Charli XCX brought out Tinashe as a surprise guest during her headlining performance at the 2026 Austin City Limits Music Festival on Friday, October 9. The appearance took place at Zilker Park in Austin, Texas, during the festival’s second weekend, with Tinashe joining Charli onstage to perform two songs from her latest album, Quantum Baby—correction, Popstar.
Tinashe performed “Nobody Wanna Dance Anymore” live for the first time, giving festival attendees an early opportunity to hear the track in a concert setting. She also performed “Melatonin,” one of the standout dance-pop songs from Popstar, which was released earlier in 2026. The surprise appearance added another high-profile moment to Charli’s ACL headlining set.
The collaboration had been hinted at earlier on Friday, when Tinashe shared a video on her Instagram Stories showing herself and Charli dancing backstage to “Drop That Kitty,” their 2015 collaboration with Ty Dolla $ign. The clip prompted speculation that Tinashe might appear during Charli’s performance, which was confirmed when the singers reunited onstage later that evening.
Charli and Tinashe have collaborated on several occasions throughout their careers. In addition to “Drop That Kitty,” Tinashe appeared on the 2024 remix of Charli’s song “B2B,” included on Brat and It’s Completely Different but Also Still Brat. Their ACL reunion brought the two artists together again in front of a festival audience while highlighting their shared connection to contemporary pop and electronic music.
The performance also came during a significant period for Tinashe, whose album Popstar debuted at No. 6 on the Billboard 200 in early October. The chart result marked her highest position on the chart to date and her first appearance in the top 10. The singer celebrated the milestone on social media, thanking listeners for supporting the release.
Before Popstar, Tinashe’s highest-charting album had been her 2014 major-label debut, Aquarius, which reached No. 17 on the Billboard 200. Her subsequent releases included Nightride, Joyride and Quantum Baby. The success of Popstar has added a new commercial milestone to her career as she continues performing and promoting the project.
Charli’s appearance at ACL has also featured another surprise guest during the festival’s 2026 run. During her headlining set on October 2, the opening weekend, she welcomed Troye Sivan to the stage. Sivan performed “Le Boy” and “Party,” extending the pair’s creative partnership following their joint Sweat Tour.
The 2026 Austin City Limits Music Festival is celebrating its 25th anniversary with performances across two weekends at Zilker Park. The second weekend runs from October 9 through October 11, featuring artists including Charli XCX, Lorde, Kings of Leon, RÜFÜS DU SOL, Twenty One Pilots, The xx, Geese and Sofi Tukker.
Tinashe’s surprise appearance was one of the notable moments from Charli’s October 9 performance, with the singers performing together as the festival continued its second weekend. The set also brought attention to Popstar following its Billboard 200 debut, while reaffirming the musical connection between the two artists through their previous collaborations and latest onstage reunion.
