The Vans Warped Tour is returning to the global stage in 2026, launching a month-long rollout of its artist lineup Friday that signals a massive expansion for the long-running punk and alternative festival.
East Coast – West Coast
Organizers announced the “30-ish Days of Warped,” an initiative where the festival’s roster will be revealed exclusively through social media platforms over the next month. The slow-burn reveal is designed to highlight artist discovery, a hallmark of the tour since its inception in 1995.
Following three sold-out U.S. dates last year, the 2026 season will feature five two-day festivals. The tour returns to Washington, D.C., Long Beach, California, and Orlando, Florida, while adding international stops in Montreal and Mexico City.
”Warped has always been about a sense of discovery,” said founder Kevin Lyman. “By releasing the lineup the way we do, each band gets their moment to introduce or reacquaint themselves to you.”
New Waves and New Music
The 2026 iteration is a partnership with festival giant Insomniac. Each city will host over 100 artists across genres including pop-punk, emo, metal, and hip-hop. True to the festival’s roots, the lineup will be officially listed in alphabetical order once the full reveal concludes in mid-March, eschewing traditional “headliner” billing.
The expansion follows a successful 2025 pilot that generated over 3.8 billion social media impressions. Beyond the music, the festivals will feature elite action-sports athletes and a “Charity Circle” focused on community impact. Last year’s efforts collected 134,000 pounds of canned food and raised over $300,000 for various nonprofits.
In a move to maintain its reputation for accessibility, organizers said weekend passes will start at an all-inclusive price of $149.98, including fees.
To build local momentum, the tour will host a series of pop-up events in each of the five host markets. These events will feature surprise guest performances and potential on-site artist announcements.
The Vans Warped Tour has served as a cultural cornerstone for three decades, credited with launching the careers of artists such as Blink-182, Katy Perry, and Eminem. By blending skate culture with a diverse musical palette, it became the longest-running touring festival in North America before shifting to its current multi-day festival format.
