Days before they were set to perform at one of the most watched music festivals in the world, The Lambrini Girls delivered news no band wants to share: they would not be taking the stage at Coachella 2026.
The reason was serious. Lead singer Phoebe Lunny had fractured her neck and sustained what the band described as an “acute brain injury” — an injury that was initially missed by medical professionals, leaving her without proper treatment for a critical window of time.
“We have to pull out of Coachella and reschedule our whole American headline tour,” the punk band shared in a statement posted to Instagram. “Long story short: I fractured my neck and have an acute brain injury.”
The injury took place while Lunny was in Australia. What made the situation significantly more complicated was that the initial assessment failed to identify the fracture — a misdiagnosis that meant she continued without the care and restrictions her condition required until the correct diagnosis was established.
Once properly evaluated, her doctor’s orders were unambiguous: no flying, no performing for a minimum of six weeks. Given that the band’s Coachella slot and an entire American tour were on the horizon, the implications were immediate.
Lunny addressed fans directly in the band’s Instagram post, acknowledging the devastation of the timing while being candid about why she had no choice.
“We are so gutted guys,” she wrote. “We want to be there so badly. If it was a broken leg, I would do a Dave Grohl and play it. This isn’t something we are taking lightly and we are really sad.”
The reference to Dave Grohl — the Foo Fighters frontman famous for finishing a concert with a broken leg before receiving treatment — made clear that Lunny’s threshold for performing through injury is not low. A neck fracture paired with a brain injury, however, is categorically different.
“Because it is my neck and brain, our hands are tied for now, but I’m lucky and expect a speedy recovery — thank f— lol,” she added. “Thank you for always showing up for us.”
The Tour Will Be Rescheduled — Just Later
While the Coachella date is gone, the band moved quickly to reassure American fans that the broader tour is not canceled — only delayed.
Rescheduled dates have been announced, with most shows shifted to June and September — well beyond Lunny’s six-week recovery window.
In their statement to American ticket holders, the band struck a tone that was equal parts apologetic and politically engaged — consistent with the band’s established identity as a group that fuses punk music with social commentary.
“It’s dark times. Especially in the states. There are so many good folks who are carving out community and lifting each other up in the face of fascism,” the statement read. “Making space for subversion and resistance is at the core of what this band is about.”
“Seeing people of all ages, genders and backgrounds come together to mosh, lift each other up, chant, cry, scream in both parts joyful and angry, is my greatest joy,” Lunny added.
Coachella Goes On — But Without Them
The withdrawal leaves a gap in the Coachella 2026 lineup — the festival’s 25th edition — but the show will continue with an already packed schedule of performers.
Headlining the festival are Sabrina Carpenter, Justin Bieber, and Karol G, alongside dozens of additional artists across multiple stages. Both weekends of the festival are completely sold out. Fans unable to attend in person can watch a livestream on YouTube, which will carry performances from throughout the event.
For the Lambrini Girls, Coachella will have to wait — the band expressed hope in their statement that “there is some universe we get to play next year instead.”
A fractured neck and an acute brain injury are not the kind of obstacles anyone pushes through — not even a punk band with a reputation for fearlessness. Phoebe Lunny’s injury, and the misdiagnosis that complicated it, forced the Lambrini Girls to make a difficult but necessary call. The Coachella slot is gone. The American tour is delayed. But Lunny’s framing of the situation — frank, self-deprecating, and ultimately optimistic — left fans with something to hold onto: the expectation of a full recovery and a return that, when it comes, will be all the more anticipated for the wait.