We got Warped at Jean Drapeau Parc (Vans Warped Tour Montreal 2026 Recap)
We got Warped in Montreal by a weekend of emo indulgence, extreme sports, and all the songs we’ve loved since we were teenagers.
Warped Tour returned to Montreal for the first time in years, August 21–22, 2026, taking over Jean-Drapeau Park with a star-studded lineup and a healthy choice of local bands to discover as well. We covered the festival with our wonderful reporter Deviilbby, a longtime Warped Tour goer and contemporary Scene Queen.
So let’s get into it: what was Warped Tour actually like?
In terms of venue, this was one of our favourite Warped locations yet. We’ve been to Jean-Drapeau many times over the years, and even a few times this summer, but this has been the best layout configuration by far. Local bands played in the forested area, with the two main stages in their regular spot and two additional medium stages, cutting out the long passageway that usually leads to the two far stages. The skate ramp also perfectly framed the MainStage area, so you could watch your favourite bands while skaters and bikers flew through the air. Pretty magical!
There was also plenty of seating to chill in between sets, shade to escape the sun when we needed it, and some of the yummiest music festival food we’ve personally ever had. The whole space felt comfortable and easy to navigate, giving us plenty of opportunities to take a breather before diving back into the chaos.
The crowd was truly one of the highlights. The Warped crowd is like no other. For us, it felt like coming home: warm, welcoming, and full of people who immediately understood why we were all there. That feeling seemed to transcend the years since the festival last came through Montreal, even with so many newcomers experiencing it for the first time.
We had the opportunity to meet and interview some festival-goers and ask whether this was their first Warped Tour, and to our surprise, many of them said it was. A lot of people told us they had always wanted to go but never had the chance, and had started to fear they never would after Warped Tour as Montreal knew it ended in 2014. Yet here they were, finally getting their Warped moment.
Everyone we spoke to described that same inviting energy: a place full of people brought together for the same reason, eager to experience the bands that influenced them live and, maybe most importantly, to be transported back to the first time they heard those songs.
The flow felt comfortable, and the crowd was in good spirits. There was also a good amount of harm reduction in place. GRIP was on site, with everything from earplugs to collapsible water bottles to fidget spinners, all free. The Pit managers flew their flags high, bands called for the music to stop when people needed help, and people were generally kind. Brita was also omnipresent, with free water bottles and filtered water stations all over the festival grounds. There were shaded areas with different seating options, great local food and drink, and multiple merch tents throughout the festival.
The crowd was truly a mix of all ages, everyone from elder emos to baby goths, wearing their best band tees and decked-out fits. We were also able to meet quite a few of the mythical creatures of Warped Tour, including the Banana Man, Scooby-Doo, Jesus, and Waldo. Watch our video interviewing them here. Scooby faithfully led us into the pit at 3OH3!, and Jesus was kind enough to turn water into wine for everyone. We also caught glimpses of Daphne, Velma, a pickle, and more.
And then, of course, there were the bands.
No matter the size of the stage, weather conditions, time slot, or city, Oxymorrons, who have become quite the Warped Tour staple in recent years, brought their infectious and passionate energy once again to the Le Castor Stage on the first day of the weekend. Their set was a perfect reminder of what makes Warped so special: bands that can meet the crowd exactly where they’re at and turn a festival stage into a full-blown shared experience.
Behind the scenes at the media tent, we were able to interview The Ataris, Oxymorrons, and nothing, nowhere. by the beautiful waterfront. We chatted about musical influences, favourite hometown venues, and more, so keep an eye out for the video interviews coming soon!
“Do we have the most acoustic guitars at Warped Tour today? We’re still punk as fuck!” - Jimmy Eat World
While Jimmy Eat World probably did have the most acoustic guitars onstage, Simple Plan definitely had the most Scoobys, with over 40 of them onstage during their Scooby-Doo theme song. They also returned to their Québécois roots, speaking in franglais with a proper Québécois accent for most of their set.
Deviilbby after interviewing Mike from the Ataris & The Oxymorrons
If you wanna get in on the fun, Warped Tour continues September 12–13, 2026, in Mexico City. Stay tuned for more Also Cool coverage, and thanks again to the team for having us.
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Also Cool's Vans Warped Tour CDMX 2026 Top Picks: Tungas, Say Ocean, Segundos Auxilios and More
The Vans Warped Tour is coming to Mexico for the first time on September 12th and 13th, 2026, at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City. Following legendary stops in Washington, Long Beach, and Montreal—with Florida slated for November 14–15—the lineup many have been waiting for is finally here.
With so many international and local artists, choosing just five to recommend has been difficult but necessary to make the most of the festival. From punk and emo to alternative, rap, and dark pop, these five artists offer a taste of the diverse sounds you can expect at this year’s festival.
Listen along below:
Tungas via Vans Warped Tour Mexico City website
Tungas
The group has confirmed that this is likely to be their final appearance on the Warped Tour. Tungas started in a garage in 2005 and has since built a 20-year career. Tungas features Aldo Camacho on vocals, Conrado del Campo on bass, Daniel Rojas on drums, and guitarists Negri Revueltas, Luis Espinosa, and Javier López. Having known and collaborated for years, their long-standing friendship has become an important part of Tungas’ story. After seven years without new music, Tungas will return with a single that will premiere during their performance this Sunday at the festival.
