Sabrina Carpenter Teases 'Most Ambitious' Coachella Set

Singer promises a special headlining performance after previously playing the festival's sunset slot

Apr. 9, 2026 at 7:20am

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An extreme close-up photograph of glittering sequins and shattered disco glass, capturing the high-energy, glamorous aesthetic of a major music festival performance.Sabrina Carpenter's Coachella headlining sets promise to be a dazzling display of pop star spectacle and showmanship.Coachella Today

Pop star Sabrina Carpenter is preparing to take the Coachella stage as a headliner for the first time, teasing that her upcoming sets will be 'the most ambitious show I've ever done.' The 26-year-old singer, who previously played Coachella's main stage in 2024, said she's had seven months to plan and rehearse for the highly anticipated performances on April 10 and April 17.

Why it matters

Carpenter's Coachella sets will mark a major career milestone, as she graduates from a supporting act to a headliner at one of the world's most prestigious music festivals. Her ambitious production and long preparation time suggest she's aiming to deliver a show-stopping performance that could further boost her profile as a rising pop star.

The details

In an interview with Marc Jacobs, Carpenter reflected on her previous Coachella experience in 2024, when she played the main stage in the sunset slot. 'I've played, but not as a headliner,' she told Jacobs. 'I was playing sunset, around 5.30 pm on the main stage two years ago. That was a really special day for me, the day my song 'Espresso' came out. I got to play that for the first time at Coachella. And now, two years later, we're back. And I think that's what makes this show feel really, really surreal: getting to celebrate all the songs that have come after it, and just how many lives they've lived since they've come out.'

  • Carpenter is scheduled to headline Coachella on April 10 and April 17, 2026.
  • In 2024, Carpenter played Coachella's main stage in the sunset slot.

The players

Sabrina Carpenter

A 26-year-old pop singer who is preparing to headline Coachella for the first time after previously playing the festival's main stage in a supporting slot in 2024.

Marc Jacobs

A fashion designer who interviewed Carpenter about her upcoming Coachella performance.

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What they’re saying

“It's the most ambitious show I've ever done. It's probably the most time I've ever had to actually just sit down and talk about a show as I'm building it. Most of the time, you're really quickly thrust into physical rehearsals, but this time around we started this process around seven months ago. So it's been a long journey. It will be very special.”

— Sabrina Carpenter, Pop Singer

“I've played, but not as a headliner. I was playing sunset, around 5.30 pm on the main stage two years ago. That was a really special day for me, the day my song 'Espresso' came out. I got to play that for the first time at Coachella. And now, two years later, we're back. And I think that's what makes this show feel really, really surreal: getting to celebrate all the songs that have come after it, and just how many lives they've lived since they've come out.”

— Sabrina Carpenter, Pop Singer

What’s next

Carpenter's Coachella performances on April 10 and April 17 will be highly anticipated events, as the singer aims to deliver her 'most ambitious show' to date on the festival's main stage.

The takeaway

Sabrina Carpenter's Coachella headlining sets represent a major career milestone, as the 26-year-old pop star graduates from a supporting act to a top-billed performer at one of the world's most prestigious music festivals. Her ambitious production and long preparation time suggest she's poised to deliver a show-stopping performance that could further boost her profile as a rising talent.