The great emo revival is upon us — and personally, I

From endless movie reboots to throwback social media trends, as the future feels more and more uncertain, collectively we are revelling in the safety of the past. So it makes sense that emo poster-boys My Chemical Romance are embarking on a world tour (which kicks off in Liverpool today) to commemorate 20 years of their seminal album Welcome To The Black Parade. If you aren’t old enough to remember 2006 (lucky you), allow me to set the scene.

Frontman Gerard Way had already cemented his status as an alternative fashion icon, having crafted a signature look of red eyeshadow, striped tie and greasy jet-black hair. MySpace was how teenagers discovered music, fashion and trends, using dial-up internet connections on family PCs to connect with other like-minded peers. You would wait hours for your favourite band’s new music video to be shown on TV channels like Scuzz or MTV2, and rush to the local suburban Tesco to pick up the latest copy of Kerrang! magazine, to then plaster your bedroom walls with the faces of rockstars. To put it simply — you just had to be there.

In the wake of emo came the late 2000s 'indie sleaze', as it has now been christened. The movement has had fashion in a chokehold for the past few years with skinny jeans, Alexander McQueen skull scarves and even the infamous American Apparel purple hoodie having all re-entered the zeitgeist. However, I predict change is afoot, and I’m not the only one.

Adam Rapchik, Head of Music Partnerships at viagogo told Cosmopolitan UK: “Dust off the black eyeliner because the emo trend is officially back. Demand on viagogo has surged, with My Chemical Romance searches jumping 22% after the Black Parade 2026 tour announcement and rising 185% around the Three Cheers anniversary release.” He also notes that metal band Deftones are contributing to this effect, with several of their tracks having blown up on TikTok in recent years, thus exposing their music to a new generation (while also landing them a collab with Marc Jacobs’ Heaven diffusion label in 2023).

The group are headlining Outbreak festival in London this August, and Rapchik confirms that: “Deftones are seeing the same momentum, with searches up 90% in the last three months and climbing again following their ‘Private Music’ album and Grammy nomination. Nostalgia is hitting hard and fans are ready to relive the era live.”

But the nostalgia train doesn't stop there. Outbreak has also tapped Bring Me The Horizon for a special 20th anniversary show at Manchester's B.E.C. Arena in July, where they will play their debut album Count Your Blessings (also released in 2006) in full. The one-off event will also feature fellow bands-of-the era Static Dress, Rolo Tomassi, Dying Wish, Heriot, Car Underwater and Still In Love. And in November, Good Charlotte will hit the road for an UK and EU tour with Yellowcard. Honestly, what year is it again?

For some of us, emo never left — I have the stretched earlobes, tattoos and facial piercing scars to prove it. But if you’re looking for something less permanent, and more, shall I say, modern, allow me to point you in the direction of Chopova Lowena’s Spring/Summer 2026 collection, which borrows heavily from the aforementioned MySpace aesthetic. Think clip-in glitter fringes, pink and black striped hoodies and giant belt buckles.

Frogged military or marching band jackets, which have become iconography of The Black Parade era, are an absolute must — they featured throughout Keburia's Spring/Summer 2026 show, and multiple versions have since flooded the high street.

I also spotted a rib-cage jumper and headphone-printed T-shirt at Vaquera, both reminiscent of finds from Camden Market’s heyday. And finally, nothing says moody teenager like a skull and crossbones, emblazoned on slouchy beanies, cardigans and knee-high socks at Ashley Williams. So get ready to embrace the dark side, I'll meet you in the mosh pit.

Rebecca Jane Hill is the Senior Fashion Editor at Cosmopolitan UK. She has previously contributed to publications including Vogue, Elle, Marie Claire, Harper’s Bazaar, Refinery29, The Face, Glamour and Stylist. She started her own magazine, Sister, in 2012 whilst at university. Focused around feminism, fashion and culture, it went on to produce 12 globally stocked print issues, as well as countless events and partnerships. She closed the magazine in 2023.

Rebecca has been an associate lecturer at London College of Fashion since 2018, where she teaches on the Fashion Journalism course. She is a passionate second-hand shopper and is constantly on the lookout for new design talent. 

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