Riot Fest 2025 was a sweltering and vital convergence of music and culture in Chicago. Despite the heat, the festival felt less like a corporate event and more like a true community, with a generational handoff of punk rock energy. Performances from legends like Green Day and Blink-182 and new voices like Rico Nasty underscored the festival's rebellious spirit. In a move celebrating its cultural impact, the mayor declared an official "Riot Day.”