The xx Make Triumphant Return at Coachella

The xx returned to the stage on April 10, 2026, during the first weekend of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. The performance marked the first time the U.K. Trio had performed together as a band in eight years.

Taking the Main stage at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, the group delivered a set described by the Los Angeles Times as being bigger, brasher than ever. According to the festival’s streaming schedule, the band performed from 7:00 PM to 7:55 PM on April 10, 2026.

The xx’s return was among the most buzzed-about sets of the festival this year, a credit to how well their catalog has stood up on the merits.

Los Angeles Times

Solo Developments and Reunion

During the eight-year hiatus from performing as a collective, the three members—Romy Madley Croft, Oliver Sim, and Jamie xx—maintained their presence in the music industry through individual projects.

Jamie xx, the band’s producer and drummer, continued his work as a DJ and producer, becoming a mainstay at festivals and being described as one of the most sophisticated, exultant DJ’s working.

Romy Madley Croft transitioned into a role as a sapphic-nightlife sovereign in 2023 following the release of the club-oriented track Mid Air. Meanwhile, Oliver Sim released Hideous Bastard, a project characterized as minimalist and horror-streaked.

Musical Legacy and Industry Influence

The return of The xx is viewed within the context of their significant influence on the indie rock and pop landscapes. The band is credited with reinventing the traditional guitar-bass-drums palette to align with the EDM boom, while maintaining a stark and lovelorn quality that the Los Angeles Times compared to Motown.

Industry analysis suggests that the band’s debut helped initiate a broader shift toward hyper-intimate headphone pop. This stylistic evolution is cited as a precursor to the sound of contemporary artists, with reports stating This proves hard to imagine Billie Eilish sounding quite the same without them.

Coachella 2026 Context

The performance took place during Weekend 1 of Coachella 2026, which ran from April 10 to April 12, 2026. The festival’s first weekend featured a diverse lineup of global artists and headliners.

Other prominent performers scheduled for the event included:

• Headlining sets from Sabrina Carpenter, Justin Bieber, and Karol G.
• Performances by the Filipino girl group BINI.
• Sets from Japanese singer Fujii Kaze and the global girl group KATSEYE.
• Appearances by K-pop soloist Taemin and the legendary group BIGBANG.

The festival, which sold out for both its first weekend (April 10–12) and second weekend (April 17–19), utilized live streams via YouTube to allow viewers to watch performances, including the set by The xx.