DAY ONE OF VANS WARPED TOUR 2026 DEFIED THE HEAT WITH NONSTOP ENERGY
The Devil Wears Prada
The anticipation leading into Vans Warped Tour 2026 was unlike any festival I had covered before. I had photographed concerts and festivals in the past, but I knew this would be a different challenge. Warped Tour was not just another show. It was a full day of multiple stages, nonstop performances, thousands of fans, and constant movement. This was the biggest festival assignment I had taken on, and I knew I had to be ready for anything.
Returning to Long Beach made the experience even more meaningful. This was the city where I first moved out on my own, and years later I was coming back in a completely different role, not as a resident, but as a photographer documenting one of the most recognizable music festivals in the country. Being back in familiar surroundings while experiencing the city through a new perspective made the weekend feel even more special.
The first challenge arrived before I even started shooting. The heat was intense from the beginning. By the time I checked in, I was already covered in sweat. Fans, artists, and staff were all facing the same conditions, but the energy throughout the festival never faded. After arriving, I decided not to overcomplicate things. With so much happening at once, the best approach was to stay aware, follow the action, and let the moments come naturally.
VANA
My first performance of the weekend was SACE6. As the opening act, I photographed their set, which became my introduction to the pace of Warped Tour. The first few minutes were about adjusting to the environment, understanding the movement between stages, and getting comfortable in a festival setting where something is always happening somewhere. It was the beginning of learning how to tell the story of the entire event, not just the performances themselves. Vanna brought a completely different feeling to the day. Their performance immediately stood out because of their stage presence. She carried herself with the confidence of someone who knew exactly how to command an audience. From a photography standpoint, the set offered many opportunities because movement, emotion, and personality were constantly present. It felt like watching a true rock performer who understood how to create moments.
The schedule moved quickly, and soon I found myself balancing multiple stages. Yelawolf brought a different style and sound into the festival lineup, showing the variety that has always been part of Warped Tour. His set stood apart from the heavier performances around him and added another dimension to the day. Citizen offered a different type of performance. Their set was not built around spectacle, but around atmosphere. Photographing them allowed me to focus on the smaller details, the expressions, and the connection between the band and the audience. It was a reminder that some performances are about capturing a feeling rather than just capturing movement.
Underoath
One of the unexpected highlights of the afternoon came from Good Terms on one of the smaller stages. I arrived during their performance of Van Halen's "Jump," and immediately noticed the interaction between the band and the crowd. Brian “Kid” McShea moved into the audience before returning to the stage, creating one of those spontaneous festival moments that cannot always be planned. It was a great example of why smaller stages can sometimes produce some of the most memorable experiences.
Underoath brought a completely different side of Warped Tour. Their performance had the weight and intensity fans expected, but what stood out to me was the band's precision. After photographing several performances throughout the day, I noticed how much experience showed in the way they moved around the stage and delivered each moment. Joyce Manor followed with a different approach. Their performance focused less on production and more on the direct connection between the band and the audience. Their set showed another side of the festival, where a band's personality and authenticity can have just as much impact as a large-stage setup.
Sleeping With Sirens
The performance I had been looking forward to the most was Sleeping With Sirens. They were my personal favorite band of the entire festival, and this set carried extra meaning for me. When I photographed them at the Kia Forum the previous year, I had hoped to capture the perfect image of Kellen Quinn jumping into the air, but the moment never came together. At Warped Tour, I finally captured that shot.
That image became one of the highlights of the entire weekend. It was not just a photograph of a performance. It represented the patience and persistence that comes with concert photography, waiting for the right moment and finally seeing it happen.
The Ghost Inside
The Devil Wears Prada brought one of the most chaotic performances of the day. The crowd was constantly moving, beach balls were flying overhead, and the energy around the stage never slowed down. One of the photographs that stood out to me showed a fan with blood on the side of his head after being in the pit. It captured the unpredictability of live music and the intensity fans bring to these performances.
I finished my first day with The Ghost Inside. After spending hours moving between stages and trying to capture as much as possible, their performance gave me a chance to take in everything I had experienced. The first day was about learning the environment, understanding the pace, and figuring out how to approach a festival of this size.
Outside of the performances, I also focused on capturing the culture surrounding Warped Tour. Skateboarding, Circle 6 wrestling, and crowd moments helped tell a larger story beyond the stages. These were the moments that showed why the festival was more than just a collection of concerts.
By the end of Saturday, I walked away with a better understanding of what it takes to photograph an event of this scale. The day challenged me physically and creatively, but it also gave me confidence heading into Sunday. I knew the layout, I understood the pace, and I was ready for whatever the final day would bring.
