The 2026 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival headliners may have mass appeal, but there’s always a little something for every generation on the lineup.
This year, acts like Devo, David Byrne and Iggy Pop drew the attention of elder millennial and Generation X festival goers.
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Devo performs during day one of weekend two at the 2026 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, CA on Friday, April 17, 2026.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
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Devo performs during day one of weekend two at the 2026 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, CA on Friday, April 17, 2026.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
“You just can’t beat this music. Whoever the headliners are, it’s these kinds of bands that bring me here,” said 40-year-old Sabrina Lewison of Orange County as she danced to Devo during the band’s Friday evening set.
Byrne, the former frontman of the Talking Heads, put on a theatrical show Saturday night filled with a group of dancers and images reflecting the city scenes and landscapes behind them as he flawlessly performed songs like “Everybody Laughs,” “And She Was,” as well as “Psycho Killer” and “Once in a Lifetime.”
Sadly, like weekend one, the crowd at the Outdoor Theatre was rather small during Byrne’s performance with headliner Justin Bieber set to take the mainstage as soon as the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer wrapped.
Regardless Byrne put on a fun retro filled show that made 48-year old Pasadena resident David Morales dance the night away while reminiscing about the old days with some of his favorite music.
“This takes me back to the day,” he said. “I loved the Talking Heads and I’m glad Coachella still brings these bands out here.”
Some of the weekend one and two special guests were also a welcome addition to fans looking to relive the heydays of the 1980s and 90s. Sombr brought out Billy Idol weekend two and The Smashing Pumpkin’s Billy Corgan weekend one. Former Van Halen singer David Lee Roth found his way to the stage both weekends to perform with Teddy Swims. And, of course, Madonna’s guest spot during Sabrina Carpenter’s set may have just been the highlight of everyone at the festival in person and for those watching at home via the Coachella livestream.
The newly built bunker on the festival grounds at the Empire Polo Club also houses an immersive exhibition built around Radiohead‘s “Kid A” and “Amnesiac” albums.
Iggy Pop, Suicidal Tendencies and Black Flag will round out the acts on Sunday’s lineup.