‘Vans Warped Tour’ Founder Kevin Lyman Talks Backlash, Hints at Possible Future Dates

The iconic Vans Warped Tour is officially back in 2025—though not in the form fans might remember. Relaunched as a trio of destination festivals to commemorate its 30th anniversary, this year’s version of the beloved punk and alternative touring fest marks a new chapter in its legacy.

Festival founder Kevin Lyman recently joined the ‘Late For Load In’ podcast—co-hosted by Chris Davis (The Ghost Inside) and manager Josh Korel—to reflect on the changes, fan reactions, and the possibility of future events.

Lyman addressed the criticism surrounding the piecemeal lineup rollout and the limited number of cities:

“People are pretty excited that ‘Warped’ is coming back as a brand right now. Will it go on? We think so, maybe—who knows? But it’s been fun to come back and show that I can do it this way, and hopefully we give everyone a great show. And I think we are.”

He continued:

“The people I’m working with were like, ‘Oh my God, you’re getting negative comments.’ I said, ‘Well, if you don’t get negative comments in our world, then you’re not successful.’”

Lyman also shared how emerging artists like Megg, a completely independent musician with no manager or label, have gained traction thanks to the tour’s buzz. Her Warped Tour announcement video garnered over 171,000 views, a surge of exposure Lyman hopes can spark a real breakthrough:

“She’s probably going to have 500 to 1,000 people watching her in Long Beach. That could kick off her career.”

With 25 million total views across Warped’s various announcement videos, it’s clear that interest is alive and well. Whether or not Warped returns to a full touring format in the future, Lyman hasn’t ruled anything out.

2025 Vans Warped Tour Dates
06/14-15 Washington, DC – Festival Grounds at RFK Campus
07/26-27 Long Beach, CA – Shoreline Waterfront
11/15-16 Orlando, FL – Camping World Stadium Campus

Lineups and details are available at vanswarpedtour.com.

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