The Tamesis
Two hours before Justin Bieber kicked off his 2026 Coachella performance last night, I found myself getting closer to the main stage, where the Canadian pop star and late millennial icon would perform at 11:25 p.m. Some of the die-hards (Justin’s most ardent fans) were already camped out near the barricades out front. I want a decent place, to some extentalso. “Do you think he’ll do ‘Baby’?” a young man in his 20s asked me as we waited in the crowd. By this time, my knees were sore. More questions came: “Who do you think he’ll bring on stage?” “Where will Haley be?”
After a long wait (no sip Water because toilet breaks are not allowed! ), he arrived almost Our questions were answered on time, but Justin Bieber had his own questions for the audience. It had been four years since his last big live performance, and he repeated several times throughout the set: “How far back do you have to go?”
Bieber started off completely alone on stage with one of his new songs, “All I Can Take.” In true JB fashion, he wore an oversized pink hoodie and baggy shorts, both from his own brand SKYLRK. And then there are the rest of his tracks swag and Booty II Album: He sang “Speed Demon,” “Go Baby,” “Everything Hallelujah” — and on the latter song, the camera panned to his wife Hailey Bieber in the crowd, watching lovingly and singing along. “Haley baby, hallelujah…baby Jack hallelujah…” he sang. The crowd went wild and my own screams echoed in my ears.
Photo: Getty Images
When Bieber was first announced as a 2026 headliner, there was immediate excitement, but also some trepidation. After all, his performance at Coachella was his biggest live show in years after he canceled his Justice World Tour due to health concerns. In the years since, he has withdrawn from the public eye to focus on fatherhood. Then he fell swag. Then he started performing some intimate shows. but he can deal with Such a high-pressure program?
His performance last night was filled with his new age and vast back catalogue, all accompanied by Bieber’s signature, smooth voice. The onstage visuals are trippy and colorful – like you’re high, except you don’t have to be (although some people are!) because your teen pop heartthrob is right in front of you on stage. “He is Su Sexy. another whispered to her friend behind me. I had to agree.
