Staind - Break the Cycle 25th Anniversary Tour
by Jessica Malouin | September 21st, 2026
All images are from Staind’ s - Break the Cycle 25th Anniversary Tour in Toronto, CAN on 9/21/26.
The lineup for Staind’s Break the Cycle 25th Anniversary Tour is basically reminiscent of the high school video dances I used to attend in the early 2000s. Supporting Staind on this run are Hinder, Hoobastank and Seether — three bands that somehow managed to soundtrack a pretty significant chunk of my teenage years.
Hinder kicked off the night with a high-energy set with a familiar mix of hard rock and catchy melodies that warmed up the amphitheater crowd. The band sounding tight throughout the performance while fully engaging the crowd. It was a strong way to get the night moving and set the stage for what was still to come.
Hoobastank received a major response from the crowd, which fuelled and even stronger performance. Before playing “Runaway,” one of the band’s earliest hits, lead singer, Doug Robb, briefly touched on the meaning of music and the way certain songs become permanently imprinted on our lives. There’s something about hearing a song you haven’t heard in years and suddenly being right back in another time of your life. Judging by the reaction from the crowd, “Runaway” was one of those songs for a lot of people in the crowd.
Seether had everyone on their feet from the second they started playing “Gasoline”. During “Fine Again,” the crowd sang along matching harmonies that somehow sound just as good live as they did all those years ago.
And then it was time for Staind.
A countdown led into a vintage reel of live performances and hangouts of the band during the recording of Break The Cycle, setting the tone before the band took the stage.
Walking through the venue, it was honestly hard to put into words the crowd response to Staind. They weren’t just watching the show. They were fully involved in it, singing the songs alongside Aaron Lewis like the words meant more today than just the memories attached to them.
There was a pause for gratitude and reflection on 30 years of Staind — and 25 years of Break the Cycle — before the band continued through a set that felt like a trip through a very specific part of our collective past.
The most emotional moment came when the band dedicated a song to those we’ve lost. As a video played in memoriam across the screens, the emotion in Lewis’ voice was impossible to miss. It was one of those moments that makes you stop for a second and remember just how much music can carry with it.
And maybe that’s what stood out most about this show.
These songs have been around for 25 years. For some people, they’re tied to high school, first loves, old friends, bad decisions, good memories and people who are no longer here. But standing in that crowd, it didn’t feel like everyone was simply reliving the past.
They were still feeling it.
Staind’s Break the Cycle anniversary show was a reminder that sometimes the songs we grew up with don’t stay in the past with us. We bring them along, and somehow, 25 years later, they can still mean something completely new.
OPENERS:
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HINDER
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SEETHER
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HOOBASTANK
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OPENERS: - HINDER - SEETHER - HOOBASTANK -
