Day one of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival shifted focus beyond performances, with high-profile attendees using fashion and public appearances to set the tone during the festival’s opening hours.

Kylie Jenner arrived early in the evening in a fitted look that was widely shared online. The focal point was a printed top carrying a blunt, profane message referencing Justin Bieber. It signalled public support at a time when Bieber has kept a relatively low profile, with limited public appearances.

Kylie Jenner – Instagram

This reflects a growing pattern at Coachella. Celebrity attendees are increasingly using the festival to show support or address public speculation. Jenner’s appearance fit that approach, clearly intended to spread quickly across social platforms.

Bieber was not widely seen at the festival during the day, but discussion of his recent absence from major events and speculation about his career plans gained traction as images of Jenner’s outfit circulated. The message was clear.

Photo: Instagram

Elsewhere, the first day continued to serve as a networking space for the industry. Artists, influencers, and executives moved between private events and branded installations, with appearances often timed around sunset to draw a crowd. The balance between music and image-making continues to define the opening day, where outfits and public pairings carry as much weight as on-stage moments.

Justin Bieber – Instagram

This year, there was less focus on over-the-top outfits, with many opting for looks that felt intentional and considered. Several attendees chose pieces that conveyed a clear idea without overdoing it.

As the festival progresses, attention is shifting from who attends to how they present themselves. Day one suggests that at Coachella 2026, appearances are being handled with a tighter sense of purpose.

The cancellation of the latest season of The Bachelorette has triggered internal restructuring at ABC, with Maura Higgins emerging as the leading candidate to take over a franchise facing reputational challenges.

The disruption centres on Taylor Frankie Paul, who had already completed filming as the lead for season 22 before the network abruptly pulled the show days before its scheduled premiere. The decision followed public attention on a 2023 domestic violence incident involving her former partner, with footage that resurfaced leading to criticism.

Maura Higgins – Instagram

ABC responded by cancelling the broadcast. Despite having invested heavily in production, promotion and scheduling, the network confirmed it would not proceed, citing concern for those involved and the impact of airing a season tied to an active legal controversy. The move raises questions about the future of the franchise, already under pressure from declining ratings and changing audience habits.

It halted a fully produced season and disrupted ABC’s primetime schedule, forcing executives into emergency planning to replace an established reality format. It also highlighted how off-screen issues can affect the show.

Paul’s casting was presented as a change in casting approach. She was the first lead drawn from outside the traditional Bachelor ecosystem, brought in with an existing audience from The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. That visibility, however, increased the reaction once the footage resurfaced, linking the show to the controversy.

Maura Higgins – Instagram

Maura Higgins is being considered, a reality television figure with existing audience recognition. Known for Love Island and more recently The Traitors, Higgins represents a different casting choice rather than a direct replacement.

Reports around her potential casting are based on speculation rather than confirmation. Following the cancellation, attention has focused on whether ABC may explore a revised format, potentially including a live version, with Higgins as the lead. Her response, limited to a brief social media reaction, has kept attention on the speculation.

Maura Higgins – Instagram

Higgins differs in that her public profile is already established through reality television. Unlike Paul’s situation, which brought off-screen issues into focus, Higgins is not currently linked to controversy that could affect production.

Even with a replacement, there are broader concerns. Recasting a lead does not resolve the issues exposed by the cancellation. Reports suggest ABC is weighing whether to revive the format, with some indicating the franchise could face a hiatus or end if issues persist.

Audience interest is also a concern. Bringing in a known personality like Higgins may maintain short-term interest, but it continues a change away from the show’s original premise of introducing unknown participants into a structured format.

Higgins remains not confirmed. ABC has not announced a replacement lead or clarified whether the cancelled season will be reworked or cancelled.

The franchise has changed. The cancellation has led to changes where casting decisions are now influenced by risk management, public scrutiny and the ability to sustain a production after release.

If Higgins steps into the role, it will be as the person responsible for helping the show recover, at a time when it is unlikely to return in its previous form.

The 2026 BAFTA Awards nominations place several long-standing Academy records within reach. In major categories such as Best Director, Best Actress and Best Cinematography, nominees could secure first-time milestones or rare repeat victories if they win on the night.

This year’s leading films are distributed across multiple categories rather than dominated by a single title. One Battle After Another leads with 14 nominations, followed by Sinners and Hamnet. The current record for most BAFTA wins by a single film in one ceremony is nine, giving several titles numerical scope to challenge the benchmark. Across craft and performance categories, wins could mark firsts in nationality, gender or repeat recognition.

Chloe Zhao – Instagram

In the Best Director category, Chloé Zhao is in contention for a second BAFTA win. A victory would make her the first woman to win the Academy’s directing prize twice.

The Best Actress race features several breakthrough possibilities. Jessie Buckley could become one of the few Irish performers to claim the lead actress award. Renate Reinsve would be the first Norwegian winner in the category if successful, while Chase Infiniti could become the first non-white woman to take the prize.

Autumn Durald Arkapaw – Instagram

Behind the camera, Autumn Durald Arkapaw represents another potential milestone. A win would make her the first woman to receive the BAFTA Best Cinematography award.

The outcomes of the 2026 ceremony will therefore be measured not only by individual performances but also by whether long-standing Academy benchmarks remain unbroken.