Warped Tour founder Kevin Lyman has issued a statement confirming that the festival will see its “final, full cross-country tour” next year. The festival, now in its 23rd year, has been a celebration of punk music and alternative culture since it began in 1995.
The statement, issued by Lyman via Warped Tour’s official site, reads: “I have been a very lucky person to have traveled across the country and sometimes around the world as one of the founders and producers of the Vans Warped Tour. Today, with many mixed feelings, I am here to announce that next year will be the final, full cross-country run of the Vans Warped Tour.”
“In 1995, I had already worked many years in the music business, including spending four summers on the Lollapalooza tour, and I thought, ‘for one summer I would like go out and put on my own show’ mixing music and action sports. With the support of so many people, I have now spent the last 23 summers bringing that show to a city near you. We have brought that show to over 11 million people around the world and watched that same world change while doing so.”
“I have been proud to work with so many artists who have grown to be some of the largest stars in the world. Countless bands have played in hot parking lots and through summer storms for you at some point.”
“The Vans Warped Tour has become the community I had always hoped for. We have worked with over 90 non-profits each summer shining a light on new and growing groups giving our community the resources they need to connect with people who can help them, but also encourages our community to help each other. To Write Love on Her Arms, Music Saves Lives, Feed The Children Now, Keep a Breast, Hope For The Day, Canvas Foundation, Living The Dream and A Voice for the Innocent have built their organizations from the Warped Tour parking lots across the country. This even inspired me to start my own foundation Unite the United.”
“The enduring spirit of the Vans Warped Tour remains as bright as ever, continuing to inspire creativity and ambition in new and exciting ways as we prepare for a 25th anniversary celebration in 2019.”
The festival has a long-standing association with encouraging activism and political discourse, with acts on this year’s festival storming a Westboro Baptist Church protest, and Lyman last year having to defend his decision to allow a pro-life charity to hold a stall on the tour.
You can find full dates for the Vans Warped Tour 2018 below.
- 20 things we learned at Warped Tour UK
- Watch this accurate impression of every vocalist on Warped Tour
- Our TeamRock+ offer just got bigger. And louder.
- Vans Warped Tour gatecrash Westboro protests
Warped Tour 2018 dates
Jun 21: Pomona, CA
Jun 22: San Diego, CA
Jun 23: Mountain View, CA
Jun 24: Ventura, CA
Jun 26: Phoenix, AZ
Jun 29: Las Vegas, NV
Jun 30: Salt Lake City, UT
Jul 01: Denver, CO
Jul 03: St Louis, MO
Jul 05: Bonner Springs, KS
Jul 06: Dallas, TX
Jul 07: San Antonio, TX
Jul 08: Houston, TX
Jul 10: Nashville, TN
Jul 12: Virginia Beach, VA
Jul 13: Camden, NJ
Jul 14: Holmdel, NJ
Jul 15: Hartford, CT
Jul 16: Pittsburgh, PA
Jul 17: Toronto, ON
Jul 18: Cincinnati, OH
Jul 19: Cuyahoga Falls, OH
Jul 20: Detroit, MI
Jul 21: Chicago, IL
Jul 22: Minneapolis, MN
Jul 24: Indianapolis, IN
Jul 25: Darien Center, NY
Jul 26: Scranton, PA
Jul 27: Mansfield, MA
Jul 28: Wantagh, NY
Jul 29: Columbia, MD
Jul 30: Charlotte, NC
Aug 01: Atlanta, GA
Aug 03: Orlando, FL
Aug 04: Tampa, FL
Aug 05: West Palm Beach, FL
