Coachella's 2026 Lineup, Ticketmaster Faces Scrutiny, Ariana Adds More Shows

Coachella Unveils 2026 Lineup

The 2026 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival has unveiled its lineup, with Sabrina Carpenter, Justin Bieber, Karol G and Anyma set to headline the two-weekend event in Indio, California. Taking place on April 10-12 and April 17-19, the festival will also feature dozens of performers across a variety of genres, including Young Thug, the xx, FKA twigs, Addison Rae, Ethel Cain, and Nine Inch Noize. The lineup also includes a special "Bunker Debut" of Radiohead Kid A Mnesia, hinting at an intriguing side project from the iconic band.

Each headliner is set to make a unique statement. For Justin Bieber, it will be his first time headlining the festival and his first full live show in over three years. Sabrina Carpenter, meanwhile, returns to the desert after her 2024 debut, now promoted to the top of the bill following a massive year of success. It will also be Karol G's second appearance at the festival. Passes for the highly anticipated event go on sale this Friday, September 19.

Ticketmaster Faces New Scrutiny from FTC

Ticketmaster is once again facing pressure in the U.S., with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) launching an investigation into its business practices. The probe is reportedly focused on the company's compliance with a law designed to prevent automated ticket resales, also known as scalping bots. According to a Bloomberg report, the investigation is in its advanced stages, and a decision on whether to bring a formal case or pursue a settlement could be made within weeks.

In a statement defending itself, Ticketmaster argued it has invested more in combating scalpers than the rest of the industry combined. The company also suggested the FTC has a "fundamental misunderstanding" of its policies and is taking an "excessively expansionist view of the BOTS Act," the legislation at the heart of the investigation.

ICYMI:

• Robert Redford has died at the age of 89. The actor was best known for his performance in Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid and had a seven-decade spanning career.

• Spotify have allowed free users to search and instantly play any track they want. Before the update, non-paying users had to shuffle through songs to reach the track they wanted to hear.

Ariana Grande Announces Even More Dates, Revealing Full ‘Mini’ Tour

Ariana Grande has announced more shows for the London leg of her 'eternal sunshine tour', doubling her original schedule in the city. Due to overwhelming demand, the pop star has added five new dates at the O2, bringing her total in the city to ten. The additional gigs come after chaotic presales saw millions of fans queueing for tickets to what will be Grande’s first UK performances in seven years, highlighting the sheer scale of the appetite for her return to the stage.

Despite the massive demand, many genuine fans were left empty-handed as ticket resellers managed to obtain a large number of passes. Grande has since spoken out directly about the issue, stating that she has been in constant contact with her team to ensure tickets are returned to the hands of her dedicated fans and not resold for inflated prices on the secondary market.

POP FACT: On this day in 1931, the first-ever 12-inch vinyl record was played for the very first time at the Savoy Hotel in New York City.

Cardi B Announces North American Arena Tour

Cardi B has announced a North American arena tour in support of her upcoming album, Am I the Drama?. The Little Miss Drama Tour will begin in February and run through April, marking the rapper’s first major tour since 2019. The tour follows the release of her highly anticipated sophomore album, which arrives this Friday and is her first full-length project in seven years. The album is set to feature previously released singles, including "Up," "WAP," and "Outside."

ICYMI:

• Luigi Mangione’s state terrorism charges have been dismissed.

• Demi Lovato has announced her new album, ‘It’s Not That Deep,’ out on October 24th. 

• The features of Cardi B’s ‘AM I THE DRAMA?’ have been revealed, including Selena Gomez, Summer Walker, Megan Thee Stallion, Tyla, Janet Jackson, Lizzo, and more. 

• Ed Sheeran has revealed he is planning a posthumous album titled ‘Eject’ for when he dies, “It’s actually in my will, and my wife gets to pick the tracks for it.” 

• ‘Euphoria’ Season 3 is currently set to be released in Spring 2026. 

— Katie Macbeth

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