Beliebers” were celebrating the return of pop superstar Justin Bieber on Saturday, ahead of his return to major stages with a headlining appearance on the second day of the Coachella music festival.The Canadian singer of “Sorry” will appear at the event in Indio, California as festival season kicks off in the United States.This is what I’ve been looking forward to for months,” 28-year-old Alexis Sierra said as she entered the venue just after gates opened.
Held in the scorching California desert, where the beating sun pushed the thermometer to 86 F (30 C) early Saturday, thousands of the “Baby” singer’s fans — known as Beliebers — took over the festival grounds sporting clothing, hats and banners paying tribute to their idol.
Bieber hasn’t performed at a venue of Coachella’s size since 2022, when he appeared at Rock in Rio in Brazil before canceling the remainder of his international tour due to health issues.
The singer announced he was diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome, a shingles outbreak that can cause facial paralysis.
Over the past year, he’s made a gradual return to the scene.
In 2025, Bieber released the album “Swag.” The rollout saw the star perform the single “Yukon” while stripped down to his boxers at the Grammys in February.
The release was quickly followed by “Swag II,” his eighth studio album.
While Bieber has recently played smaller shows, Coachella is expected to mark his full-scale comeback.
“We WILL be singing at the top of our lungs on Saturday,” Bieber promised in an Instagram post this week.en
Justin Bieber fans flood Coachella festival for headlining show
Indio (United States) (AFP) – “Beliebers” were celebrating the return of pop superstar Justin Bieber on Saturday, ahead of his return to major stages with a headlining appearance on the second day of the Coachella music festival.
Issued on: 12/04/2026 – 02:31
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Thousands converged on the California desert for the Coachella music festival
Thousands converged on the California desert for the Coachella music festival © VALERIE MACON / AFP
The Canadian singer of “Sorry” will appear at the event in Indio, California as festival season kicks off in the United States.
“This is what I’ve been looking forward to for months,” 28-year-old Alexis Sierra said as she entered the venue just after gates opened.
Held in the scorching California desert, where the beating sun pushed the thermometer to 86 F (30 C) early Saturday, thousands of the “Baby” singer’s fans — known as Beliebers — took over the festival grounds sporting clothing, hats and banners paying tribute to their idol.
Bieber hasn’t performed at a venue of Coachella’s size since 2022, when he appeared at Rock in Rio in Brazil before canceling the remainder of his international tour due to health issues.
The singer announced he was diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome, a shingles outbreak that can cause facial paralysis.
Over the past year, he’s made a gradual return to the scene.
In 2025, Bieber released the album “Swag.” The rollout saw the star perform the single “Yukon” while stripped down to his boxers at the Grammys in February.
The release was quickly followed by “Swag II,” his eighth studio album.
While Bieber has recently played smaller shows, Coachella is expected to mark his full-scale comeback.
“We WILL be singing at the top of our lungs on Saturday,” Bieber promised in an Instagram post this week.
Eclectic offerings
Musician Mark Mothersbaugh of Devo performs at Coachella
Musician Mark Mothersbaugh of Devo performs at Coachella © VALERIE MACON / AFP
Other acts in the spotlight Saturday include Nine Inch Noize, the collaboration between legendary industrial band Nine Inch Nails and German producer Boys Noize, who also have an album on the way.
Nate Martin, 24, said they were his main draw to Saturday’s show.
“Industrial, electro combined? Gonna be mental,” he told AFP.
With nine stages, the festival will host a wide range of genres, including Brazil’s Luisa Sonza, influencer-turned-singer Addison Rae, Britain’s PinkPantheress, K-pop star Taemin and David Byrne, the legendary co-founder of the band Talking Heads.
New York City rockers The Strokes will also be back on stage after a years-long hiatus.
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