Scenestar

Preview by CHRISTOPHER ALVAREZ for The Scenestar

In its heyday, the Vans Warped Tour wasn’t just another travelling festival; it was a rite of passage for an entire generation of up-and-coming music fans. For a mere $30, you were given a plethora of artists to discover and to make your new favorite. After a 7-year hiatus, last year’s return edition was welcomed with open arms and sold out of tickets in just a couple of hours. This year, it returns to Long Beach with another crop of bands from genres ranging from Punk, Ska, Hardcore, EDM, and Hip-Hop.

Headliners Jimmy Eat World are celebrating the 25th anniversary of their seminal album Bleed American. While screamo veterans The Used, alt rockers Hoobastank, pop punkers Mayday Parade, and ska favorites Save Ferris will be bringing their sing-along anthems.

Here are four artists we think you shouldn’t miss this weekend.

Thrice

Sunday, July 26

Orange County locals Thrice perform on Sunday. At one point dubbed every Vans Warped Tour artist’s favorite artist, the post-hardcore veterans have never settled in their pursuit of new sounds. From their 25-year-old and counting classic The Illusion of Safety, to the genre-bending The Alchemy Index and their most recent effort Horizons/West, one would never think they were the same group at any of those times. Uncompromising in their sonic vision, along with Dustin Kensrue’s insightful lyrics, make for an unmatched combination for listeners and is but one reason why they’re so beloved.

MxPx

Sunday, July 26

MxPx, a group that undeniably helped put the pop into pop punk, has been blazing the trail since the early days of Vans Warped Tour. While they never gained the same stadium rock status as their contemporaries Blink-182 and Green Day, it never passed anyone by that they were crucial to the genre and to what it means to anyone now. No nonsense, high-energy, melodic punk has been their calling card, and there is no sign of that changing.

Glassjaw

Sunday, July 26

Timeless would be one way to describe Glassjaw. It wouldn’t have been assumed that it was their aim when they broke through the scene in 2002 with their major label debut Worship and Tribute, as they became a favorite on that year’s respective Vans Warped Tour. A release that essentially flipped hardcore on its head by expanding what the sound could be while retaining its spirit. Nearly 25 years later, and they haven’t lost a step in both music-making as well as their live shows, which are just as brutal as you could ask for. The pits will definitely open up when they hit the stage in Long Beach.

Reel Big Fish

Saturday, July 25

Leave it to Kevin Lyman to get a band or 2 out of cold storage to return to Vans Warped Tour. This time it’s ska stalwarts Reel Big Fish. After a 6-year hiatus, one of the faces of 3rd Wave Ska hit the stage again. With their big hit ”Sell Out” and a cover of ”Take on Me,” Reel Big Fish will get an audience dancing. They’ll easily put the F into the word Fun, with lead vocalist Aaron Barret’s often risque and cheeky lyrical content combined with a dash of all things, glam rock; it makes for quite the stage show.

Vans Warped Tour – Long Beach will take place from Saturday, July 25, to Sunday, July 26, at Shoreline Waterfront in Long Beach. Other artists performing that we want to give honorable mention to include Joyce Manor, KennyHoopla, Lagwagon, Nova Twins, Phantom Planet, Scarlet House, South Arcade, Third Eye Blind, Waterparks, and many more. Check out the complete lineup and set times (once they’re announced) below.

Remaining two-day passes are currently on sale via Frontgate Tickets starting at $209.98 each, and single-day tickets start at $119.98 each. There are also two-day VIP passes starting at $449.98 each, and single-day plus tickets starting at $239.98 each. There is tiered pricing, and it will increase as tickets sell out.

Shuttle passes are available for purchase with locations leaving near LAX, near the venue in Long Beach, Ontario, and in Orange County.

Click below to secure your tickets to attend the latest edition of Vans Warped Tour – Long Beach this weekend!

VANS WARPED TOUR MUSIC FESTIVAL 2026 LINEUP – LONG BEACH

VANS WARPED TOUR MUSIC FESTIVAL 2026 – LONG BEACH SET TIMES (TBA)