The Strokes Make Political Statement at Coachella 2026

The Strokes made a bold political statement during their performance at Coachella 2026, showcasing a video montage that criticized US-Israeli bombings in the Middle East. The band performed their song "Oblivius" for the first time since 2016, leaving audiences both live and online surprised by the unexpected content. Their world tour announcement followed this impactful performance, which included a headlining appearance in Los Angeles. Justin Bieber also made waves at the festival with special guest performances, adding to the excitement of the event.

By Narendra Chaudhary Apr 20, 2026, 12:11 IST

The Strokes' Powerful Conclusion at Coachella

This past weekend, The Strokes concluded their performance at Coachella with a striking political message. The band showcased a video montage that accused the CIA of orchestrating regime changes in various nations over the years, culminating with footage of bombings in Gaza and Iran, as reported by a media outlet. This unexpected visual commentary surprised both the live audience and viewers at home, differing significantly from their previous weekend's performance. The accompanying song, "Oblivius," had not been played live since 2016, featuring lead singer Julian Casablancas repeating the provocative line, "What side you standing on?"

The Strokes Criticize US-Israeli Actions at Coachella

As The Strokes wrapped up their set on Saturday night, they performed against a backdrop of an illuminated mosque. The large LED screens displayed recent American bombings in the Middle East, with captions like "Over 30 universities destroyed in Iran" and a clip showing the destruction of a building in Gaza, labeled "Last university standing in Gaza."

Following their first weekend at Coachella, The Strokes announced a world tour set to kick off in June and continue into the fall. This tour will feature a headlining performance in the Los Angeles area at the Just Like Heaven festival in August, organized by Goldenvoice, the same company behind Coachella. Their montage concluded with footage highlighting the destruction of over 30 universities in Iran due to US-Israeli airstrikes, including the demolition of al-Israa University in Gaza, the last university standing in the region before its destruction in 2024. Clips from their performance quickly gained traction online, with one video amassing over 5.1 million views on social media before being taken down.

Highlights from Coachella 2026

Earlier in the festival, Justin Bieber made headlines with his second headlining performance at Coachella 2026. On Sunday, he was joined by several special guests, including Billie Eilish, who performed alongside him on "One Less Lonely Girl," and SZA, who sang "Snooze" with the pop star. Surprise appearances by Sexyy Red and Big Sean added to the excitement of Bieber's performance on April 18.