Review

By Emma Eva Foote | 13/07/2026

With the anniversary of the Swag album drop last year, Justin Bieber has managed to keep the momentum of his return to the industry moving swiftly, and with impact. The second weekend of the highly anticipated Bieberchella performance has arrived on July 3 as a live album released via Def Jam. Spanning 23 tracks, the live album features appearances from Sexxy Red, Dijon and SZA, alongside surprise guest performances from Billie Eilish and Big Sean. While the first weekend generated plenty of excitement, Weekend 2 feels tighter, more confident and more refined, elevating songs that already resonated with fans. These performances offered collaboration between artist who inspired the next generation and that generation now honouring their predecessors. It is tradition I hope continues and one which promotes culture and creativity. This is unmistakably Bieber's adult era. The youthful pop star has evolved into an artist writing from the perspective of a husband, father and someone with a stronger sense of purpose. Much like Bieber himself, his audience has grown up too, making SWAG his most mature and reflective body of work to date. The release goes beyond the live recordings by incorporating archival behind-the-scenes footage, offering an intimate look at the preparation behind the spectacle. Rather than simply documenting a concert, the project captures a defining moment in Bieber's current creative chapter. Not every reaction to Bieber's set was universally positive. Some festival-goers questioned several of the creative decisions made throughout the performance, with speculation that aspects of the show reflected the realities of having sold the rights to his music catalogue. Whether or not those theories hold weight, SWAG marks an important milestone: it is Bieber's first album since selling his back catalogue in 2023 and his first full-length release following his split from longtime manager Scooter Braun. Ultimately, Bieberchella: Weekend 2 (Live) reinforces what SWAG began a year ago. Rather than revisiting the sound that made him a global star, Bieber continues to embrace growth, vulnerability and artistic freedom, delivering a live project that feels less like a victory lap and more like the beginning of a new era.