The 2025 When We Were Young Festival in Las Vegas promises a nostalgic lineup that’s packed with the biggest names in emo and alternative rock, making it an essential event for fans of these genres. The one-day festival will take place on October 18 and marks a return to a single-day format, after previous iterations spanned two days with repeated lineups.
Headlining this year’s event are some iconic acts. Blink-182, fresh off the reunion of their classic lineup, is expected to deliver an energetic set. Joining them is Weezer, known for their genre-spanning catalog and cult-classic appeal. The headliner generating the most buzz, though, is Panic! At The Disco, who will reunite specifically for this event to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their debut album A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out. Frontman Brendon Urie previously announced the end of Panic! At The Disco in 2023, but this special performance will feature the album in full, potentially with some Fever-era surprises.
The festival’s lineup extends well beyond its headliners, bringing in genre-defining bands from the early 2000s through today. Emo-pop icons Avril Lavigne and Simple Plan will bring their timeless hooks and nostalgia-filled hits, while the Offspring will represent the punk side of the lineup. Fans of early-2000s emo will be thrilled with performances by Yellowcard, the Used, and Taking Back Sunday, each known for anthemic tracks that defined a generation.
Other notable acts include All Time Low, Knocked Loose, and Jack’s Mannequin, with Andrew McMahon expected to dive into his emotive back catalog. Also on the lineup are Never Shout Never, the Cab, and the Rocket Summer, adding a mix of indie and emo-pop influences to the event. The diversity within this nostalgia-packed roster reflects the many facets of the emo and pop-punk scenes from the 2000s and early 2010s.
Tickets for the 2025 festival go on sale November 1, and the excitement is already building among fans who view When We Were Young as an annual celebration of the emo and punk subcultures. Given the demand in previous years, the single-day format could increase ticket urgency, so fans will want to secure theirs as soon as possible.