Justin Bieber headlines Coachella with nostalgia-fuelled set

Justin Bieber headlines Coachella with nostalgia-fuelled set

Justin Bieber returned to the main stage at Coachella, the highly anticipated headliner, with a performance steeped in nostalgia. At 32, the pop star embraced a retro aesthetic, showcasing tracks from his early career while engaging with fans through digital elements. His set included renditions of older hits like “Baby” and “Never Say Never,” presented via YouTube clips, offering a unique tribute to the platform that launched his fame.

The artist also incorporated home videos from his teenage years, projecting them onto the stage for a personal touch. Bieber appeared to engage with live comments on the YouTube stream, creating an interactive experience for the audience. This marked his largest live event in four years, following the cancellation of his Justice world tour due to health challenges.

Bieber began the show solo on an unadorned stage, performing songs from his 2025 albums “Swag” and “Swag II.” He then invited the crowd on a “journey,” prompting him to revisit older tracks. A recurring question to the audience was: “How far back do you go?” The set featured a viral clip where Bieber addressed a photographer, stating:

“It’s not clocking to you, I’m standing on business.”

Dressed in a hoodie and shorts, Bieber’s performance was accompanied by a mix of musical collaborators, including The Kid Laroi, Wizkid, Tems, and Dijon. His wife, Hailey Bieber, was spotted in the audience, along with celebrity pairs like Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner. The singer had previously canceled his tour after a 2022 diagnosis of Ramsay Hunt syndrome, a condition linked to shingles, which caused facial paralysis.

Following his Grammy Awards appearance in February, Bieber released a surprise album in July 2025. His Coachella set contrasted sharply with Sabrina Carpenter’s Hollywood-themed performance the night before, which featured costume changes and elaborate staging. Colombian pop star Karol G will take the stage on Sunday as the festival’s next headliner, continuing the two-weekend event in the California desert.

Coachella, held at the Empire Polo Club in Indio since 2002, attracts over 100,000 attendees daily. Bieber’s return to the festival highlighted his evolution as an artist while paying homage to his roots, blending past and present in a way that resonated with longtime fans and newcomers alike.