In the midst of everything, Turnstile were as excellent as ever at Coachella on Friday night. Emotional, triumphant, and cathartic, the performance proved once again why the hardcore crossover stars have ascended to such grand heights — and why, even at a festival known for pop spectacle and influencer gloss, they proved once again why they’re one of the most exciting live acts on the planet.
Friday boasted plenty of great performances, but Turnstile’s evening set on the Outdoor Theater was the undeniable high point of the day. The critically acclaimed band — who just took home the award for Best Rock Album at the 2026 Grammys thanks to last year’s NEVER ENOUGH— delivered a truly kick-ass performance to a massive, visibly energized crowd. In fact, the set sparked what felt like the biggest moshpit the festival has seen in years, a chaotic and joyous swirl of bodies that underscored the band operating at the peak of their powers.
Splitting the setlist between cuts from NEVER ENOUGH and its predecessor, the excellent GLOW ON, Turnstile’s hardcore heroics were contagiously energetic. Tracks like “HOLIDAY,” “BLACKOUT,” and “BIRDS” had the audience jumping in unison, while the band’s dynamic build-and-burst structure kept the momentum surging throughout the night. It’s been a running theme around Turnstile that you have to see them live to fully understand the appeal, and that ethos remains very much intact in 2026. Only now, the stages are bigger, the crowds are denser, and the energy feels even sweeter.
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There was certainly a weight hanging over the performance. The band’s continued success comes amidst the shocking attempted murder charges brought against their former drummer Brady Ebert, who allegedly ran over singer Brendan Yates’ 79-year-old father with a car. While the band did not address the situation directly on stage, they acknowledged the moment in a deeply personal way: the performance opened with an intro video featuring Yates’ father praising the band. “They’re all sons to me,” he said in the clip, a sentiment that hung in the air as the opening notes rang out.
When “Never Enough” kicked off moments later, Yates’ contemplative poise gave way to pure emotion. The livestream captured the intensity each member brought to the night, particularly the frontman, who carried the set with a mix of focus and visible feeling. A memorable moment came in between songs, as the camera followed Yates taking a beat and sipping on some water with an appreciative, contemplative look on his face.
At Coachella, artists are often encouraged to lean into cinematic presentation for the livestream, and Turnstile embraced that challenge in their own communal way. Dozens of camera operators were scattered throughout the crowd, capturing not just the band on stage but the fans themselves. More often than not, the massive screens showed the audience reacting — moshing, smiling, screaming — turning the spotlight outward and reinforcing the band’s long-standing emphasis on shared energy and collective experience. Seeing cameras embedded in the pit during songs like “DULL” or “MYSTERY” offered a vivid reminder of what unbridled expression looks like in real time.
It was hard not to feel a sense of joy watching the scene unfold. People of all ages and backgrounds filled the pit and surrounding field, united by the same pulse of sound and motion. When younger fans were spotted enthusiastically rocking out near the front, the broader crowd responded with cheers: a spontaneous celebration of the community Turnstile has cultivated over the years.
Turnstile structures their live shows with plenty of build-and-burst moments, and last night’s show was a great example of how fluid their dynamic has become; just like in the pit, the band expands and contracts, holds tight and releases.
And by the time the final notes rang out, the message felt unmistakable: Turnstile have come a long way from their Sonora tent debut in 2019 and their similarly cathartic return to the Mojave tent in 2022, but their rise to bigger stages hasn’t diluted the purity of their original ethos. They came, they saw, and they turned the desert into a riot.
Turnstile’s Coachella show isn’t the only time that the band will rip the stage of a festival to shreds in the next few months. They’re set to perform at the Osheaga festival in Montreal on August 1st, Outside Lands from August 7th through 9th, and then play at Shaky Knees on September 18th. Get tickets to the band’s upcoming shows over on Ticketmaster.
Read our Band of the Year interview with Turnstile here.
@coachella Not moshing alone @TURNSTILE Watch the Coachella livestream on @YouTube all weekend long. coachella turnstile
@coricaz Turnstile performing Birds at Coachella
@eucalyptussoul very human moment 🙂 love you @TURNSTILE #turnstile #coachella
Setlist:
NEVER ENOUGH
T.L.C. (TURNSTILE LOVE CONNECTION)
ENDLESS
I CARE / DULL
DON’T PLAY
SOLE
SEEIN’ STARS (with Blood Orange)
HOLIDAY
LOOK OUT FOR ME
MYSTERY
BLACKOUT
BIRDS
