When We Were Young Festival Skips 2026 But Plans To Return

The emo and pop-punk festival will take a year off before returning to Las Vegas in 2027.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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When We Were Young Festival, a Live Nation-produced emo and pop-punk festival held annually in Las Vegas, will skip 2026 and return in October 2027, organizers announced on Instagram. The festival has taken place at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds each October since moving there in 2022, drawing headliners like Green Day, Blink-182, and My Chemical Romance.

Why it matters

The decision to take a year off comes amid broader cost-cutting across the festival industry, with events like Punk Rock Bowling, Boston Calling, and Hangout Fest also skipping 2026. The announcement also follows the 2025 edition of When We Were Young not selling out, raising concerns about waning interest ahead of the pause.

The details

Organizers did not cite a specific reason for the hiatus, but said they want to "give this festival the care it deserves and to make sure what comes next feels just as special as what came before." The announcement follows months of fan speculation after the festival failed to reveal its 2026 plans in the fall, breaking with its previous pattern.

  • When We Were Young Festival has taken place at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds each October since moving there in 2022.
  • The 2025 edition of the festival did not sell out.
  • Organizers announced the 2026 hiatus on Instagram on February 27, 2026.
  • When We Were Young Festival will return to Las Vegas in October 2027.

The players

When We Were Young Festival

A Live Nation-produced emo and pop-punk festival that has taken place annually in Las Vegas since 2022.

Live Nation

The concert giant that produces the When We Were Young Festival.

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What’s next

When We Were Young Festival will return to Las Vegas in October 2027.

The takeaway

The decision to skip 2026 and return in 2027 reflects broader cost-cutting trends in the festival industry, as well as potential concerns about waning interest in the When We Were Young event. However, organizers are framing the hiatus as an opportunity to recharge and ensure the festival's long-term success.