WHEN WE WERE YOUNG 2025 HITS VEGAS THIS WEEKEND — THE ULTIMATE EMO REUNION IS HERE
It’s finally here. This weekend, When We Were Young Festival 2025 takes over the Las Vegas Festival Grounds (October 18–19), and if you grew up screaming “I Miss You” into your bedroom mirror or crying to A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out, consider this your spiritual homecoming.
The lineup reads like a millennial fever dream: Blink-182, Panic! At The Disco, Weezer, Avril Lavigne, The Offspring, All Time Low, The Used, Yellowcard, Simple Plan, Taking Back Sunday, and dozens more. It’s a perfectly chaotic blend of nostalgia, eyeliner, and guitar feedback — a two-day crash course in the golden era of emo, pop-punk, and alt-rock.
A FESTIVAL BUILT ON FEELINGS (AND GUITAR FEEDBACK)
This year’s edition of When We Were Young doubles down on emotion and energy. Panic! At The Disco is performing A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out in full — a homecoming of sorts for Brendon Urie and the band that defined the Vegas alt scene two decades ago. Meanwhile, Blink-182 will blast through their biggest hits and prove that growing up is optional when your catalog still inspires mass sing-alongs and air drumming.
But this isn’t just a nostalgia play. The festival’s curators know how to mix eras — the 2025 lineup threads together scene veterans with newer heavy-hitters like Knocked Loose, Beartooth, Loathe, and Movements, giving the weekend a pulse that feels current, not curated for comfort. It’s a lineup built for both the MySpace generation and the TikTok kids discovering emo for the first time.
WHAT TO EXPECT IN VEGAS
The energy: Think black denim, Doc Martens, and Vans, and a sea of fans who never stopped believing in the power of a perfectly screamed bridge. The crowd is part therapy group, part mosh pit — equal parts chaos and community.
The visuals: WWWY’s production value levels up every year. Expect towering LED walls, pyrotechnics, and enough nostalgia-fueled visuals to make you forget what year it actually is.
The vibe: From the parking lot tailgates to the merch tents, this weekend isn’t just a festival — it’s a cultural reset for everyone who ever wore checkered Vans and dyed their hair after hearing “Helena.”
MUST-SEE MOMENTS
Panic! At The Disco — performing A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out in full. Expect pure Vegas theatrics and a once-in-a-lifetime sing-along.
Blink-182 — still the undisputed kings of chaos and punchline perfection.
Knocked Loose — the heaviest set of the weekend, guaranteed to turn the pit into a war zone.
The Used — emotional destruction in the best way possible.
Yellowcard — you know “Ocean Avenue” is going to hit harder than ever under the Vegas lights.
SURVIVAL GUIDE FOR THE EMO PILGRIMAGE
Hydrate. Yes, even if you think Monster counts as water.
Plan ahead. Set overlaps are inevitable — know which heartbreak songs matter most.
Wear your nostalgia: fishnets, studded belts, raccoon eyeliner — no one’s judging.
Find your people. Everyone’s there for the same reason: to scream their youth back into existence.
THE BOTTOM LINE
When We Were Young 2025 isn’t just a festival; it’s a full-circle moment—a reminder that the music that raised us never really left; it just grew up with us. Whether you’re there to relive the glory days or discover them for the first time, this weekend in Vegas is proof that emo never died — it just got louder, bolder, and maybe a little better at sunscreen.