Charli XCX Resurrects ‘Brat Summer’ at Coachella 2025 With Star-Studded Surprises
With surprise appearances from Billie Eilish, Lorde, and Troye Sivan, Charli XCX turned Coachella into a euphoric celebration of pop power, friendship, and the never-ending reign of Brat Summer.
Lorde, Billie Eilish, and Troye Sivan joined the pop provocateur in a high-octane set that blurred feuds, friendships, and eras—reminding everyone that Brat Summer might not be over after all.
It may be spring in the California desert, but Charli XCX brought back the heat and attitude of Brat Summer at Coachella 2025—reviving the beloved era with a glitter-drenched, guest-packed performance that fans won’t forget anytime soon.
Despite having “officially” declared Brat Summer over back in September 2024, Charli’s return to the Coachella stage this past weekend proved that pop eras don’t die—they evolve, glitter, and scream right back into the limelight.
Charli first lit up the stage by summoning Sweat tour collaborator Troye Sivan, and the chemistry was electric. The two strutted and spun across the stage to their revamped version of “Talk Talk,” with Sivan yelling, “I’m so f—ing obsessed with you, Charli!” The moment felt like a fever dream of mutual admiration and full-bodied pop euphoria.
Next came a jaw-dropper: Lorde, emerging like a neon ghost from the smoke to duet on the now-iconic remix of “Girl, So Confusing.” The two pop forces—who once shared a public friction—delivered the song like a confessional. Hugging at the end, they turned a track about competition and complexity into a healing anthem of womanhood and solidarity. Charli sang into her Auto-Tuned mic, “Lorde Summer 2025!” as if declaring a new sequel to the Brat universe.
But the surprises didn’t end there.
Midway through a rowdy performance of the “Guess” remix, Charli screamed, “That’s right, bitch!” before launching into the track solo—until Billie Eilish jumped on stage, setting the crowd ablaze. Eilish brought fresh energy to their 2024 collaboration, leaping across the stage with Charli and closing the song in a burst of laughter, hugs, and expletives. “I f—ing love you, bitch!” Charli shouted as the two embraced.
The rest of the setlist leaned heavily into Brat, as expected, with fans screaming every lyric and one lucky attendee even spotlighted to perform the viral “Apple” dance live on screen. Charli made room for a few fan-favorite throwbacks, including “Unlock It,” “Blame It on Your Love,” and the euphoric closer: a surprise rendition of Icona Pop’s “I Love It,” which she famously co-wrote.
As the lights dimmed and the stars faded, Charli’s final statement wasn’t a song, but a message—beamed across the giant stage screens in her signature tongue-in-cheek tone:
“Thank you so much Coachella. Does this mean that Brat Summer is finally over????? … Idk? … Maybe? … yeah cuz duh it was already over like last year. … wait… was it? … NO???… I don’t know who I am if it’s over??? F——-… Wait… I remembered… I’m Charli XCX… and honestly… I just want this moment to last forever… PLEASE DON’T LET IT BE OVER.”
Despite highway billboards teasing the end of Brat Summer—its lime-green logo scribbled out—Charli made it clear that her most iconic era isn’t ready to be buried. If anything, it’s expanding.
And fans aren’t complaining. This isn’t just a musical moment—it’s a pop culture movement. Brat Summer lives on, and it’ll ride one more glittery wave when Charli returns to the Coachella stage for Weekend 2 on April 19.
For now, the message is loud and clear: Brat Summer isn’t over. It’s just getting started.
