Coachella witnessed a night that will be etched in the history of K-pop and live music. Katseye's performance alongside the K-Pop group Huntr/x, singing the 2026 Oscar-winning song "Golden," was a highlight. As the venue's speakers played "Golden" behind a dark curtain, the audience recognized the melody. When the lights came up, Yoonchae Jeong and Megan Skiendiel took turns singing the opening verses. However, what followed brought the house down. One by one, three figures emerged from the shadows: Ejae (Rumi), Audrey Nuna (Mira), and Rei Ami (Zoey), the talented artists behind the fictional group Huntr/x. Together, the eight voices harmonized "Golden," becoming one of the most talked-about moments of the festival's first day.

The Great Ovation

This was Katseye's first performance without Manon Bannerman, who announced her temporary departure from the group in February. At the time, the agency stated, "After sincere and thoughtful discussions, we are informing you that Manon will be taking a temporary break from group activities to focus on her health and well-being. We fully support this decision. Katseye remains committed to supporting each other and the fans, who mean everything to us."

Fans of the group had already had a first glimpse of the quintet's new lineup the day before Coachella, when Katseye released the music video for their single "Pinky Up." But it was in the desert where Yoonchae, Lara Raj, Sophia, Daniela, and Megan proved that the group's energy remains undiminished.

It's no coincidence that “Golden” was the song chosen for this historic moment. The song made history at the 2016 Academy Awards by becoming the first K-pop song to win the Oscar for Best Original Song. During the ceremony, Ejae said, "Thank you to the Academy for this amazing award. When I was little, I was teased for liking K-pop, but now everyone sings our song and the lyrics in Korean. I'm so proud. And I realized that, just like the song, This award isn't about success, but about perseverance." That same spirit shone brightly at Coachella,where Katseye and Huntr/x proved that K-pop is here to define an era.