American Idol winner Abi Carter will perform at the 2026 BNP Paribas Open, headlining a host of new events this year aimed at boosting the fan experience to the annual Indian Wells tennis tournament.
The recording artist from Indio will headline the Village Stage lineup with a live performance on March 4 at 4:30 p.m., before the first evening session of the tournament. The performance could be the first in a series of similar concerts from other artists moving forward at the tournament and will highlight what organizers believe will be an especially exciting opening week of the event.
“These enhancements help create truly special moments for fans at Indian Wells,” said Philippe Dore, Chief Marketing Officer at the BNP Paribas Open.
The 2026 BNP Paribas Open will take place from March 1-15 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Tickets for all sessions are available now at the tournament website.
Also included in that first week will be the annual BNP Paribas Open Family Day on Feb. 28, as families with children of all ages can enjoyed a fun-filled afternoon of interactive clinics, player appearances, live music, and more activities to kick off the fortnight in Tennis Paradise.
For the first time ever, Family Day will commence with the brand new BNP Paribas Open Family Day 5K Run,which will begin at 10 a.m. and traverse throughout the grounds of the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Family Day festivities will immediately follow the 5K race from 12 to 3 p.m.
BNP Paribas OpenQualifying Dayswill also be of added interest to fans in 2026 as for the first time, the tournament will allow access to lower bowl seating in both Stadium 1 and Stadium 2 to watch superstar practice sessions. From March 1 to March 3, fans will be able to enter the stadiums and see top men’s and women’s players practice up close, with the price of a $10 qualifying ticket.
Andrew John covers the BNP Paribas Open for The Desert Sun and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at andrew.john@desertsun.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Indio’s Abi Carter to perform at the 2026 BNP Paribas Open
Reporting by Andrew John, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
