Karol G Makes History: A Dazzling Coachella Headlining Debut

On Sunday (April 12), the global superstar Karol G etched her name in history as the first Latina woman to headline Coachella in the festival's 27-year history.

Thirty minutes after the scheduled 9:55 p.m. start time, the audience watched as crew members assembled the Colombian singer’s elaborate two-story set. Around 10:25 p.m., a prologue flashed across the main Coachella Stage’s screens, narrating a story of feminine power, friendship, sexuality, vulnerability, celebration, and triumph.

The show commenced with 2025’s “Latina Forever,” featuring roughly 20 dancers adorned with gold fabric and sequins. This was followed by last summer’s hit single “Un Gatito Me Llamó,” delivered from atop the cave, and 2023’s “Oki Doki,” surrounded by agile male dancers.

What followed was a celebration of Karol G’s star power and a vibrant showcase of Latin music and culture. Traditional mariachi, flags of South and Central American countries, special guests, and Karol G’s presence and words amplified this celebration.

“Myself, I am Carolina Giraldo from Medllín, Colombia. And today, I am the first Latina woman to headline Coachella,” she said. “And I’m very happy and very proud about this. But at the same time, it feels … late. There has been 27 years about, this festival going on, and this is the first time a Latina girl is headlining this festival. So I just want to say that before me, there were so many great Latin artists, legendary Latino artists, that gave me the opportunity to be here tonight. So this is not just about me. This is about my Latina community, this is about my people. And at the same time, this is for my Latinos that have been struggling in this country lately.”

This moment follows Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show, which paid homage to his native Puerto Rico. Karol G not only captivated the audience at Coachella but also reached a global audience through the livestream.

These are five of the best moments from the show.

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• The Dazzling Costumes

  Karol G showcased five outfit changes, each memorable. She began in a gold fringed top and mini-skirt, followed by a tiered skirt in the colors of the Colombian flag, a glittery top, and a red feathered headdress. Later, she and her dancers wore silver outfits, dancing in a shallow pool. She also appeared in a bikini top and bottom made of green leafs and vines, and a shimmery miniskirt with a white train and a bustier top with red, yellow and blue ruffles.

  The water section was one of the sexiest portions of the show. Many of Coachella’s most iconic pop headlining performances have left us with indelible images — Beyoncé on a crane gliding above the crowd during “Drunk In Love” in 2018, Lady Gaga on a chess board battle dancing with a previous version of herself for “Poker Face” in 2025 — and the visuals of Karol and her dancers pressing themselves against each other in this shallow pool during “Bandida entrenada” and “OJOS FERRARI” seem likely to enter this canon.

• The Special Guests

  Karol G welcomed four other famous artists. Mariah Angeliq joined her for a rendition of “EL MAKINON.” Becky G strutted onstage for “MAMIII.” Karol performed an unreleased ballad, “Después de ti,” with Greg Gonzalez of Cigarettes After Sex. Wisin performed “Pam pam,” “Saoco,” “Mayor Que Yo,” and “Rakata.”

• The Mariachi Moment

  Karol incorporated Latin culture with an all-female mariachi band. They performed “Negrita de Mis Pesares,” followed by Karol’s 2025 song “Ese Hombre Es Malo,” and the Becky G appearance for “MAMIII.”

• The Moving Speech

  Karol G addressed the crowd in English, acknowledging the historical significance of the moment. She said, “Myself, I am Carolina Giraldo from Medllín, Colombia. And today, I am the first Latina woman to headline Coachella.” She continued, expressing pride and acknowledging the struggles of the Latino community.

  “And at the same time, this is for my Latinos that have been struggling in this country lately. We stand for them, I stand for my Latina community, and at the same time I am very proud because this brings out the best in us. Unity, resilience, a strong spirit — and we don’t do this because we want to take everyone out. We do this because we want everyone to feel welcome to our culture, to our roots, to our music. So I just want everyone to feel proud of where you come from, please. Don’t feel fear. Feel proud. Raise your flag.”

• The Crowd Participation

  Karol G walked down the barricade, shaking hands with fans. The crowd waved flags of Colombia, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and El Salvador. The set closed with “PROVENZA,” after cutting short "Si antes te hubiera conocido" due to time constraints.

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