Bieberchella: A Nostalgia Party

Because this was the performance we needed.

by Olivia Longabardi ★ April 26th, 2026

Design by: Maia Simmons

When Justin Bieber was announced as one of the headliners for Coachella 2026, fans were excited to see what Bieber would do. Was he going to sing his old songs? His new ones? Both? But after normal performances,  Bieber’s next set was unconventional and might not have connected with a casual fan.

Bieber played his old music videos and songs on YouTube throughout the performance, creating an intimate atmosphere for those who care most. He sat down, and fans watched him search for his songs through the YouTube browser. While some may see this as low-effort or an underwhelming performance, performing songs through YouTube is more significant than one may think.

When Bieber blew up over a decade ago, he was primarily discovered through YouTube. He started when he was around twelve years old, and the rest is now history. He defined many eras: the heartthrob era, the Bieber Fever era, the Jelena era, and his new Dad era. In a sense, this performance felt like Bieber’s own “Eras Tour” as he performed his niche throwbacks, all the way to “STAY” with the Kid Laroi. 

On YouTube, Bieber played “Sorry”, “Beauty and a Beat”, “Baby”, and more. He even showed his own memes, such as his infamous fight with paparazzi. This section of the performance was fast-paced and heartwarming as Bieber interacted with the crowd. He then showed the YouTube video that was the beginning of it all: His cover of “With You”.

Besides the throwbacks, Bieber performed hits from SWAG and SWAG II, and opened with the song “All I Can Take”. Then, he performed an acoustic set and thanked his wife, Hailey Bieber, and his son, Jack. 

Overall, most Beliebers had mixed reviews about the set. One fan wrote, “Overall, it felt intimate in a way that’s not always possible with a high-scale production, thanks in large part to the heavy nostalgia that gave fans exactly what they wanted.”

Another fan said, “I was honestly expecting more effort. Where were the backup dancers? The energy felt kinda low, and the outfit… just a hoodie and shades?”

Though Bieberchella had mixed reviews, it is still safe to say that Bieber played a variety of his music, leaving something for everyone. He had his full production sets, as well as an intimate setting with the YouTube set. 

Edited by: Bree Lauder-Williams