Coachella 2026: Girl groups bring global reach and local roots

As the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival continues to stretch beyond its roots, a new wave of girl groups is stepping into the spotlight and making history along the way.

Eight-member Filipino girl group BINI marked a major milestone with their festival debut on Friday, April 10 and 18, becoming the first act from the Philippines to perform at Coachella. Taking over the Mojave stage, the group leaned into the polished, high-energy style that’s helped define the rising P-pop movement, while proudly carrying their cultural identity onto one of music’s biggest platforms. Out in the packed Mojave tent crowd, fans waved Philippine flags overhead.

Over at the Sahara stage, global girl group KATSEYE drew one of the weekend’s most energetic crowds. Even while performing as a five-member unit, the group delivered a tightly choreographed set that highlighted their cross-cultural appeal and rapidly growing fanbase. The members even announced their newest EP, “Wild,” set to release on Aug. 14.

At the Sonora tent, rising duo The Two Lips brought a hometown touch to the lineup. Hailing from the Cerritos and Artesia area, the longtime friends have quickly gone from balancing day jobs — one as a kindergarten teacher, the other as a server — to performing at one of the country’s biggest festivals. That rapid rise was not lost on them. “We can’t believe we’re here, it’s an honor,” they shared with the crowd, before weaving in a dreamy cover of “Don’t Speak” that had early attendees swaying along.

Together, the three acts point to a broader shift happening in real time at Coachella. Girl groups, particularly those emerging from global and independent scenes, are no longer outliers on the lineup. They’re becoming central to it, bringing multilingual audiences, distinct cultural perspectives and a new kind of pop presence that continues to reshape the festival’s identity.