The California desert is erupting with music once again since Coachella 2024 kicked off on Friday, April 12. This year marks the festival’s 25th anniversary, with a lineup blending genres and languages. With eight main stages, and over 125,000 daily attendees, it’s the largest annual music festival in the world. And, this year, Latin music dominates Coachella.
Latin Artists and Music Dominate Coachella
This year’s Coachella is already making headlines for its impressive roster of Latino and Spanish-language acts. From reggaeton to indie rock, the artists are setting desert stages ablaze. Here are just a few of the Latin music superstars who have rocked Coachella so far:
Peso Pluma
After surprising us during Becky G’s set last year, Peso Pluma returns to Coachella, this time with his own performance. After thanking Becky G, he invited her on stage to sing with him this year.
Bizarrap
Argentine hitmaker Bizarrap made history as he stepped onto the Coachella stage for the first time. His beats and rhythms captivated the crowd.
Shakira
One of the biggest surprises at this year’s festival is when Shakira interrupted Bizarrap’s session. The screen read “La Loba Se Viene” as she appeard, howling like a shewolf into the mic. She thanked Bizarrap for inviting her, went on to sing their No. 1 hit “Pa' tipos como tú,” and announced her 2024 “La Mujeres Ya No Lloran” concert tour.
Young Miko
Puerto Rican reggaeton star Young Miko made her debut at Coachella on Friday. The audience sang and rapped in Spanish along with the young star.
Carin León
Mexican artist Carin León also made his Coachella debut, adding his touch of regional Mexican music to the mix. He serenaded the crowd in Spanish with his signature heartfelt lyrics and soulful melodies.
Feid
Colombian singer, songwriter, and record producer Feid wowed Coachella during his set, where he gave a special shoutout to Karol G by donning a shirt with her name on it.
Ice Spice
The Grammy-nominated Dominican-Nigerian rapper’s setlist was a rollercoaster of energy, blending her hits with surprising covers and unreleased tracks. Singer Taylor Swift’s reaction to Ice Spice’s cover of "Karma" has already made entertainment news headlines and is viral on social media.
J Balvin
Colombian superstar J Balvin graces Coachella once again, marking his grand return since his first appearance in 2019. This time, he took the stage with surprise guest Will Smith, who sang his 1997 hit “The Men in Black.”
A Look Back: Latino Headliners at Coachella
Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, commonly known as Coachella, was founded in 1999 by Paul Tollett and Rick Van Santen. It takes place annually in the California desert near the city of Indio. In its early years, Coachella primarily featured mainstream rock, alternative, and electronic acts. However, as the festival evolved, it began to showcase a more diverse lineup.
And Latino representation is nothing new at Coachella. In fact, Latinos have been on the festival’s stage since Day One.
Zack de la Rocha
Even though Bad Bunny is credited with being the first Latino artist to headline Coachella, Zack de la Rocha was the first Latino to perform at the musical festival in 1999, its debut year.
“Zack de la Rocha’s headline performance in 1999 marked a pivotal moment for Latino representation at Coachella,” Hola writes. “As the frontman of Rage Against the Machine, de la Rocha brought his fiery energy and politically charged lyrics to the desert stage, captivating audiences and solidifying his place in music history. His presence as the first Latino headliner set the stage for future generations of Latin artists to shine at Coachella.”
Bad Bunny
The international Puerto Rican star headlined Coachella in 2023. He performed had the crowd screaming out the lyrics of over a dozen of his hits, from “Titi Me Pregunto” to “Te Bote” to “Depues de la Playa.”
Karol G
One of our favorite Coachella performances is when Karol G headlined in 2022, with a tribute to No. 1 hits from Latino artists over the decades. From Selena’s Flor to the Macarena to Luis Fonsi’s Despacito, Karol G had the crowd dancing and singing along in Spanish.
