Acting true to their namesake, K-pop legends BigBang made their debut at Coachella on April 12, 2026, following years of controversy and hiatus.
Active during the second generation of K-pop, BigBang quickly became a household name, with hit songs like “Fantastic Baby” and “Bang Bang Bang” garnering millions of listens in the 2010s. Before BTS rose to global supremacy, the five members of this iconic group had already achieved national and international acclaim, despite primarily performing in Korean.
However, their decade-long rise to stardom was interrupted when member Seungri was heavily involved in the 2019 Burning Sun scandal. With the Burning Sun nightclub exposed as a hub for illegal activity, Seungri, a club director, announced his departure from the group and was later sentenced to three years in prison.
Alongside this controversy, other scandals relating to drug use—such as member T.O.P’s 2017 marijuana case—left the group down two members and in disarray by the end of the decade.
With mandatory military service signaling a pause in their dominance, many fans were skeptical that BigBang would ever be able to return to their former glory.
After the remaining members—G-Dragon, Taeyang and Daesung—explored solo careers, the K-pop world was surprised to see the group listed on the 2026 Coachella lineup.
The years of inactivity led to a sense of hesitation surrounding the performance ahead of the festival.
Longtime K-pop enthusiast and PV senior Ishika Desai was unsure what to expect. “To be honest, I was nervous that their chemistry and charisma was going to be low since it was late at night, and because of all of the news surrounding the group for the past few years,” she said.
However, when the fateful night came, BigBang proved why their name remains etched in K-pop history.
PV alum Imaan Shah was among many who enjoyed the performance. “My favorite part of the performance was when they performed ‘Bang Bang Bang.’ It’s my all time favorite song, and it was so refreshing seeing them perform that song, and perform overall after such a long time,” she said.
Alongside a setlist filled with iconic hits and lesser-known B-sides, the production value drew fans in. “I really enjoyed the amount of effort that was put into the set design. The performance started off with a bang with the bright colors even though it was late at night, and every part of that aspect seemed to be intentional and engaging,” Desai said. “Despite the fact that they were missing two members, every member brought in so much energy into the performance that those absences didn’t leave a huge mark.”
Desai added that the group’s chemistry remained intact. “The whole performance seemed like they had never stopped performing as a group and their charisma really shined. No wonder they’re known as one of the most influential K-pop groups.”
While the performance proved that icons can remain relevant, the group’s decision to retain its Korean identity stood out.
In recent years, K-pop has become increasingly globalized, with the rise of entirely English songs like BTS’ “Dynamite” and Ateez’s “In Your Fantasy.” Some longtime fans have expressed concern about losing cultural authenticity.
Desai shared a similar perspective. “I feel like there are so many random, empty English lyrics simply to appeal to the Western sphere. It seems like Kpop is more about gaining Western validation now rather than its own unique genre. As a POC myself, it was really nice to see cultures that were from the Eastern sphere being celebrated, so I’m just kind of disappointed in the recent trends,” she said.
BigBang, however, stayed true to their roots, performing music that reflected its original style.
One standout moment was Daesung’s choice to perform songs in the traditional “trot” style, rarely seen on global stages. The Coachella crowd responded with enthusiasm, turning the set into a lively, festival-like celebration.
While many artists adapt to Western trends, BigBang’s performance emphasized what made the group successful in the first place: authenticity.
Despite past controversies, the large crowds that stayed for their closing sets both weekends demonstrated that a group with lasting influence and passion can still captivate audiences.
