Coachella season is in full force. The 2026 edition of arguably the world’s largest and most exciting music festival has kicked off, with Weekend 1 taking the world by storm. On the desert grounds in Indio, California, headliner Sabrina Carpenter brought pure old Hollywood drama to the stage—with elaborate set design, special effects and four different looks (which came courtesy of Jonathan Anderson at Dior). Borrowing elements from her newly-released music video for ‘House Tour’, Carpenter’s over-the-top set was a display of theatrical extravagance.
On the other hand, Justin Bieber, perhaps the most anticipated act of this year’s festival, brought a pared-down energy to the Coachella desert. His performance was stripped back and simple—no back-up dancers, or grand sets. It was just Bieber, his vocals and a hit of nostalgia. And who could forget the performance of legendary K-pop group BigBang? This Coachella performance—which saw the trio performing a slew of mega hits—marked the first time in years that the group officially performed on stage, much to the excitement of OG fans of the genre.
The excitement wasn’t limited to the stages, though. In true Coachella fashion, the desert transforms annually into a dazzling display of playful, experimental style. Recall the boho-chic ensembles of Vanessa Hudgens and Kendall Jenner, whose expertise in dressing for the desert cemented their status as certified fashion darlings. While festival style has surely evolved in more recent years, one thing remains true: Coachella is as much about fashion as it is about music.
This year, Coachella dressing has seen a resurgence of maximalist looks. In the desert, typical fashion rules don’t apply. Rather, it’s about standing out from the crowd. Case in point: Paris Hilton’s vivid take on layering. For the 2026 edition of Coachella, the blonde Barbie opted for a patchwork top and a voluminous reworked mini skirt, before pulling the look together with stacks of bangles, bracelets and necklaces.
Hilton wasn’t the only one who aced festival fashion. Hailey Bieber sported a vintage Dior silk slip dress from the maison’s fall/winter 1998 collection for her brand Rhode’s on-ground activations. At her husband’s headlining set, she was joined by festival regulars Kylie and Kendall Jenner, who each offered starkly contrasting looks for the event. Coachella 2026 also saw the attendance of Blackpink’s Jennie, Lisa and Rosé, along with Anya Taylor-Joy, Teyana Taylor as well as Emma Roberts.
Written By Danisha Liang
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