A few weeks ago, Coachella kicked off its highly anticipated 2026 festival, with headliners ranging from Sabrina Carpenter, Justin Bieber, KATSEYE, and more. The one artist I was most excited for was Karol G — one of my number one artists of all time, and the first Latina to ever headline Coachella. She did not disappoint in any way; she had the longest set time in Coachella history, and put on a show like I’ve never seen before, while also making me feel the worst FOMO I have ever felt. It was a night that heavily showcased what a performer she truly is. But to me, and many others, it was much more than that.
When Karol G was first announced as a headliner, I was ecstatic. However, I did have some concerns about how people would react. In September of last year, Bad Bunny was announced as the Super Bowl Halftime show performer, which led to tons of online discourse and racism. Despite the hate, Bad Bunny produced one of the most powerful performances I have seen in recent years. As for Karol G, it’s unfortunate that I did not see many of the non-Latino Coachella goers talking about her performance nearly as much as others, despite being arguably the biggest and most captivating star on the lineup. She delivered an incredible show, without shying away from representing the beauty of Latin culture. These two performances proved to me that, despite everything that attempts to hold Latinos back, our voices will always be heard.
The set opened with a narration from Karol G, where she refers to herself as forever free, symbolizing her journey from Medellin, Colombia, to her career now, on one of the biggest stages. Then, opening the show with her hit song, “Latina Forever.” Every part of her performance, from her clothes, jewelry, set, and hair, were all gestures to her Latinidad. From hoop earrings to a red lip, and an all-female mariachi band, every detail felt purposeful.
The same thing goes for her setlist. Karol G took her audience on a journey throughout Latin American history, showcasing Latin music of all genres. Her set incorporated aspects of salsa, reggaeton, and mariachi. I understand many people who attend Coachella do not know Spanish. However, Karol G’s ability to entertain is sure to make anyone excited about her show. There is bound to be an aspect of it you will love.
Across the two weekends, Karol brought out many Latino guests, including Becky G, Peso Pluma, J Balvin, and Ryan Castro. Becky G delivered a powerful message after the two performed their song “Mamiii,” celebrating Latinos and immigrants everywhere. The translated states “Long live Mexico, long live Colombia, and long live our immigrants who we love so much.” This message was unfortunately cut short due to technical difficulties, but some people believe Coachella purposefully cut her speech off on the grounds of it being too political. However, that is just alleged. Despite the hiccup, Becky G’s speech was incredibly powerful and hopefully heard around the world.
Karol G also sent a message herself. The singer urged audiences to be proud of where they come from.
“We do this because we want everyone to feel welcome to our culture, to our roots, to our music. So, I just want everyone to feel proud of where they come from, please. Don’t feel fear, feel proud, raise your hand, raise your flags.”
Karol G, Coachella 2026
To me, this felt incredibly personal and emotional. Hearing this sentiment from a huge pop star on one of the biggest stages ever means so much to me. Sometimes it’s hard to be so loud about being Latino, considering the visceral hate this country continues to spew at us. So it’s important that artists like Karol G remind fans to rise above and fight back.
Karol G closed her monumental performance during weekend two, performing her song, “Provenza” with her all-female mariachi band. Her closing song even included an upcoming tour announcement, which I am ecstatic about. If it is anything like her Coachella set, I know it’ll be amazing.
So, when it seems like everything in this country is against us, resistance can take form in so many ways, including music. Now, a concert will in no way solve racism or end the horrific violence Latinos are facing under Donald Trump’s administration. However, it’s a great way to give a voice to the voiceless. Karol G, Bad Bunny, Becky G, and many others are unapologetically representing Latinos for what we are; refusing to conform to what this country wants us to look or act like, refusing to hide our Latinidad, that in itself is an incredibly powerful message. I have never been happier to be Latina, and Karol G is living proof that we will never be silenced.