Coachella 2025: The biggest surprises from Billie Eilish to Bernie Sanders

Arca and Addison Rae perform at Coachella 2025. Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Coachella

Coachella 2025 took place in Indo, California over the weekend and, as is usual for the festival, there were a lot of surpises and eye-grabbing moments happening. Headliners Lady Gaga, Green Day, and Post Malone kept their sets pretty straight forward but lower down the bill there were plenty of unexpected appearances. Chief among them was Charli xcx who marked out her future headliner credentials with a set that revived Brat summer for one night in the desert. She was joined by famous friends Billie Eilish, Troye Sivan, and Lorde.

Charli wasn't the only one to use her contacts to pull off a surprise or two though. Below is a list of some of the weekend’s best moments and performances. The festival returns next weekend for another round. You can find details on how to watch it all live here.

Charli xcx with Lorde, Billie Eilish, and Troye Sivan

🚨Charli XCX brought up Lorde at Coachella 2025 last nightpic.twitter.com/Vsly64rVol
— Lorde Haus (@LordeHaus) April 13, 2025

Billie and @charli_xcx performing “Guess” at Coachella 2025 pic.twitter.com/i5fHkymD7m
— billie eilish (@billieeilish) April 13, 2025

Troye Sivan and Charli xcx perform "Talk talk" at #Coachella pic.twitter.com/LXtmmaS3FN
— Variety (@Variety) April 13, 2025

Charli pulled out all the stops during her main stage set, calling on Billie Eilish to perform "Guess" and Troye Sivan for "Talk Talk." Lorde, meanwhile, made a rare appearance at the festival, joining Charli for "Girl, so confusing."

Arca and Addison Rae

also, can we appreciate addison rae fangirling over arca 😭😭 they’re so cutesy pic.twitter.com/WQt9ffjmcg
— nic🇻🇪 (@stuckonyourself) April 14, 2025

Addison Rae joined Arca on stage during her Sunday evening set and performed the remixed version of her song "Aquamarine." Rae also revealed the relase date of her upcoming project (June 6) via an eye-grabbing method.

Clairo introduced by Bernie Sanders

Bernie Sanders introducing Clario at Coachella pic.twitter.com/ReFu3318hc
— ROSE LANI (@pradamercury) April 13, 2025

OK so he didn't sing anything(boo) but Bernie Sanders was at Coachella this year and introduced Clairo to the stage before her set. Sanders was in California as part of his tour with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Megan Thee Stallion and friends

Victoria Monet makes an appearance during Megan Thee Stallion’s Coachella set.
pic.twitter.com/yCMPaSx1Vl
— Stallion Hub (@stallion_hub) April 14, 2025

Megan Thee Stallion brings out Ciara #MEGCHELLA pic.twitter.com/H1gBsEJlys
— Ciara Squad (@CiaraSquad_) April 14, 2025

ICONIC MOMENT!! MEGAN THEE STALLION AND QUEEN LATIFAH ON COACHELLA!!! pic.twitter.com/oMwHpSL73R
— ໊ (@stallionhourly) April 14, 2025

✧ 𝟒.𝟏𝟑.𝟐𝟓 || courtney and 𝐦𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 perform ‘𝐭𝐲𝐠’ live from the mainstage of coachella 2025 🥹 pic.twitter.com/TxPPy05SM5
— 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 ✧˖° (@softspined) April 14, 2025

Megan Thee Stallion's Sunday night performance was filled with guest appearances. Ciara and Victoria Monét both came on stage, as did Spiritbox vocalist Courtney LaPlante for the live debut of their collaboration, "TYG." Queen Latifah got the biggest crowd reaction though, as she performed "Plan B" and her own song "U.N.I.T.Y." on the main stage.

Jennie + Kali Uchis

KALI UCHIS IS PERFORMING ‘DAMN RIGHT’ LIVE WITH JENNIE?!? OMG THIS IS INSANE!!!

ROCK WITH JENNIE COACHELLA #JENCHELLA #JENCHELLA2025 pic.twitter.com/SlYS2xWL0V
— jennie (@jenniepics) April 14, 2025

A.G. Cook and Danny Brown

danny brown party 4 u remix !!!!!!! https://t.co/UWVf2nwPSp pic.twitter.com/n1RB3Ny4by
— amandaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa (@outmycoma) April 12, 2025

Japanese Breakfast + Ginger Root (covering Gorillaz)

Japanese breakfast見てたらジンジャールートきた
ラッキー🤞 pic.twitter.com/ZWFEAOX0qF
— のひ (@no_________hi) April 13, 2025

Tyla + Becky G

Becky G joins Tyla for “On My Body” at Coachella. pic.twitter.com/Es4ijTyQvE
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) April 12, 2025

Flavor Flav, Weird Al, and the Duolingo Owl with Yo Gabba Gabba

Thundercat, Weird Al Yankovic, Paul Williams, Portugal the Man, Duo and more hit the #Coachella2025 stage with Yo Gabba Gabba pic.twitter.com/QOaKWlApLB
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) April 13, 2025

LL Cool J with the L.A. Philharmonic

LL COOL J DONT CALL IT A COME BACK IVE BEEN HERE FOR YEARS LA PHIL AT COACHELLA GOING WILD pic.twitter.com/ibcfkeANvA
— Dusty @ Coachella W1 (Coachella #18) (@drinkcomber) April 13, 2025