Download 2026

[DomDom1984]

I'm not fussed by LP but as an addition to the other two, I'd be interested. 

[northernangel]

38 minutes ago, losing43 said:

Are Ghost, 21P, Linkin Park a strong set of DL headliners?

In my opinion no.

[TWY2911]

Give me Manic Street Preachers at Download 

[craigcharles420]

59 minutes ago, losing43 said:

Are Ghost, 21P, Linkin Park a strong set of DL headliners?

This lineup would save me a lot of money

[Siddey1994]

1 hour ago, losing43 said:

Are Ghost, 21P, Linkin Park a strong set of DL headliners?

imo yes. Ghost essentially being the modern juggernauts of arena rock, Twenty One Pilots are outsiders for sure but have plenty of crossover appeal with the alternative crowd, and Linkin Park… well nothing more need be said about them.

TOP are deffo too big to sub download or headline Slam Dunk though.

[Siddey1994]

23 minutes ago, TWY2911 said:

Give me Manic Street Preachers at Download 

Best band in the world, I still think their “britpop” peak has unfortunately shelved them to an eternity of Glasto/indie fest appearances though.

[TWY2911]

MSP headlining opus with King gizzard subbing 

 

I feel like MSP would go down very well with the download crowd 

[Siddey1994]

20 minutes ago, TWY2911 said:

MSP headlining opus with King gizzard subbing 

 

I feel like MSP would go down very well with the download crowd 

Problem is, I’d want King Gizzard to have a headline length set as well!

[OllieJ77]

3 hours ago, Andre91 said:

Twenty One Pilots are too big for Slam Dunk. 
 

I still think Good Charlotte will be their main headliner. 

Good shout

[OllieJ77]

14 hours ago, losing43 said:

Are Ghost, 21P, Linkin Park a strong set of DL headliners?

I’d be very up for this to be fair saw TOP in May they were class.

[Spiral_Low]

15 hours ago, losing43 said:

Are Ghost, 21P, Linkin Park a strong set of DL headliners?

No. I know this forums has a lot of 'rock' fans as opposed to metal fans. But 21P would see yet more millennial metalheads desert Download. 

[andyrhodes24]

8 minutes ago, Spiral_Low said:

No. I know this forums has a lot of 'rock' fans as opposed to metal fans. But 21P would see yet more millennial metalheads desert Download. 

It’d mark a turning point not too dissimilar from that R&L has seen; branching out from the core genre and drawing in a different audience of day ticketers. To the purists 21P won’t go down well but I’ve heard that about festivals before.

[OllieJ77]

16 minutes ago, andyrhodes24 said:

It’d mark a turning point not too dissimilar from that R&L has seen; branching out from the core genre and drawing in a different audience of day ticketers. To the purists 21P won’t go down well but I’ve heard that about festivals before.

 

28 minutes ago, Spiral_Low said:

No. I know this forums has a lot of 'rock' fans as opposed to metal fans. But 21P would see yet more millennial metalheads desert Download. 

Just on these points, would you feel the same way if Download booked Blink 182 instead? They aren’t a metal band they’re pretty much pure pop punk. In the same breathe I’d argue Ghost arent metal but everyone is saying they will headline download. 
 

I think we’ve seen Download want to branch out across different genres in recent years. If they booked strong metal second stage headliner on the day they booked TOP it would be fine. 
 

Stems from the issue that there really aren’t many “metal” bands big enough to headline festivals now. And when people do suggest new metal headliners the old guard say they aren’t big enough to headline. 

[andyrhodes24]

9 minutes ago, OllieJ77 said:

 

Just on these points, would you feel the same way if Download booked Blink 182 instead? They aren’t a metal band they’re pretty much pure pop punk. In the same breathe I’d argue Ghost arent metal but everyone is saying they will headline download. 
 

I think we’ve seen Download want to branch out across different genres in recent years. If they booked strong metal second stage headliner on the day they booked TOP it would be fine. 
 

Stems from the issue that there really aren’t many “metal” bands big enough to headline festivals now. And when people do suggest new metal headliners the old guard say they aren’t big enough to headline. 

