10
10
Relive the best Coachella performances of 2025 ahead of the 2026 edition
Held in the heart of the Indio desert in California, Coachella is the go-to destination for music lovers. Each year, the festival gathers a plethora of artists, who deliver jaw-dropping performances. As the first weekend of Coachella 2026 kicks off this Friday, April 10th, Numéro takes a look back at the highlights that defined the past edition, from Lady Gaga to Charli xcx and Tyla.
By Jordan Bako.
Published on 15 April 2025. Updated on 10 April 2026.
Lady Gaga delivered one of the greatest shows of her career at Coachella 2025
This was arguably one of the most dazzling performances of her career. Lady Gaga has long been known for her high-octane shows. One can remember her legendary 2009 MTV VMAs appearance or her Chromatica Ball Tour in 2021. In 2025, she worked her magic once again at Coachella. It was her second time at the festival after sharing the stage with Beyoncé in 2017.
Headlining the opening day, the American superstar turned into a creature from another dimension. From the very first moments, she set the tone for what would prove to be an extravagant and spectacular show. A hybrid performance teetering between baroque and futuristic, burlesque and macabre, rare gems from her discography and globally celebrated hits.
Draped in a monumental scarlet gown, concealing a giant cage within its folds and housing her dancers, Lady Gaga underwent multiple transformations throughout her set. Skulls and skeletons intertwined with nods to the early days of her career. One could spot the crown from the Bad Romance video, as well as archival pieces designed by Thierry Mugler and Alexander McQueen. With that performance, the “Mother Monster” once again demonstrated she was a maestro of musical epics. That night, she unleashed her showgirl prowess and theatrical brilliance.
Charli xcx turned the desert into an open-air club
If there’s one album that defined summer 2024, it was Brat by Charli xcx. A record that restored club music’s reputation, enthralling fans with bold, electrifying beats. As the mastermind behind the Brat Summer, the British singer continues to keep its fire burning, defying every prediction about its longevity.
In 2025, her Coachella set mirrored her album… A glittering, irreverent, high-energy show infused with a carefully curated disheveled aesthetic. She raced through the album’s top tracks with unrelenting tempo, while also indulging longtime fans with a blast from the past: I Love It.
The show also featured surprise cameos from her closest collaborators. Billie Eilish stepped in to chant the infectious chorus of the Guess remix, while Lorde and Troye Sivan joined Charli xcx onstage for their respective duets.
Is the Brat Summer really over? Charli xcx may have hinted at passing the baton with talk of a looming “Lorde Summer 2025,” but she wrapped up her show by projecting on screen: “I just want this moment to last forever, please don’t let it end!” A surprise DJ set organized off-site at the Guess Jeans estate only fueled the sense that the party is far from over…
Tyla channeled the 2000s aesthetic through a lively Coachella debut
Tyla, whose viral tracks have launched her to stardom, is emerging as one of the next big voices in R&B. The South African singer, 24, is often seen as a key figure in the revival of 2000s sounds. A huge title she fully embraced during her Coachella stage debut in April 2025.
Clad in a vintage Dolce & Gabbana Spring/Summer 2000 look, Tyla thrilled the audience with an electric performance. Push 2 Start, On My Body, featuring Becky G, and her hit Water, which saw her splash around in a mini pool, were all infused with her signature blend of pop, R&B, and sensual amapiano rhythms. A remix of Aaliyah’s Rock the Boat reinforced the sense that Tyla is carrying the torch of the late singer.
Another standout moment? Her now-viral choreography, which has taken social media by storm, confirms that Tyla has a bright future in the entertainment world. Though this was her Coachella debut, it likely won’t be her last.
Megan Thee Stallion paid tribute to hip-hop female artists
While her performance was unfortunately cut short to make way for Post Malone, Megan Thee Stallion didn’t need extra minutes to make an impact. This was her second time gracing the Coachella stage, and on April 13, she came prepared to own it.
Fireworks, cowboy hats, and razor-sharp group choreography… Megan Pete, aka Megan Thee Stallion, delivered a show that was nothing short of spectacular. From her breakout album Suga (2020) to her more recent hit Mamushi (2024), sung in both English and Japanese, she rolled through the most iconic verses of her career.
But beyond her own hits, the American singer took time to spotlight other Black female artists shaping hip-hop, rap, and R&B today. Queen Latifah appeared for Plan B and U.N.I.T.Y., while Victoria Monét stunned the audience with a sensual, unforgettable duet on Spin, a track they previously collaborated on.
The music festival Coachella will take place from April 10th to 19th, 2026.
