NinajirachiWeekend one of this year’s Coachella kicked off on Friday (10 April), with the festival making headlines due to its headliners’ performances, special guest appearances, and more.
This year’s festival has a little something for everyone, from Baby Boomers to Gen Z, featuring pop heavyweights such as Sabrina Carpenter, Justin Bieber, KATSEYE, and more, alongside punk icons Black Flag and Suicidal Tendencies. Representing Australia are electronic firebrand Ninajirachi, genre-defying performer Ecca Vandal, pop-rock outfit Royel Otis and punk band The Chats.
With the festival live-streaming its two weekends of performances on YouTube, Couchella has been the place to be over the last few days.
Coachella is known for having special guest performers appear on stage. From Olivia Rodrigo joining a re-formed No Doubt in 2024 to Charli xcx being accompanied by Billie Eilish, Lorde, and Troye Sivan last year, it’s become something of a tradition for the festival, especially on weekend one.
While the festival continues today – due to the time differences between California and Australia, viewers tuning in from home are watching Sunday performances on a Monday – The Music has rounded up all the special guest appearances throughout weekend one (so far).
FRIDAY
Friday headliner Sabrina Carpenter wasn’t joined by any special guest singers, but she did invite pop culture icons to appear throughout her set.
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The baritone-voiced actor Sam Elliott appeared in the singer’s dramatic introduction video, Oscar-winning actress Susan Sarandon surprised the Coachella crowd with a lengthy monologue from a car on stage, Carpenter’s former Girl Meets World co-star Corey Fogelmanis made a cameo during Sarandon’s monologue, and Will Ferrell offered a comedic bit.
Teddy Swims was the first major act of the day to bring out special guests, and he did it by showcasing the definition of “go hard or go home.”
He welcomed Joe Jonas for a rendition of Jonas Brothers’ When You Look Me In The Eyes and continued the jukebox section of the set with Vanessa Carlton for A Thousand Miles and David Lee Roth for Van Halen’s Jump.
In a mind-blowing sentence to write, The Smashing Pumpkins made their Coachella debut in 2026 by way of Billy Corgan taking to the stage with Sombr, ripping into 1979.
American girl group KATSEYE stunned punters by bringing KPop Demon Hunters’ hit Golden to life, inviting the real-life singers Ejae, Audrey Nuna and Rei to the stage.
French DJ HUGEL surprised fans by welcoming Snoop Dogg and Big Sean to the stage.
Another DJ, Disclosure, invited special guests to the stage, with Khalid and Leven Kali joining him.
Lizzo appeared on stage during Sexyy Red’s set and played the flute.
SATURDAY
Justin Bieber’s headline set was full of special guests. Australia’s own The Kid LAROI joined him for a rendition of STAY, while the singer also welcomed Dijon (on Devotion), Tems (I Think You’re Special), and Wizkid and Tems (Essence).
Aussie EDM star Ninajirachi had an emotional time during her Coachella slot, welcoming one of her idols, Porter Robinson, on stage for the premiere of the pair’s new song, Wanna Cry.
PORTER x NINAJIRACHI COLLAB 🤯 I have been waiting for this since the second I discovered Nina. SO sick【= ❙ 𖥦 ❙ =】 pic.twitter.com/S5Km5Z9byn
— Proximity (@ProximityM) April 11, 2026
Jennifer Lopez made a surprise appearance during David Guetta’s set on Saturday night, performing their new single, Save Me Tonight, for the first time.
Singer-songwriter Giveon surprised punters by bringing out Kehlani, performing the track Folded.
Like Teddy Swims, PinkPantheress had multiple guests join her on stage on Saturday. She welcomed Precious Renee Tucker to play piano on Pain, The Dare (for a remix of Addison Rae’s Fame is a Gun and Charli xcx’s Guess), and DJ horsegiirL.
Tune in to Coachella’s YouTube live stream today to see what else unfolds for Sunday.
