SZA has firmly dismissed swirling speculation that she was hired as a contingency performer for Coachella 2026 in case headliner Justin Bieber canceled his highly anticipated sets.
The Grammy-winning artist, born Solána Imani Rowe, directly addressed the rumor on social media, commenting under an April 10 Instagram post that claimed she had been paid a six-figure sum to remain "Coachella-ready" as Bieber's potential replacement. "Lmao who made this up?" SZA wrote. "I've seen this 4 times now. I'm in New York no one paid me a dime. Wishing everyone the best."
Despite her clear denial, fans expressed hope for a surprise appearance during Bieber's performances, noting their previous collaboration on an acoustic version of SZA's hit "Snooze." One commenter speculated, "Did y'all forget Bieber is in one of her videos/songs… she might pop up on his set atp," while another simply pleaded, "@sza baby girl just come we want to see you."
Bieber, who is co-headlining the festival with Sabrina Carpenter and Karol G, previously hinted at his setlist during a Twitch livestream last October. "I'm gonna do the whole, both [SWAG] projects, probably," he revealed, "and just find a way to merge some of the old songs in where I can… I haven't performed these songs live yet, and that'll be kind of the first time I really do them all live like that."
The artist acknowledged some anxiety about touring but described Coachella as a comforting environment. "It soothes the soul," he shared.
While Bieber hasn't yet taken the stage, his influence is already visible across the festival grounds. Close friend Kylie Jenner arrived sporting an oversized tank top featuring his face and debuted a floral manicure inspired by his 2025 single "Daisies," captioning her Instagram Stories, "It's giving Bieberchella."
As Coachella 2026 continues, all eyes remain on whether any surprise collaborations will materialize during the headline performances.