Music opinion: Coachella took ‘2026 is the new 2016’ seriously
Welcome to the desert. Weekend 1 of the hit music festival Coachella took place in Indio, California, from April 10-12, 2026.
The festival is such a global phenomenon that fans tuned into the live stream from home, affectionately nicknaming it “bedchella” or “couchchella.”
Weekend 2 is scheduled for April 17-19, 2026, and will again be livestreamed on Coachella’s official YouTube channel.
This year, the festival has been hailed as the return of 2016, where popular musicians of that era performed, and 2016 fashion trends reappeared, writes Music News Blitz’s Sarah Sharp.
Coachella come get her, she’s dancing like a stripper
2016 is back, baby!
While headliners consisted of Sabrina Carpenter, Justin Bieber and Karol G, fans have taken to the internet to comment on the prevalence of popular 2016 artists making up the rest of the line-up.
In response to Swae Lee’s set, TikTok user @ms.ovoxo made a video explaining that if she had known this (referring to his song “Come Get Her”) was on the set list, she would’ve spent the 9k.
Within one day, the video clocked in at 2.2 million views and nearly 460,000 likes.
A video made in a similar vain managed to get 7.9 million views and 1.8 million likes within two days, with top comments saying that if they knew Coachella would “be 2016,” they would’ve sold their house.
They had previously thought Coachella was supposed to be boring, and this is the first year that they’re actually upset not to be able to go.
And so, the public yearns for 2016.
Who was on the line-up?
Swae Lee performed on April 10.
His setlist consisted of popular songs from his 2015 and 2016 albums that were originally released under his and his brother’s duo, Rae Sremmurd.
These included: “No Type,” “Come Get Her,” No Flex Zone,” and “Swang.” He brought out Rich the Kid to sing “Plug Walk”.
He was also scheduled to perform his major 2016 hit “Black Beatles,” but was unable to due to time. Hopefully, it makes the cut during Swaechella Weekend 2.
The electronic duo Disclosure also performed on April 10.
Their set was mainly populated by their 2013 hits, such as “Latch” and “You & Me.”
They also brought out another artist, namely Khalid, for his 2018 song that they produced, “Talk.”
David Guetta brought the house down on day two, covering a wide range of artists from Bonnie Tyler to ROSALÍA.
He highlighted many classic throwback songs, such as a variety of Flo Rida, Lady Gaga and Rihanna, as well as his own songs “Memories” and “Titanium.”
Jennifer Lopez made her Coachella debut as David Guetta’s guest artist, singing “Save Me Tonight”.
Finally, Major Lazer took to the stage on the last day.
They featured 2015 songs, “Lean On,” “Light it Up,” and “Roll the Bass”, as well as the 2016 song “Cold Water.”
M.I.A was also brought out by Major Lazer to sing hit song “Paper Planes.”
2016 off stage
Soft grunge and indie sleaze make a comeback.
The on-stage artists were not the only way Coachella brought back 2016, with the fashion trends of the era heavily featuring in outfits worn to the festival.
The looks of Coachella have long permeated the cultural zeitgeist alongside the music itself, and this year is no different.
Predicting or yearning for a return to 2016, influencers and celebrities alike have taken to social media to show off their 2016-inspired Coachella outfits.
The Tumblr-driven style pops up in flower crown headbands, choker necklaces, crochet and lots of fringe (or really anything if you slap the 2016 TikTok filter over it).
So why 2016?
A decade has passed, and yet the 2016 fever has taken over social media and the pop culture space in general.
Seeing it concentrated in the way the public is engaging with Coachella prompts the question why? Is it just because it’s been 10 years, or is there something more to it?
Fans on social media rightly pointed out that many of the songs played at Coachella weren’t even actually originally released in 2016, with popular 2010 and 2011 songs also featured heavily in artists’ set lists.
So then what?
It’s not just yearning for 2016, but rather a nostalgia for when life felt a little lighter.
A time when festival outfits were simpler, and Instagram was casual.
In an interview with the BBC, psychologist and specialist in nostalgia Clay Routledge explained that “when generations are going through this kind of upheaval or this kind of challenge, they tend to look back to their youth for comfort and for inspiration, for guidance.”
Ultimately, Coachella provided another avenue for people to put on their rose-tinted glasses (and filters) and reminisce on simpler times.
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