Justin Bieber will headline Coachella this year – where Sabrina Carpenter and Karol G will also perform – and insiders believe this will “the start of an exciting new era”
Justin Bieber will make history at Coachella – and pundits feel it’ll be “the start of an exciting new era”.
The superstar is set to headline the 2026 festival and reportedly negotiated his terms directly with Goldenvoice, the festival’s promoter. He’s managed to secure a record-breaking paycheck of more than $10 million (£7.3 million), it is understood, which makes him the highest-paid performer in the event’s history.
Sources told Rolling Stone it is “a groundbreaking move” for Bieber, 31, who follows in the footsteps of the likes of Post Malone, Travis Scott, Green Day and Lady Gaga in headlining at the two-weekend festival in Indio, California. An insider said: “Between headlining Coachella and the success of Swag, it’s clear this is the start of an exciting new era for Justin — one where he’s fully in the driver’s seat… It’s a groundbreaking move for a headliner, and it’s something he built entirely on his own.”
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Sources say Bieber’s fee surpasses $5 million (£3.6 million) per weekend, a figure that puts him well above past Coachella payouts. Alongside Justin, the two Saturdays are set to include the likes of the Strokes, Addison Rae and Labrinth.
Sabrina will headline both Fridays, which are due to also feature performances from the XX, KATSEYE and Teddy Swims. Each Sunday will see headliner Karol G, as well as other acts like Young Thug, Wet Leg and FKA twigs, take to the stage.
Bieber recently released Swag, which was his first album since 2021, in July, and then followed it with the double album Swag II earlier this month. Prior to Swag’s release, Justin had sparked concern among fans with posts on social media, including one that hinted at a “detox”.
His new material has been realeased without assistance wirth an agent and so, crucially, the singer-songwriter also won’t be handing over a chunk of the Coachella fee to an agent, a departure from the norm which leaves him with one of the most lucrative festival deals ever struck.
Although Coachella never reveals how much they pay artists, speculative reports online have surfaced over the years for past acts. Bad Bunny, who was one of the headliners for 2023’s Coachella, allegedly got paid $5 million (£3.6 million), per the Trapital Podcast. Meanwhile, The Weeknd reportedly asked for $8.5 million and Ariana Grande is said to have taken home $8 million (£5.8 million).
Goldenvoice’s parent company, AEG, has long partnered with Bieber on his touring career, but it is thought this marks the first time he’s personally stepped into the negotiating room.