It’s official—this summer just got a lot sadder. In a heartfelt announcement on Instagram today, March 28, the team behind Sad Summer Fest confirmed that the beloved traveling emo and pop-punk festival will not be returning for the 2025 season. Sad Summer co-founder Josh Terry reshared the message on his personal socials, further solidifying the somber tone of the announcement.
The post says, “When Sad Summer began, our goal was to make it through one summer and do something special for the fans at a time when our scene needed us. Yet here we are nearly seven years later, with 5 amazing tours under our belt, and watching the artists we love thrive all over the globe in new places we never thought possible when we started this thing.”
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It continues, “With that said, we have decided to take 2025 off and finally catch our breath. However, we have already begun discussions for what is next and we cannot wait to resurface when the time is right. Until then, please go out and support all your favorite artists on tours and festivals this summer, and let’s keep the flame burning together.”
Sad Summer Fest first launched in 2019, quickly becoming a beloved staple in the alternative scene—filling the massive shoes left behind by Warped Tour, which hosted its final weekend shows that same summer. After an explosive debut, the festival was forced to pause in 2020 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The festival made its return in 2021, and the 2024 edition featured an all-star lineup of scene favorites, including Mayday Parade, The Maine, We The Kings, Real Friends, Knuckle Puck, and rising stars Daisy Grenade.
Though there’s always hope for a return in the future, one thing’s for sure: Sad Summer Fest will be sorely missed this year.
