Karol G became the first Latin artist to headline the Coachella Festival this Sunday with an explosive performance full of sensuality in which he celebrated his culture and that of a united Latin America.
“I am very happy and very proud, but at the same time it feels late“said Karol G, whose real name is Carolina Giraldo Navarro, before a crowd that welcomed her with flags from different Latin American countries.
The Colombian singer highlighted the path paved by other Latin artists before her: “Before me there were so many incredible Latin artists that this is not just about me, but about my Latin community, about my people; and at the same time it is for my Latins who have had a hard time in this country lately.”
The show began 30 minutes late and began with a video that told the legend of an indomitable young woman who regains her power after being subdued: “Always wild, always free, Latina forever,” the piece warned.
Karol G peforms Tusa (ft. Nicki Minaj) at #Coachella and the crowd goes wild! pic.twitter.com/RaZ2XrKjCb
— Minaj Society (@MinajSociety) April 13, 2026
Next, Giraldo Navarro appeared on the main stage, which emulated a cave, surrounded by dancers illuminated by neon lights, and opened his presentation with the song ‘Latina Forever’.
The show had sensual, energetic and erotically charged choreographies. The first part was marked by the classic sound of reggaeton, with Mariah Angeliq as a guest, who took the stage to perform ‘El Makinon’.
Karol G peforms Tusa (ft. Nicki Minaj) at #Coachella and the crowd goes wild! pic.twitter.com/RaZ2XrKjCb
— Minaj Society (@MinajSociety) April 13, 2026
The second segment adopted a more retro and tropical tone when ‘Bichota’ performed ‘Tropicoqueta’ and ‘Papacito’, from her latest studio album.
Giraldo Navarro paid tribute to Mexico by performing his song ‘Ese hombre es malo’ with a mariachi, and later had Becky G as his second guest to sing the hit ‘MAMIII’.
“Up with Mexico, up with Colombia, and all the immigrants!” shouted Becky G.
Among the Colombian’s guests, Wisin also stood out, who made the audience dance with reggaeton classics like ‘Rakata’ and ‘Pam Pam’; and Greg Gonzalez, guitarist of Cigarettes After Sex, with whom Karol G starred in a more intimate and melancholic moment when presenting an unreleased song that talks about grief.
The ‘Tusa’ performer included fragments of songs by other Latin legends such as ‘La Murga’, by Willie Colón, ‘Rompe’, by Daddy Yankee, and performed the song ‘Mi tierra’, by Gloria Estefan, which addresses the nostalgia of leaving the place where you were born.
The show culminated with ‘Provence’ and fireworks in the sky.
Coachella experiences Mëztiza’s electronic flamenco
This Sunday the duo Mëstiza, formed by the Spanish Pitty Bernad and Belah, also offered a hypnotic performance in the Yuma tent with their mix of Spanish and Arabic rhythms with electronic music.
The producers appeared on stage dressed in black with an outfit that emulated bullfighter jackets, and a Cordoba-inspired hat and at times flamenco dancers with a futuristic air danced on stage.
A very electronic edition
This year, the festival’s offering was characterized by being full of electronic music artists from various generations.
On Sunday, the British Fatboy Slim offered an energetic extended set in which he made the audience dance for two hours with his mixes of popular songs with his own songs.
While Major Lazer lit up the main stage of the musical event that takes place every year at the Empire Polo Club in Indio.
The collective formed by Diplo, Ape Drums and Walshy Fire, had MIA as a guest, with whom they performed ‘Paper Planes’, in addition to reviewing some of their most iconic songs such as ‘Lean On’ or ‘Cold Water’.
In the rock section, Iggy Pop, known as the ‘godfather of punk’, offered a dark, intense and energetic performance at the age of 78, reaffirming his status as a tireless figure on stage by performing songs such as ‘Passenger’ or ‘Real Wild Child (Wild One)’.
“For a minute it’s going to be 1969 again,” said the musician before performing the song ‘1969’ by his band The Stooges.
The Coachella Festival will repeat its artist program next weekend, April 17-19.
