring tracks from his surprise 2025 albums *Swag* and *Swag II*. After inviting the audience to embark on a “journey,” he revisited past hits, repeatedly asking fans: “How far back do you go?” The set also included a clip that had recently gone viral, adding a reflective tone to his return.
Bieber’s appearance was accompanied by musical guests such as The Kid Laroi, Wizkid, Tems, and Dijon. His wife, Hailey Bieber, and celebrity couple Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner were also seen in the crowd. In contrast to the previous night’s performance by Sabrina Carpenter, whose Hollywood-themed show featured costume changes and intricate stage setups, Bieber’s set was more stripped-back, focusing on a personal and nostalgic narrative.
Karol G will take the stage on Sunday as the next headliner at the California desert festival. Coachella, held over two weekends at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, attracts more than 100,000 attendees daily and has been a staple since 2002.
