Last week, Anitta announced she was stepping away from this year’s Coachella over “unexpected personal reasons.” With her departure, the Brazilian star leaves a second-liner Coachella slot vacant for a possible Latin artist to fill.
Over the last several years, Coachella has done an excellent job of highlighting Latin music at the festival overall, including on the main stage — Becky G, Peso Pluma, Grupo Firme, and J Balvin come to mind.
And this year is no exception: Música mexicana stars Junior H and Iván Cornejo each take on similar billing to Anitta’s slot. Lower on the lineup, acts such as duo CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso, the Marías, Rawayana, reggaeton Mexa star El Malilla, and cumbia group Los Milros, along with DJs ALOK and Coco & Breezy, are also set to make appearances.
Since her March 20 announcement, Latin music fans have begun to speculate which artist — with a similar vibe to Anitta — could take over her slot. Here’s what we know could happen:
POSSIBLE: Don Omar
It’s unclear if Don Omar will perform at the festival, although it’s definitely possible. He’s a scheduled headliner for Baja Beach Festival and Sueños Fest. He’s also set to conclude his Back to Reggaeton Tour with shows in Mexico this weekend, so a desert trip doesn’t sound crazy. (A rep for the singer did not immediately respond to Rolling Stone‘s request for comment.)
NOT HAPPENING: Rauw Alejandro
Fans on TikTok speculated that Anitta’s replacement could be Rauw Alejandro, since he’s scheduled to perform on the West Coast for his Cosa Nuestra World Tour in April. A source close to Rauw confirmed to Rolling Stone that the Puerto Rican star won’t be at the festival this year, since he has shows scheduled in Las Vegas, San Francisco, and Fresno the first weekend of Coachella. (He’s set for arena shows in Los Angeles from April 25 through 26.)
POSSIBLE BUT UNLIKELY: Feid
The Colombian star is touring in Europe through the end of March but has a free schedule in April. A Feid appearance — in Anitta’s second-liner slot — doesn’t feel too far from the reality since Ferxxo is scheduled to headline at New York’s Governor’s Ball in June. However, a source tells Rolling Stone that the festival has not reached out to the Colombian star. Feid also has several other festivals lined up for the summer: Lollapalooza Paris in July and Hard Summer in LA in August. Last year, the singer joined Blxst at Coachella to debut their collaboration.
KEEP DREAMING: Karol G and Bad Bunny
Karol G performed on the mainstage back in 2022, bringing out Becky G for “Mami,” and celebrating Mañana Será Bonito at the festival. If Karol G returns to the desert anytime soon, she’d deserve a headlining slot. Same with Bad Bunny, who headlined the festival two years ago.
NOT HAPPENING: Shakira
Shakira’s name made headlines after reports that Coachella declined to book her for the 2024 edition. It’s most likely not happening for 2025 either. Then singer is on her Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran tour, and is scheduled to conclude that Latin American run on Coachella weekend in Medellín, Colombia.
POSSIBLE: Myke Towers
Myke Towers has yet to be booked for the iconic festival and could be a viable option to replace Anitta. The Puerto Rican star postponed his U.S. run for La Pantera Negra last year and promised new dates for 2025. He’s set to perform in Mexico in late April, before shows in Europe the following month.
UNLIKELY: Kali Uchis
Kali Uchis is a Coachella veteran, playing in 2023 and in 2018, but a return to the desert for 2025 is unlikely. The Colombian star performed at Coachella to celebrate her album Red Moon in Venus, bringing out Omar Apollo and Don Toliver for duets. Uchis is deep in promoting her upcoming English album SIncerely, led by single “Sunshine & Rain,” which drops Friday.
NOT HAPPENING: Maluma
Maluma won’t be available for Coachella 2025. The Colombian star’s management office confirmed to Rolling Stone that he’ll be on his +Pretty +Dirty tour in Europe through early April, and then he’ll be “focused on preparations” for his massive Medallo en el Mapa stadium show in Medellin, scheduled for April 26. He’s scheduled to perform in Mexico in August.
VERY UNLIKELY: Luísa Sonza
How iconic would it be to have another Brazilian queen perform at Coachella in Anitta’s spot? It’s highly unlikely that the Éscandalo Íntimo star will make the trek to the desert for the festival since she’s scheduled for a show celebrating her latest album in São Paulo during Coachella weekend.
NOT HAPPENING: Emilia
Argentine pop queen Emilia has quickly become one of the most promising Latin pop acts but has yet to tour the United States after repeatedly selling out massive venues across Latin America. Emilia tells Rolling Stone that she’s not performing at the fest. “It would be an honor to be considered to perform on such an iconic stage. Anitta is an irreplaceable artist, that I admire greatly,” she says. “Being part of the Coachella lineup would be a dream come true for me.”
POSSIBLE: Pabllo Vittar
After making history as the first drag queen to perform at Coachella in 2022, Pabllo Vittar could be the perfect replacement for Anitta. The singer packed the Gobi stage the same year Anitta played the main stage, and since then the pair linked up on Luísa Sonza’s album and on the viral “Alibi Pt. 2” with Sevdaliza and Yseult. Could Pabllo Vittar be the star to take her spot on the lineup?
UNLIKELY: Omar Apollo
Omar Apollo’s been off the road for several months, and for that reason, we think it’s unlikely he’d replace Anitta. Apollo concluded his God Said No world tour last fall, and performed at Coachella in 2022 to celebrate his album, Ivory. He also joined Kali Uchis for a surprise duet the following year. If he has new music on the way, maybe the Mexican American star could return for 2026.
NOT HAPPENING: Jhayco
Don’t expect to see Jhayco and his Vida Rockstar at Coachella this year. A rep for the musician confirmed to Rolling Stone that the Puerto Rican star will not be performing at the festival. He’s scheduled for Sueños fest in Chicago and a tour in Spain this July.
NOT HAPPENING: J Balvin, Peso Pluma, Young Miko, and Ludmilla
All four of these performers hit the Coachella stage last year. Balvin brought out Will Smith, Peso Pluma got sexy with Anitta for “Bellakeo,” Young Miko debuted on the main stage, and Ludmilla repped Brazil in the desert. Given the recency of their performances at the festival, their return to Coachella in 2025 is unlikely.
