Vans Warped Tour to Return in 2025 for 30th Anniversary

The Vans Warped Tour, an iconic festival in the punk-rock scene, is set to make a comeback in 2025. Established in 1995, the festival will celebrate its 30th anniversary with two-day events in three cities. The tour will begin at RFK Campus in Washington, D.C., on June 14 and 15. It will then proceed to Long Beach, California, on July 26 and 27, before concluding at the Camping World Stadium Campus in Orlando, Florida, on November 15 and 16.

The revival follows the tour’s shutdown in 2018, with a brief resurgence in 2019 to mark its 25th anniversary. Kevin Lyman, the founder of Vans Warped Tour, expressed a desire to revive the festival’s dynamic atmosphere. “People start remembering once something’s gone that it was important, it was fun— and I’m hoping to recapture a lot of that again,” Lyman told Rolling Stone.

While the lineup for Warped Tour 2025 has yet to be announced, Lyman has hinted at a diverse mix of past Warped Tour favorites alongside new artists. “We’re getting very, very selective in trying to find some unique twists to the lineup,” he mentioned. Each location will feature performances from 70 to 100 bands.

Some of the notable acts from previous years have included bands such as Blink-182, Green Day, Fall Out Boy, and Paramore, while bands like Less Than Jake and Simple Plan have frequently appeared at the festival.

Lyman emphasized that while he aims to capture the festival’s essence from its heyday, the 2025 event will not solely focus on nostalgia. “I’ve always felt we need to pay homage to the past, but we’re looking to the future of the artists and the community,” he stated.

The festival has prided itself on affordable ticket pricing, a tradition that continues with the 2025 edition. Two-day tickets will begin at $149.98, significantly lower than other similar festivals with general admission tickets starting at over $300. Ticket presales are scheduled to commence on October 24.

The moderate pricing is partly attributed to the festival’s collaboration with Insomniac Events, led by Pasquale Rotella, which has helped maintain accessibility. “[Lyman’s] been really committed to making this about the people, and making sure that people can afford to come,” Rotella commented.

Lyman also lauded the commitment of bands that have been a part of the Warped Tour legacy. Reflecting on the sense of community that the festival aims to foster, Lyman noted, “Making a community strong can’t be just an individual thing. It takes everyone out there.” As an associate professor at USC, Lyman intends to ensure the festival is inclusive for both long-time fans and new audiences.

The festival will continue to feature elements such as tents from nonprofit organizations and band merchandise booths, aiming to bolster community engagement. Fans can also expect to see new “immersive elements” and community-building events like the Ernie Ball Battle of the Bands.

As attendees are welcomed with the traditional inflatable daily lineup posters, Lyman hopes to revive the nostalgia and spirit associated with the Vans Warped Tour. “It’ll always remind you of that parking lot, that backyard party. That’s what Warped Tour was,” he concluded.