The performance, which saw Bieber pull out a laptop and play his old hits on a large screen, has faced criticism. Some fans branded it 'the worst in the festival's history'. The reported $10 million fee would make Justin Bieber the highest-paid artist to perform at Coachella in the festival's history. This starkly contrasted with the reception for other headliners. Sabrina Carpenter, who headlined Friday at Coachella, delivered a star-filled set with a Hollywood-inspired concept called 'Sabrinawood', according to major media reports. She was reportedly paid half of Justin Bieber's fee for her Coachella performance, according to major media reports. Fans called out 'double standards' and industry sexism, claiming Justin Bieber got away with a low-energy set while female artists like Sabrina Carpenter worked harder.
The backlash unfolded against the backdrop of Bieber's prolonged absence from the stage. Justin Bieber was diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome, causing 'full paralysis' on one side of his face, leading him to abandon his 2022 tour, according to Justin Bieber. Justin Bieber had not performed publicly in over four years, since canceling his 2022 Justice World Tour amid health issues, according to research.
Reception shifted during the festival's second weekend. Justin Bieber's second Coachella weekend performance was better received, with more surprise guests and emotional moments, according to major media reports. He brought out Billie Eilish during 'One Less Lonely Girl' at Coachella weekend two, fulfilling a fan tradition, according to major media reports. Justin Bieber also brought out Sexxy Red and Big Sean as surprise guests during his Coachella weekend two set, according to major media reports. Justin Bieber's Coachella set was praised by critics after week two, with outlets like USA Today and Variety noting his improved ease and guest appearances, according to media reviews.
Amid the polarized response, some fans defended Justin Bieber's Coachella performance, calling it beautiful, relaxed, or a tribute to his younger self, according to fans. Hailey Bieber shared behind-the-scenes videos of Justin Bieber rehearsing his Coachella set, including the YouTube scrolling moment, according to major media reports. This behind-the-scenes content offered a glimpse into the preparation for the minimalist set, which research describes as featuring just the singer, his mic, and a laptop livestream.
Touring again is 'super daunting' and I'm not planning an official tour soon, but I prepared for Coachella.
The festival itself saw massive attendance. Coachella tickets sold out in three days, with around 125,000 attendees daily and headliners including Sabrina Carpenter and Karol G, according to major media reports. Other performances included notable incidents. Offset performed at Coachella in a wheelchair after being shot outside a Florida casino, and police allege Lil Tjay was involved in the incident, according to police. Lil Tjay's attorney denied that Lil Tjay was involved in the shooting of Offset, according to Lil Tjay's attorney. Sabrina Carpenter also brought out Madonna during her Coachella weekend two performance, teasing a duet on Madonna's upcoming album, according to major media reports.
Bieber's performance had a measurable impact on his music's popularity. Justin Bieber's music streaming increased by 54% in the US and 250% globally on Spotify after his Coachella performance, according to Luminate and Spotify data. Bieber's Coachella performance broke the festival's single-day ticket record, according to research.
Additional details emerged about the logistics and content of Bieber's appearance. Bieber showed up nearly on time for his 11:35pm slot, according to research. He performed songs from his 2025 album Swag, including All I Can Take and Speed Demon, according to research. Crowd behavior earlier in the evening also reflected the anticipation for his set. During the Strokes' set on Saturday evening, fans pushed forward through the crowd to stake out spots for Justin Bieber's later performance, according to research.
Several key details surrounding the event remain uncertain. The exact amount Justin Bieber was paid for his Coachella performance has not been officially confirmed, with reports citing up to $10 million. Similarly, the specific streaming numbers for Justin Bieber's songs on Spotify after Coachella beyond the percentage increases are not publicly detailed. It is also unclear how many fans attended Justin Bieber's Coachella set that allegedly broke the single-day ticket record. Furthermore, the full scope of health issues that led Justin Bieber to cancel his 2022 tour beyond Ramsay Hunt syndrome has not been disclosed.