Our Top 10 Most Anticipated Artists at When We Were Young 2025

Tomorrow, the annual When We Were Young Festival returns to Las Vegas, Nevada for a day packed with bands that have defined the scene - whether it be emo, pop-punk, screamo, metalcore, or any other genre that fits under the “scene” label. Check out our top ten most anticipated acts of the festival below.

Panic! At The Disco
When: 10:00 PM - 7-11 Stage

This year’s show will feature a special headliner - Panic! At The Disco. The project - at the time featuring only vocalist Brendon Urie - called it quits in 2023 when Urie wrapped up the band to focus on raising a family. The announcement came as quite a surprise to fans that Urie would be returning to the stage not only in his hometown, but to perform the band’s fan-favorite debut album, A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out, in full for the first time since 2006.

There is no word on whether the other members - guitarist Ryan Ross, bassist Jon Walker, or drummer Spencer Smith - will make an appearance. Either way, we get to hear “The Only Difference Between Martyrdom and Suicide Is Press Coverage” and “Time To Dance” live for the first time in nearly fifteen years.

Blink-182
When: 8:25 PM - Pink Stage

What is pop-punk without Blink-182? The trio - bassist/vocalist Mark Hoppus, guitarist/vocalist Tom DeLonge, and drummer Travis Barker - will be returning to the When We Were Young stage with a special headlining performance that is set to feature songs from foundation genre albums like Enema of the State, Take Off Your Pants and Jacket, and Untitled, along with a handful of others from throughout their decades-spanning career. It is impossible not to sing along to Blink-182 tracks like “What’s My Age Again?”, “All The Small Things” and“The Rock Show”. We’ll be screaming our hearts out with 70,000 of our closest friends.

Letlive.
When: 8:35 PM - Allianz Stage

For the first time in a long time, the chaos that is letlive. has returned to the stage for a handful of shows, and they’re making When We Were Young one of the stops on their once-in-a-lifetime reunion run. With a remixed version of their masterpiece album The Blackest Beautiful being released earlier this year, it’s a guarantee we’ll be hearing songs like “Banshee (Ghost Fame)” and “27 Club”. Who wants to take bets on exactly which part of the stage Jason Aalon Butler will be hanging off of while gritting the microphone between his teeth and screaming like a maniac?

Breathe Carolina
When: 9:10 PM - Allianz Stage

The duo of David Schmitt and Tommy Cooperman will be taking the stage at When We Were Young for the first time, bringing a mashup of their EDM stylings along with a mix of fan favorite tracks from albums like Hello Fascination and Hell Is What You Make It. Breathe Carolina has evolved from a screamo-electronic duo, to a full live band, back to a duo over the course of nearly twenty years. As a special treat to fans, vocalist Kyle Even - who previously left the group in 2013 - will be rejoining Schmitt on stage for a handful of tracks to celebrate the occasion.

The Cab
When: 3:05 PM - Ghost Stage

The festival is turning into quite the reunion spot for Las Vegas-based acts this year, as The Cab will take the stage at When We Were Young for the first time, and the first time performing in their hometown in years. The project - started in 2004 between Alex DeLeon and Alex Marshall - took an extended hiatus after the release of the Lock Me Up EP, and has since returned this year with Road to Reign: A Prelude, an outstanding re-entry point for the pop-driven rock act. With pop sensibilities driven by distorted guitars and DeLeon’s excellent vocal stylings, The Cab is easily one of the most anticipated acts at this year’s festival.

Set Your Goals
When: 5:40 PM - Allianz Stage

The Bay Area’s own six-piece punk and hardcore mainstays will be playing at this year’s edition of When We Were Young for the very first time, just months after playing a handful of “comeback” shows earlier this year. They were never really gone, but life happens, and sometimes things have to go on the back burner for a little while. Either way, we’re excited to hear songs from albums like Mutiny! and This Will Be The Death Of Us. We’re sure that there will be crowdsurfers flying over the barricade throughout the duration of their set. This is a full-blown assault!

Yellowcard
When: 2:45 PM - Pink Stage

Florida’s finest are back with a brand new album, Better Days, and we dare say that it is one of the best entries from Yellowcard in a long, long time. It’s their first proper album in years, and they’ll be bringing their circle-pit ready songs - along with a handful of pop-punk anthems that have defined a generation - to the Pink Stage. Yes, we’re always ready to hear “Ocean Avenue”, but we’re excited to hear songs from Lights and Sounds, Paper Walls, and When You’re Through Thinking, Say Yes.

Jack’s Mannequin
When: 8:00 PM - Allianz Stage

Andrew McMahon is one of the most endearing frontman in the scene, whether he’s performing with Something Corporate, his solo project Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness, or Jack’s Mannequin. The latter of McMahon’s bands, armed with one of the scene’s most outstanding releases, Everything In Transit, will be bringing their transcendent stage show and “Dark Blue” anthems to the stage as the sun goes down.

Taking Back Sunday
When: 6:45 PM - Ghost Stage

If you’re a fan of Taking Back Sunday, particularly the Louder Now era of Taking Back Sunday, then you’re going to want to make a beeline for their set this year. Longtime guitarist/vocalist John Nolan is taking some time off from the road to take a short break to spend time with family. To fill the spot for the remainder of the year, it was announced that Fred Maschernio (who played with the band on Where You Want To Be and Louder Now) would be rejoining the band for their live shows. If you’ve ever screamed the words to “MakeDamnSure” or “A Decade Under The Influence”, you’re in for a treat.

Beartooth
When: 7:35 PM - Ghost Stage

What can we say? They are one of the most dynamic and entertaining acts in metalcore today, delivering near-flawless shows, no matter how many times they perform. Caleb Shomo’s Beartooth brings a level of showmanship and entertainment that is hard to find in the scene today - very few can command an audience the way that Shomo does as he careens through songs from albums like Disgusting and The Surface.