Organizers of the Las Vegas emo-themed When We Were Young festival announced on February 27 that the event will pause in 2026 before returning in October 2027. The decision aims to ensure the festival receives proper care and maintains its special quality. The festival has featured prominent rock acts since its inception in 2022.
The When We Were Young festival, held annually at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds every October from 2022 through 2025, focuses on Y2K-era rock and emo music. Organizers shared the news of the 2026 hiatus via a statement on Instagram, addressing fans directly: “To our When We Were Young Family, the songs, the memories, the moments—none of it exists without you. After an unforgettable run in Las Vegas, we’ve decided to take 2026 off to give this festival the care it deserves and to make sure what comes next feels just as special as what came before.”
No specific reason for the pause was provided, but the team emphasized continuity, stating, “When We Were Young Festival will return to Las Vegas in October 2027. Thank you for showing up with your whole hearts every year. This isn’t goodbye—it’s just a pause. We’ll see you in 2027.”
Past editions have showcased headliners such as Green Day, Blink-182, My Chemical Romance, the Killers, Fall Out Boy, and Paramore. The 2025 event, held on October 18, was headlined by Blink-182 and Panic! at the Disco, the latter reuniting for a one-off performance where they played their album A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out in full to mark its 20th anniversary. The lineup also included Weezer, Avril Lavigne, Taking Back Sunday, Social Distortion, the Offspring, Plain White T’s, Ice Nine Kills, the Gaslight Anthem, and Knocked Loose.
In 2024, My Chemical Romance performed their landmark album The Black Parade, joined by acts like Nada Surf, 3OH!3, Neck Deep, New Found Glory, Pretty Girls Make Graves, Atreyu, Saves the Day, Silverstein, and Coheed and Cambria. The Live Nation-produced festival has built a dedicated following over its four years.
