Vans Warped Tour Returns for 30th Anniversary in 2025
The iconic Vans Warped Tour is making its triumphant return to the live music scene in 2025, celebrating an impressive 30 years since its inception. After a six-year hiatus following its 25th anniversary shows in 2019, the legendary festival that helped launch the careers of bands from Blink-182 to Paramore will once again bring its unique blend of punk, rock, and alternative music to fans across the United States.
Three Cities, Six Days of Music
The 2025 edition will feature three strategic tour stops, each spanning two days:
- Washington, D.C. (June 14-15)
- Long Beach, California (July 26-27)
- Orlando, Florida (November 15-16)
Each two-day event promises to deliver the authentic Warped Tour experience with a massive lineup of 70 to 100 bands. While the full roster of performers is still under wraps, fans can expect a mix of Warped Tour veterans and emerging talent that continues the festival’s tradition of showcasing both established acts and the next generation of alternative music.
The Legacy of Warped Tour
Since its founding in 1995 by Kevin Lyman, Vans Warped Tour transformed from a skateboarding and music festival into a cultural institution that defined summers for generations of alternative music fans. At its height, Warped Tour travelled to over 40 cities each summer, creating a unique community experience that combined live music, extreme sports, and youth culture.
The festival became known for its accessibility, with affordable tickets, multiple stages running simultaneously, and an environment where fans could interact directly with their favourite artists at merch tents and signing booths. Warped Tour also built a reputation for philanthropy, with numerous non-profit organisations participating through the years.
A Festival for the New Generation
“People are craving connection, live music, and the raw, unfiltered experience that Warped has always offered,” explains founder Kevin Lyman in a statement about the festival’s return. “We’ve seen how music continues to unite and inspire, and this return isn’t just about nostalgia—it’s about giving a new generation the chance to feel that same sense of belonging and freedom that Warped has always championed.”
The 30th anniversary revival comes at a time when festivals are evolving rapidly, but Warped Tour’s unique approach—emphasising community over commercialism and musical discovery over mainstream headliners—may be exactly what today’s music scene needs.
Long Beach: Sun, Surf, and Sound
The Long Beach stop at Shoreline Waterfront (July 26-27) offers a particularly ideal setting for the festival’s California return. The waterfront venue provides a stunning backdrop of ocean views combined with urban accessibility, embodying the skate and surf culture that has been intertwined with Warped Tour since its beginnings.
Long Beach has a rich musical history of its own, having produced influential acts across punk, hip-hop, and rock genres. The city’s diverse cultural makeup mirrors Warped Tour’s increasingly eclectic lineups over the years, making it a perfect match for the festival’s boundary-pushing approach to music curation.
The Shoreline Waterfront venue will be transformed into the familiar Warped landscape of multiple stages, sponsor tents, half-pipes, and the organised chaos that fans have come to love. With summer temperatures, ocean breezes, and the iconic California backdrop, the Long Beach dates are positioned to be a highlight of the anniversary celebration.
Tickets for all Warped Tour 2025 dates are expected to go on sale later this year, with possible early bird and VIP options available. Veterans of previous tours will recognise the festival’s commitment to affordability, with prices likely to remain accessible compared to other major music festivals.
As the music world eagerly awaits lineup announcements in the coming months, one thing is certain: Warped Tour’s return represents not just a celebration of its past but a recommitment to its founding principles of musical discovery, community building, and creating spaces where alternative culture can thrive.
