Noga Erez Makes History as First Israeli Artist to Perform at Coachella
The Tel Aviv electro-pop star delivered an emotional 45-minute set alongside headliners Justin Bieber and Sabrina Carpenter, defying boycott threats and wartime obstacles.
Israeli singer Noga Erez became the first Israeli artist to perform at Coachella on Saturday, April 11, taking the stage at one of the world’s most prestigious music festivals before a crowd of thousands in Indio, California. The historic performance came despite boycott threats from pro-Palestinian activists and logistical challenges getting her crew out of Israel amid ongoing conflict.
Erez, known for her genre-blending electro-pop sound, appeared alongside headliners Justin Bieber and Sabrina Carpenter at the festival, which features 100 acts across eight stages over two weekends. The milestone represents a significant breakthrough for Israeli cultural representation in mainstream global entertainment, particularly as the music industry has become increasingly hostile terrain for Israeli artists.
“Forces I Didn’t Know I Had”
During her 45-minute set on the Gobi Stage, Erez addressed what she called “the elephant in the room,” her Israeli identity. “I come from a very complex part of this planet,” she told the crowd. “To get us all here took forces I didn’t know I had.” The singer expressed gratitude for the opportunity while acknowledging the weight of performing while her country remains at war. “I’m so f***ing grateful to be here,” she said to cheers from the audience. “But at the same time, I’m just heartbroken and sad because of things that are happening at home and around it.”
Overcoming Boycott Pressure
The performance came after pro-Palestinian activists threatened to force a cancellation of her show in the days leading up to the festival. Activists urged attendees to boycott her set and called on her to “go back to Israel” because of her nationality. The hostility toward Israeli artists at Coachella was previously on display when Irish rap group Kneecap incorporated anti-Israel messaging into their 2025 set, including “F**k Israel, free Palestine” rhetoric. Erez’s successful performance, met with enthusiastic crowd support, stands in sharp contrast to those boycott efforts.
Music as Bridge
Erez articulated a vision of music as a unifying force despite geopolitical divides. “I just love this music thing so much, and right now doing this thing is exactly what I’m doing it for — to put a bunch of strangers together and make them feel like a family, united around something,” she told the crowd. She performed fan favorites including “End of the Road,” “The Vandalist,” and “Dumb,” opening with her new track “Duck Season.” At the end of the show, Erez and her partner Ori Rousso, along with their band, dancers, and crew, stood onstage to thank the audience.
Breaking Through on the Global Stage
Erez’s Coachella debut represents a rare win for Israeli cultural diplomacy at a time when Eurovision controversies and BDS pressure have created obstacles for Israeli artists on international stages. Her appearance alongside some of the biggest names in music demonstrates that Israeli artists can achieve mainstream cultural acceptance despite organized opposition. The Tel Aviv-based artist, who has been touring the United States and Europe since the October 7, 2023 attacks, continues to bring her distinctive electro-pop sound to growing audiences worldwide.
Not pro-Palestine. It’s pro-Hamas. If it was pro-Palestine, there’d be rallies supporting the dozens of Israeli-Palestinian peace groups that have defied grief and loss for decades to do the hard work of reconciliation. Jordan is involved in some of these, as Jordan is 78% of former Ottoman Palestine, carved away from the much larger territory in 1925. MSM has given almost no attention to these brave Arabs and Jews who need funding and a megaphone. shalom /salaam