Say Ocean via Vans Warped Tour Mexico City website
Say Ocean
Say Ocean is the Mexican pop-punk band that will take you back to your MySpace days. One of Mexico's most recognized pop-punk bands, Say Ocean is known for their emotive lyrics and energetic sound. The four-piece features vocalist Santiago “Santi” López, guitarist Pato Rivera, bassist Jorge “Choche” Chávez, and drummer Juan Carlos Castillo. Santi loves to dive into the crowd — I say this from personal experience, as I've witnessed the palpable energy among the solid fanbase they've cultivated over the years.
Segundos Auxilios via Vans Warped Tour Mexico City website
Segundos Auxilios
The masked duo from Zacatecas, Mario y Fran, hold so much lore you didn't know you needed for your playlist. Now that it’s been revealed they're actually Crash Tech Dummies from a car commercial, they've released Magnetocolonizacioncerebraldechipserroneospormetodosubtextilconfinesdepublicidadautomotriz, an album that details every twist of their journey and helps you piece it together. Segundos Auxilios are a Mexican indie punk band you won’t want to miss, embodying the Warped Tour vibe with their DIY techniques and a sound that’s raw, noisy, and fast.
Kevis y Maykyy via Vans Warped Tour Mexico City website
Kevis y Maykyy
The only rappers in the lineup — and for good reason. Kevis y Maykyy are three brothers from Monterrey who started making music during the pandemic: Kevin Sebastián (Kevis) and José Miguel (Maykyy), sometimes accompanied by their brother Bali. Rap with guitars giving a new air to hip-hop, the dynamic trio is here to have fun and tempt you to broaden your musical horizons.
DeathbyRomy via Vans Warped Tour Mexico City website
DeathbyRomy
For the girlies and theys, DeathbyRomy is an American singer-songwriter born in Los Angeles. Her music is closely tied to her gothic-inspired image, with dramatic makeup, dark clothing, and a theatrical aesthetic. Expect emotionally intense themes with relatable lyrics as well as high-energy sounds that will compel you to let loose.
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Also Cool's Vans Warped Tour Montreal 2026 Top Picks: Oxymorrons, From First to Last, Sace6 And More
After its widely anticipated and successful return in 2025, the Vans Warped Tour is hitting five cities in 2026 (Washington, Long Beach, Montreal, Mexico City and Orlando) with one of the most impressive lineups of the year. Of the many subgenres to emerge from the alternative music scene over the last 31 years, Warped Tour has played a huge role in the history of most of this year's lineup. From OG punk to new, experimental blends of punk, to classic emo, screamo, and even the polarizing genre of crunkcore: these are five can’t miss bands for Warped Tour’s first stop in Washington D.C. June 13th and 14th.
Oxymorrons via official website
Oxymorrons
While they never toured a full summer with the original Warped Tour, Oxymorrons made their mark in Atlantic City in 2019, and have grown to become a staple in the Warped family since. Their blend of hip-hop and punk is guaranteed to get you off your feet… or even into the pit. Founded by brothers Demi “Deee” and Kami “KI” and joined by guitarist/bassist Jafé Paulino and new drummer Amani Drums, the band’s intoxicating passion for their craft radiates from the stage, with a confidence that seems to grow each year of the festival.
Suicidal Tendencies via The Rockpit
Suicidal Tendencies
Returning to the lineup for the first time since 1999, this legendary hardcore punk band, founded in the early 1980s, will be hitting the stage exclusively at Warped Tour’s D.C. stop. While the band has seen quite a few lineup changes since its founding in 1983, founding member Mike Muir is still fronting the band, accompanied by Ben Weinman of Dillinger Escape Plan, Tye Trujillo (original member and bassist of Metallica; Robert Trujillo’s son), and Drummer Jay Weinberg. Best known for their blend of metal with thrash and skate punk makes their sound the perfect embodiment of the Warped Tour summer vibe and a can’t miss set this June.
From First to Last via official Facebook page
From First to Last
If you found yourself in an emo phase in the early 2000s, you may remember songs like “Emily” or “Note to Self” by the band From First to Last. You may even recognize the band from its role in the early music career of Skrillex, formally known as Sonny Moore AKA vocalist of From First to Last. Now with a lineup consisting of original members Matt Good as lead vocalist, guitarist Travis Richter, drummer Derek Bloom and bassist Matt Manning—the same lineup that hit the Warped Tour stages in 2008—this post-hardcore emo staple will be joining Warped Tour for all US stops, 18 years later. This is an unmissable band for elder emos looking to feel like they’ve time traveled back to ‘08.
I Set My Friends on Fire via official Facebook page
I Set My Friends on Fire
If your nostalgia for the OG Warped Tour days lies more with teased neon hair and brightly colored tees and skinny jeans and surfing through MySpace, you may remember the crunkcore band I Set My Friends on Fire. Arguably, one of the more commonly accepted bands to come from the crunkcore era, blending electronica and screamo, and leaning more towards post-hardcore than their other crunk counterparts. Considering the band is playing alongside groups like Breathe Carolina and 3oh!3, and still led by founding member Matt Mehana, it just might be 2009 again.
Sace6
By far one of the newest bands on the scene to be mentioned in this list, Sace6 took to the Warped Tour stage for the first time in 2025. The band left a last mark with their unique alt-metal sound; a captivating blend of heavy breakdowns and riffs from guitarist Noah Thomas and drummer Tyler Saxz, with frontman Sace’s ethereal vocals. What they may lack in the heavy nostalgia factor they more than make up for in pure, undeniable talent and surely draw you in when you catch them this summer.