Karol G Makes History as Coachella’s First Latina Headliner
Coachella’s 2026 lineup just made history. Colombian superstar Karol G will take the stage as a headliner next April, breaking barriers as the first Latina artist to ever headline the iconic music festival.
Karol G makes Coachella history
According to Billboard, Karol G will headline Sunday nights on April 12 and April 19 at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California. She’ll share the top slots with Sabrina Carpenter, headlining on Fridays, and Justin Bieber, headlining on Saturdays.
Bad Bunny became the first Latine headliner in 2023, but Karol G’s 2026 set marks a milestone of its own. She is the first Latina to close out the festival.
Karol G’s return to the desert
This isn’t Karol G’s first Coachella moment. She first performed at the festival in 2022, where her set included a tribute to Latine music history. Onstage, she honored Selena Quintanilla, Ricky Martin, Celia Cruz, Daddy Yankee, Shakira, and others, creating one of the most talked-about moments of the weekend.
Now, as Pitchfork reported, she returns in her “showgirl era” following the release of her album Tropicoqueta. Her Coachella headlining sets will also be her first full live shows behind the new record.
A stacked lineup
The full Coachella 2026 lineup, released Sept. 15, is packed across genres. Carpenter and Bieber lead their nights, while artists like The xx, The Strokes, FKA twigs, Young Thug, David Byrne, Ethel Cain, and Disclosure round out the top billings.
Latine talent will also be front and center. Guatemalan-American DJ Gordo, Brazilian star Luísa Sonza, Cuban American singer Gigi Perez, reggaeton duo Cachirula y Loojan, and El Salvador’s Los Hermanos Flores are all part of the lineup. KATSEYE, the global girl group that includes Cuban-Venezuelan artist Daniela, is slated for a Friday slot.
How Karol G is making Coachella history
As Billboard noted, Karol G was named the first Latina “Woman of the Year” by Billboard in 2024, a recognition that underscored her influence in both music and culture. Now, her Coachella headliner status confirms her as one of the most dominant global artists of this generation.
Her place at the top of the bill represents a breakthrough for representation at one of the world’s most-watched stages. And with Tropicoqueta setting the tone for her next era, her performance is expected to push boundaries in scale and spectacle.
Tickets for Coachella 2026
Tickets for Coachella 2026 go on sale Friday, Sept. 19, at 1 p.m. Eastern. The festival will take place across two weekends, April 10–12 and April 17–19.
