Justin Bieber headlines Coachella with nostalgia-fuelled set
Justin Bieber headlines Coachella with nostalgia-fuelled set
Justin Bieber returned to the Coachella stage for a performance that blended nostalgia with modernity, marking his largest live event in four years. After canceling his Justice world tour due to health challenges, the 32-year-old singer brought a unique approach to the gig, incorporating elements that paid homage to his early career.
A Nostalgic Reunion with His Roots
During the show, Bieber frequently referenced his older hits, including “Baby” and “Never Say Never,” by performing them in front of a laptop while displaying YouTube clips. The act seemed to honor the platform that launched his career, as he also shared home videos from his teenage years, which were projected onto the stage. These moments added a personal touch, with Bieber engaging with live comments on the YouTube stream.
He opened the set solo on a minimalist stage, showcasing tracks from his 2025 albums *Swag* and *Swag II*. Then, he invited the audience to join him on a “journey” through his musical history, repeatedly asking,
“How far back do you go?”
The performance included a viral clip from earlier in the year, where Bieber addressed a photographer with the line:
“It’s not clocking to you, I’m standing on business.”
Health Challenges and New Musical Ventures
Bieber’s absence from the stage had been due to health issues, including facial paralysis caused by Ramsay Hunt syndrome—a condition linked to shingles—diagnosed in 2022. Despite this, he released *Swag* in July 2025 and made a live appearance at the Grammy Awards in February. His Coachella set offered a stark contrast to the previous night’s act by Sabrina Carpenter, who had embraced a Hollywood-inspired aesthetic with costumes and elaborate staging.
The performance also featured collaborations with artists like The Kid Laroi, Wizkid, Tems, and Dijon. Hailey Bieber, his wife, was seen in the crowd, alongside celebrities Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner. The festival, held over two weekends in the California desert, continues to attract over 100,000 visitors daily, having been hosted at Indio’s Empire Polo Club since 2002. Karol G will headline Sunday’s event, rounding out the lineup for the weekend-long celebration.
