The best queer acts to see at Coachella 2026, from Ethel Cain to KATSEYE
CMAT, Ethel Cain, and Little Simz are among the LGBTQ+ act at Coachella 2026. (Getty)
CMAT, Ethel Cain, and Little Simz are among the LGBTQ+ act at Coachella 2026. (Getty)
The line-up has been announced for Coachella 2026, and it includes a number of LGBTQ+ acts.
Headlining the 2026 festival, taking place at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California across two weekends (10-12 and 17-19 April) are Sabrina Carpenter, Justin Bieber and Karol G. It’ll be the first time any of them have headlined the festival.
Carpenter performed at Coachella 2024 but since then has found a new level of success with albums Short n’ Sweet and Man’s Best Friend.
The festival line-up also shows a variety of acts set to perform, with LGBTQ+ acts including Ethel Cain, CMAT, and more.
Here are the LGBTQ+ acts we’ve spotted so far.
CMAT
The Irish singer is everywhere at the moment so being at Coachella 2026 is no surprise. After releasing her third album, Euro-Country, last month, as well as a killer Glastonbury 2025 set and her current US tour, the “Take A Sexy Picture Of Me” singer is headed back to the Californian desert for some more fun.
The xx
Featuring Oliver Sim, Romy, and Jamie Smith/Jamie xx The xx are making a full blown comeback, especially following their LIDO Festival performance in London over the summer. The band has been hard at work on their fourth studio album and we hope this will be on show at Coachella 2026.
Ethel Cain
The singer-songwriter released Willoughby Tucker, I’ll Always Love You at the beginning of August, which served as a sort-of prequel to her 2022 debut album, Preacher’s Daughter. Given Cain, aka Hayden Anhedönia, released anoter recording, Perverts, in January, maybe there’ll be even more music by next April.
KATSEYE
Boasting two queer members of the group, KATSEYE has a place on this list. Lara Rajagopalan first revealed she’s a member of the LGBTQ+ community in March by describing herself as “half a fruitcake”. And Megan came out as bisexual weeks later.
Slayyyter
The bisexual pop music stan has just supported Kesha on her Tits Out tour. So could we see her bring the “Joyride” singer onstage? We hope so! That would be one hell of a joint slay! If the recently released “Cannibalism” is a taste of what we can expect from the singer, consider us starving for more!
Wet Leg
Fronted by Rhian Teasdale Wet Leg had a good summer touring the UK with more performances coming up on both sides of the Atlantic, as well as Europe before the end of the year. So, there’ll be raring to go by April.
Little Simz
The British rapper is also touring at the moment after releasing her album, Lotus, in June. Hopefully Coachella 2026 is the first of many festivals for Little Simz next year!
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