Two years ago, Sabrina Carpenter stood on the Coachella stage at sunset and told the crowd, “See you back here when I headline.” On Friday night, she cashed that check — and then some.
Carpenter opened Coachella 2026 Weekend 1 with “Sabrinawood,” a vintage Hollywood-themed extravaganza that featured a mock Hollywood Hills set piece, multiple costume changes, and cameos from Sam Elliott, Susan Sarandon, and Will Ferrell. The production was elaborate, cinematic, and unapologetically fun — exactly the kind of thing Carpenter told interviewers she’d been building for seven months.
The set kicked off with a black-and-white intro where Elliott, playing a highway cop, warns her not to go to California. From there, it was a full sprint through her biggest songs. “Espresso,” “Please Please Please,” and “Taste” all landed early, giving the crowd an immediate jolt. “Manchild” got its own visual gag with backup dancers dressed as Dalmatians. And a reworked “Copacabana” interlude swapped in the lyrics “Sabrina / She’s at Coachella!” — which is exactly the kind of absurd confidence that got her here in the first place.
Not everything hit. Sarandon’s extended monologue was plagued by audio issues and ran long. And some critics noted the set was front-loaded with hits, making the middle stretch feel slow. But the closer made up for it — Carpenter returned to the stage for “Espresso,” espresso martini in hand, telling the crowd: “Two years ago, I wanted to put out a little song before Coachella. And now I think you might know the f—ing words.”
They did.
Whether or not she topped last year’s Short n’ Sweet Tour as a live performer, Carpenter proved one thing Friday night: she knows how to build a moment. And she’s got the songs to fill it.
Weekend 2 is next Friday. Expect refinements. Don’t expect her to dial it back.
