The xx Coachella 2026: Full Setlist and Performance Footage

The xx ended an eight-year live hiatus with three sold-out shows at Mexico City’s Pepsi Centre WTC from April 3-5 and a high-profile return to the Coachella Stage on April 10, 2026. This reunion, featuring a mix of career classics and solo material, signals a new era and the release of a fourth studio album.

In the high-stakes ecosystem of the festival circuit, a reunion is never just about the music. it is a calculated brand relaunch. For a trio like The xx, whose identity is built on a foundation of minimalist sound and emotional candor, returning after nearly a decade of silence is a precarious maneuver. The risk is obvious: either they return as legacy acts playing the hits of a bygone era, or they successfully pivot their brand equity to encompass the artistic growth achieved during their solo ventures. This wasn’t a mere nostalgia tour—it was a strategic re-entry into the global market.

The logistics of such a comeback are a nightmare of coordination. Moving a production of this scale into Mexico City and then immediately pivoting to the Coachella desert requires more than just a tour manager; it demands a logistical leviathan. The execution of these dates suggests a heavy reliance on regional event security and A/V production vendors capable of handling the pressures of sold-out, 8,000-capacity venues and the technical demands of a world-class festival stage.

The Mexico City Soft Launch

Before hitting the Coachella Stage, the band opted for a “soft launch” in Mexico City. Performing three headline shows at the Pepsi Centre WTC on April 3rd, 4th, and 5th, the trio used the residency to shake off eight years of rust. The reception was feverish, with the 8,000-capacity venue packed to the rafters each night. According to NME, the audience was treated to a 19-song setlist that served as a retrospective of their entire career, spanning xx, Coexist, and I See You.

The Mexico City run was where the band first tested the waters for their new material. On the final night, they debuted a new track titled “Silhouettes” at the set’s mid-point. This was the only new material played during the run, though it served as a critical signal to the industry that a new album is expected sometime this year. They too gave “Seasons Run,” a cut from I See You, its live debut during that same final show. By opening every night with “Crystalised” and closing with “Infinity,” the band anchored their return in the emotional familiarity that built their initial fanbase.

From a business perspective, the Mexico City dates functioned as a proof-of-concept. The ability to sell out three consecutive nights in a foreign market proves that the band’s intellectual property remains potent despite the long hiatus. This kind of demand often triggers a surge in backend revenue for the label and creates a massive windfall for the local luxury hospitality sectors as international fans descend on the city.

The Coachella Sunset and the Setlist Strategy

The culmination of this return arrived on Friday, April 10, when The xx took the Coachella Stage. Positioned just ahead of headliner Sabrina Carpenter, the band played a sunset set that combined their atmospheric group identity with the distinct flavors of their solo work. The band described the moment on Instagram, stating, “Our first festival show in eight years, and to share it with you at sunset felt special.”

The Coachella setlist was a curated blend of the familiar and the new:

• “Crystalised”
• “Say Something Loving”
• “Islands”
• “Angels”
• “Fiction”
• “I’ll Take Care Of You”
• “Shelter”
• “VCR”
• “Enjoy Your Life”
• “Wanna”
• “Treat Each Other Right”
• “GMT”
• “On Hold”
• “I Dare You”
• “Intro”

The inclusion of a medley featuring solo tracks like Romy’s “Enjoy Your Life,” Oliver Sim’s “GMT,” and Jamie xx’s “Wanna” was a masterstroke in brand integration. Rather than treating their solo careers as distractions, the band presented them as complementary chapters of a larger narrative. This integration is a complex legal and financial arrangement, often requiring specialized IP lawyers to navigate the royalty splits and publishing rights between the group’s collective catalog and the members’ individual solo contracts.

The Solo Era as R&D

Since their 2017 album I See You, the trio has operated as a decentralized creative unit. Romy released her debut Mid Air in 2023, while Oliver Sim dropped Hideous Bastard in 2022. Jamie xx, perhaps the most visible of the three in the festival circuit, released his second solo album In Waves in 2024. The track “Waited All Night” from that album, featuring both Romy and Oliver, served as the early sonic blueprint for this reunion.

This period of separation functioned as a form of artistic research and development. By the time they reunited in the studio last March, the members were no longer the same artists who had stepped away in 2018. In an interview with NME at the 2024 BRIT Awards, Romy noted, “We’re just keeping it really open, and we’re up for trying new things, but it sounds like us.”

The band’s recent activity—including the release of a deluxe edition of their debut album in November and their involvement in Rough Trade’s 50th anniversary celebrations—suggests a coordinated effort to solidify their legacy while preparing the market for new material. They are not simply returning to the stage; they are reinforcing their position as architects of a specific, influential sound.

As The xx prepare for their next Coachella weekend and potentially a wider tour, the industry will be watching closely. The transition from a successful “event” reunion to a sustainable new album cycle is where many bands falter. However, by leveraging their solo growth and maintaining a strict adherence to their aesthetic brand, The xx have positioned themselves for a triumphant second act. For those navigating the complexities of talent management, contract renegotiations, or large-scale event production, the World Today News Directory remains the primary resource for finding the vetted professionals necessary to execute a return of this magnitude.

Disclaimer: The views and cultural analyses presented in this article are for informational and entertainment purposes only. Information regarding legal disputes or financial data is based on available public records.