SOAKING WET AND HEADLINING

Coachella Images

12 April 2026

Joshua Magazzu

Sabrina Carpenter has headlined the world's most iconic music festival, Coachella. Taking the Friday night headline slot for opening weekend, Carpenter delivered what she herself described as “the most ambitious show I've ever done” — a dazzling Broadway-laced pop spectacle. The performance marked a full-circle moment for the 26-year-old. When she first played Coachella in 2024, she said, “See you back here when I headline,” and 2 years later, that’s exactly what she did.

Her set opened with an Intro video, in black and white. It was creepy, eerie, and mysterious. At one point, Sabrina sees a young girl who appears to be her younger self. After the video, the set starts. Sabrina takes the stage at the end of the long runway, along which stars light up as she walks, emulating the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Once she begins the set, the livestream colour kicks in! The show opens with Carpenter dropping her coat, revealing a red sparkly mini dress. She kicks it all off with an energetic performance of “House Tour.” We have arrived at the Hollywood Hills!

Moving through a string of her hits during the opening segment, such as “Busy Woman” and “Man Child,” it is clear from the beginning that Carpenter means business. Her choreography is on point, with a troupe of dancers behind her; she is living her full pop girl moment. Her vocals seem just as perfect. There are a couple of moments when it felt like some lip syncing was occurring, but I can’t fault her on this. She is moving constantly around this mammoth set.

Act 2 opens with “When Did You Get Hot ?” and my GOD. Carpenter crowns the top of a giant SABRINAWOOD sign in all-gold sequins, with chiffon sleeves. She is crawling, gyrating and being oh so, oh so, oh so HOT! During a brief interlude, she shared her disbelief with the crowd, exclaiming, “I can't believe I'm headlining Coachella!” — before cheekily adding, “I can a little bit, but it's nicer to say that, right?” The moment captured everything that makes Carpenter such a compelling live performer: sharp wit, genuine warmth, and an instinctive command of the stage. This act also saw Carpenter churn out other hits, such as “Please, Please, Please” and “Nobody’s Son,” whilst telling the story of her move to Hollywood to become a star.

The Audience was treated to a guest appearance by actress Susan Sarandon, who delivered a 10-minute monologue as older Sabrina, reflecting on the performance retrospectively. The monologue is interrupted by American actor Corey Fogelmamis, who plays a small role alongside Sarandon. While this felt interesting and had never been seen at Coachella before, it dragged, and the energy dipped. Act 3 opens in a dance studio setting, with Carpenter in black tights and a blue sweater. It is the most toned-down look of the show, not very Coachella, but it feels right for the storyline. This Act contains more of the ballads and is the slowest Act of the set.

Act 4 swings in to pick up the energy. Sabrina dazzles in a gorgeous white, beaded two-piece. “Feather” kicks off this Act with a gorgeous burlesque-style performance that feels glamorous, glitzy and rich, with the dancers wielding giant feathered fans. “Bed Chem” delivers cabaret chair choreography, and it is sexy, silky, sultry, seductive, did I say sexy ? My jaw was on the floor, and yours will be too. A blackout happens onstage, and the next guest appearance is introduced to us to fix it! Actor Will Ferrell comes to the rescue and plugs the power back in. Thankfully, his monologue was not as long as Sarandon’s and felt more in place.

Act 5, the finale feels so Hollywood, as if it stepped right out of a musical with the lights and visual effects. Sabrina arrives in a black lace bodysuit with almost wing-like details; she looks STUNNING. She jumps into “Juno” with the iconic position serving as a meditative moment, where the crowd is encouraged to breathe in and out, before a voiceover says, “Now Sabrina, finish the fucking song.” It’s funny and feels very Sabrina. “Espresso” is next, and the full circle moment of her releasing this at Coachella 2 years prior to now performing it as the headliner is finally here. What a moment for Carpenter. It feels very Studio 54; the dancers are all in loud, different disco-inspired looks. Confetti rains down, and Sabrina puts on a wedding veil. SO VEGAS. “Goodbye” is so ABBA, and she and the dancers trudge down the Walk of Fame runway one more time, before THE finale.

“Tears” closes out Carpenter’s triumphant headlining set, with her and the dancers performing in and around cars, and on their bonnets, before Sabrina is lifted up on one of the car seats, and it turns into a water fountain. Water shoots everywhere, making it one big, wet spectacle. It’s a water show for the ages, the BUDGET!!! It’s so Gatsby, it looks expensive, and is the perfect ending to an incredible set that allowed a theatre kid to go wild with an ever-changing set. Sabrina drives off, all wet as the credits roll on the screen.

And just like that, Sabrina Carpenter: former Disney Channel girl, self-proclaimed theatre kid, and certified espresso shot to the music industry — headlined Coachella. She didn’t just show up; she built a whole cinematic universe in the middle of the California desert, complete with Hollywood sign, Susan Sarandon, Will Ferrell, a water fountain finale, and a wedding veil. As far as Coachella sets go, this one had everything. She walked onto that Walk of Fame runway a pop star and walked off it — soaking wet.

A Woman of her word, indeed.

rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️