The concept of this daily Coachella column is to highlight the best and worst things about the fan experience every day. But make no mistake: the good far outweighed the bad on this fine opening day of Coachella 2026.
From the picture-perfect weather (minus a few typical April desert breezes) to the generally engaged crowd (the kind you don’t always see during at this influencer-heavy fest) to the many impressive performances, this was the kind of day that makes splurging on a wristband worth it.
It was so much so that way, in fact, that it feels nitpicky and a little mean spirited to label anything about the day “the worst.” Still, we all have jobs to do and this is mine. So I give you my best and worst of the first day of Coachella 2026 (and yes, Sabrina Carpenter made the list).
THE BEST MOMENTS
Teddy Swims brings barrage of epic guests in set for the ages
I’ve been coming to Coachella for five years and can count on one hand the number of sets I’ve seen that were on the level of the soulful Georgia singers’ thrilling and iconic Friday set.
He kicked things off with one of his biggest hits, “The Door,” and only ratcheted things up for there. I mean, in what other set would a performance of “A Thousand Miles” with Vanessa Carlton be only the third wildest special guest duet of the show? But that’s what happens when you also bring out Joe Jonas for “When You Look Me in the Eyes” and Van Halen’s David Lee Roth for “Jump” (seriously).
Yet somehow amid such a power-packed show, Swims remained the storm by showcasing why he has one of the best live singing voices in music today, never more so than when he belted out a memorable version of his megahit “Lose Control” to close things out.
Sabrina Carpenter has an epic pop star moment in headline return to Coachella
There was a lot that didn’t work for me about Carpenter’s headlining set (in fact, for awhile, I thought I was going to end up preferring her 2024 Coachella debut). Much of this set seemed to be geared toward the audience watching at home on the livestream, a problem that reached its peak during a multi-minute sequence featuring actress Susan Sarandon that much of the crowd talked through and during which it wasn’t clear if Sarandon was actually on stage or if we were just being shown an elaborate video (spoiler alert, we learned she was actually there).
But those issues felt trivial as the show ended with Carpenter somehow suspended over an impressive fountain of spraying water that was shooting up over a catwalk that goes out into the crowd, only to then get into a vintage car and drive away down the catwalk. That was some real epic grade A pop star stuff, and it made for an legendary, only-at-Coachella moment.
The xx plays ‘Crystalized,’ ‘Intro’ to open, close first Coachella show in 13 years
I, like probably every sentient being in the crowd, was expecting the band to play their most iconic tune, “Intro” to open their sunset hour show. After all, has there ever been a more obvious show opener than a song that is literally called “Intro”?
So I was plenty surprised and got goosebumps when the show began with the band’s other all-time hit, “Crystalized.” “Intro,” meanwhile instead closed the show as part of a run of hits that also included “I Dare You” and “On Hold.”
Both were setlist curveballs that added an air of electricity and gravitas to what was not only the band’s first show in 13 years but just their second ever in the last 8. The band seemed to be drinking in the moment with singer Romy Madley Croft repeatedly remarking on how thankful the group was to be playing together — and at Coachella, no less — again.
THE WORST MOMENTS
The art installations being lackluster
They say art is in the eye of the beholder. Well, this beholder found this year’s pieces rather forgettable (full disclosure: I did not see the hippos piece yet).
Both the fan-like “Starry Eyes” and the curved color wall forms of “Maze” felt almost like generic store brand versions of better Coachella art from years’ past. The satellite-covered “Network Operations” was at least more distinctive and memorable. But it’s still hard to imagine it ended up as the centerpiece of a park in the Coachella Valley the way some of the coolest pieces from recent years have after their weekends in the festival sun came to an end.
CMAT not having a bigger crowd or billing
Seriously, why isn’t this Irish talent more famous? She brought all the goods in her thrilling evening set, including killer vocals, an energetic stage presence and plenty of humor. It was all so good that I didn’t even leave upset that she played a more esoteric — but still incredible — set that omitted some of her most-listened to songs.
So it was something of a bummer to see CMAT playing to a Gobi tent — already one of the smaller stages at the festival that didn’t seem quite full. If nothing else, I hope Coachella helps CMAT get more of a following the way last year’s fest seemed to help Lola Young, an artist whom CMAT very much reminded me of.
Anyma potentially canceling his own set?
Anyma was supposed to close the Coachella stage on Friday with the world premiere of a new “ÆDEN experience.” However, after waiting for around 15 minutes for the DJ to appear, fans were served a message via the video monitors that his set had been canceled due to wind.
The Desert Sun team was surprised when they saw the message, seeing as all other late-night sets were able to go on as planned, and the wind didn’t seem stronger than anything we’ve seen in recent years at Coachella.
We’re eager to hopefully see Anyma’s set next week and see what this precious set piece looks like.
Paul Albani-Burgio covers growth, development, business and, sometimes, music festivals in the Coachella Valley. Email him at paul.albani-burgio@desertsun.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Best and worst of Coachella Day 1 from Sabrina Carpenter to The xx
Reporting by Paul Albani-Burgio, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
