This past week, Coachella 2026 took place during April 10–12 and April 17–19. One artist completely broke the internet after many people believed he might never perform again: Justin Bieber. Fans online even started calling this year’s festival “Bieberchella.”
Justin Bieber, who is known for his hit song Baby, was only 15 years old when the song was released in 2010. Before becoming famous, Bieber was discovered by Usher at just 13 years old after posting covers of popular songs on YouTube. Throughout his career, Bieber has dealt with constant pressure from the music industry, growing up in the public eye, and personal struggles involving his mental and physical health. According to The Guardian, Bieber stepped away from touring in 2022 after being diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome, which caused partial facial paralysis.
This year’s Coachella featured Bieber’s first major festival performance in years, which made fans extremely emotional and excited to see him back on stage. Many fans believed he would never fully return to performing after he openly talked about how overwhelming fame and touring had become for him.
Justin Bieber’s Coachella performance quickly became one of the most talked-about moments of the festival. According to reports from Parade, Bieber was reportedly paid around $10 million for the performance, making it one of the highest-paid performances in Coachella history. His set also generated huge amounts of attention online, with clips all over TikTok, Instagram, and X. Fans especially loved hearing Bieber perform older songs that reminded them of the early 2010s.
Many fans, especially longtime “Beliebers,” said that 2026 is starting to feel like “2016 all over again” because of all the nostalgia surrounding Bieber’s return. Social media was flooded with emotional reactions from fans who grew up listening to him. Many people online even said Bieber was the real star of Coachella this year.
Fans also praised Justin Bieber’s wife, Hailey Bieber, for supporting him throughout his comeback. Videos of Hailey singing along in the crowd went viral online, and fans called their relationship “sweet” and “supportive.” Billie Eilish was also spotted supporting Bieber during the performance, which fans loved seeing online.
Although some people criticized the performance for being more emotional and less energetic than other Coachella sets, many fans defended Bieber and said the performance felt authentic and personal.
Whether people loved the performance or not, Justin Bieber’s return became one of the biggest moments of Coachella 2026 and reminded many fans why they became Beliebers in the first place.
Sources
- The Guardian
- Parade
- Pitchfork
- Vogue
