“Coachella, see you back here when I headline” was a promise made by pop sensation Sabrina Carpenter that came true at this year’s Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. After making her Coachella debut two years ago, Carpenter returned to kick off this year’s festival, taking over the main stage with a brand-new set titled “SABRINAWOOD.”
Coachella, held annually in Indio, Calif., has become one of the most influential music festivals of the modern era by combining live performances with brand activations, fashion and celebrity culture.
This year’s festival drew major attention not only because of Carpenter’s performance, but also because of Justin Bieber’s return to the stage and Karol G becoming the first Latina headliner.
During the two weekends, attendees also had the opportunity to experience several brand activations, including the highly anticipated return of Starbucks’ “Unicorn Frappuccino” offered exclusively at the festival.
Despite finishing her sold-out “Short n’ Sweet Tour” in November 2025, Carpenter continued performing earlier this year on a festival run across different South American countries.
However, her Coachella performance introduced audiences to a new atmosphere. She used her headlining setlist as an opportunity to bring focus to her newest album “Man’s Best Friend,” performing most of the album for the first time live during the festival.
To kick off her setlist, Carpenter used a black-and-white film intro, evoking old-thriller nostalgia. The visual featured Carpenter driving alone through the desert before being pulled over by actor Sam Elliott, who played a cop.
After this encounter, Carpenter continued to drive off, seamlessly transitioning into the actual live performance by changing into technicolor and walking over a Hollywood Walk of Fame, which appeared to be her own take on Dorothy’s Yellow Brick Road.
The stage design for this performance marked a departure from the intimate house concept seen on Carpenter’s latest tour, while maintaining a fun and cheeky essence. Instead, her set drew inspiration from old Hollywood, featuring a cinematic backdrop accompanied by hills and a “SABRINAWOOD” sign. Throughout both nights, Carpenter also incorporated intimate moments such as a studio session recreation and a dance studio set up for her “Please Please Please” and “Go Go Juice” performances.
However, Carpenter faced severe criticism and backlash on weekend one, due to her reaction after hearing a fan “yodel” before the debut performance of her song “We Almost Broke Up Again Last Night.”
Although the fan tried to explain that the so-called yodel was actually an Arabic celebration sound called zaghrouta used to express joy, the popstar appeared confused and called the gesture “weird.”
After seeing the online discourse, Carpenter said on X that her “reaction was pure confusion, sarcasm and not ill intended,” in addition to saying she “could have handled it better!”
“Now I know what a zaghrouta is!” she continued. “I welcome all cheers and yodels from here on out.”
Guest appearances are a tradition at Coachella and Carpenter delivered a variety of those, including Will Ferrell, Susan Sarandon and Corey Fogelmanis playing different characters during weekend one. However, her cultural reach was apparent during the second weekend, when the “Queen of Pop” Madonna was brought out to perform hits like “Vogue” and “Like a Prayer.”
This joint performance marked Madonna’s return to the valley after her last appearance in Drake’s 2015 headlining set.
Despite the controversy, Carpenter’s Coachella performance has reportedly solidified the artist as one of the current most iconic figures in pop culture.
This headlining set marks a clear turning point in her career, stepping into an even higher level of stardom.