Yes and no, it’d be similar in terms of the difference but, for me at least, Blink have that legacy feel a bit like Green Day and FOB did and they have that wider appeal. 21P would be a bit more divisive to the core DL audience but would still draw a good crowd, just a different crowd.

 

The only reason why 21P wouldn’t be booked is they’re maybe too risky but pack the day out with a strong mix of pop punk and strong metal names and there’s no reason why it wouldn’t be a successful day.

[OllieJ77]

5 minutes ago, andyrhodes24 said:

Yes and no, it’d be similar in terms of the difference but, for me at least, Blink have that legacy feel a bit like Green Day and FOB did and they have that wider appeal. 21P would be a bit more divisive to the core DL audience but would still draw a good crowd, just a different crowd.

 

The only reason why 21P wouldn’t be booked is they’re maybe too risky but pack the day out with a strong mix of pop punk and strong metal names and there’s no reason why it wouldn’t be a successful day.

I think it all comes down to nostalgia, like you say Blink FOB Green Day have the legacy that most millennials grew up with. So yeah I do agree with you that if they were booked it wouldn’t be an issue in fact I’d support it. Like this year I didn’t really see anyone complaining about Green Day not being metal. But it’s just interesting that because nostalgia people will allow to bend the rules if that’s the right term with what they want as a headliner. 
 

I think you are right if they packed the Saturday with TOP and say Bad Omens as main sub with a strong metal second stage headliner like Slayer for example (first name to my head) and ThyArt on 4th stage at same time as TOP I think it would sell really well as a day. I think a good variety of alternative music is the best way for Download to go and thrive given R&L have moved away from rock. But there has to be appeal for everyone. 
 

TOP are a big arena band so there’s defo an audience and appeal for them. 

[northernangel]

1 hour ago, OllieJ77 said:

I think it all comes down to nostalgia, like you say Blink FOB Green Day have the legacy that most millennials grew up with. So yeah I do agree with you that if they were booked it wouldn’t be an issue in fact I’d support it. Like this year I didn’t really see anyone complaining about Green Day not being metal. But it’s just interesting that because nostalgia people will allow to bend the rules if that’s the right term with what they want as a headliner. 
 

I think you are right if they packed the Saturday with TOP and say Bad Omens as main sub with a strong metal second stage headliner like Slayer for example (first name to my head) and ThyArt on 4th stage at same time as TOP I think it would sell really well as a day. I think a good variety of alternative music is the best way for Download to go and thrive given R&L have moved away from rock. But there has to be appeal for everyone. 
 

TOP are a big arena band so there’s defo an audience and appeal for them. 

 

TOP have a lot of heavy pop influence, Bad Omens playing below them would not fit at all. It is not the right vibe at all for the festival and is why R&L or another event like BST maybe makes more sense. TOP made a Download appearance in 2014 and never since compared to 3 at Reading in 12, 16 and 19. That's where they will be out of both of them and that's where they should be.

Edited September 5, 2025 by northernangel

[Spiral_Low]

2 hours ago, OllieJ77 said:

 

Just on these points, would you feel the same way if Download booked Blink 182 instead? They aren’t a metal band they’re pretty much pure pop punk. In the same breathe I’d argue Ghost arent metal but everyone is saying they will headline download. 
 

I think we’ve seen Download want to branch out across different genres in recent years. If they booked strong metal second stage headliner on the day they booked TOP it would be fine. 
 

Stems from the issue that there really aren’t many “metal” bands big enough to headline festivals now. And when people do suggest new metal headliners the old guard say they aren’t big enough to headline. 

Blink-182 are considered alternative though. 21P aren't. Not much more to it tbh.

[foolee]

Depends whether Maiden are touring or not. If they are they’ll play Download but if they aren’t touring I can see a world where TOP headline, defo sell a lot of tickets and are an alternative rock act, I feel like they’d play RAR etc. so don’t see why we can’t have festivals that are more diverse in the UK, not exactly like they're a pop band. 
 

Ghost

Volbeat

Ice Nine Kills

 

Electric Callboy

 

Twenty One Pilots

Yungblud

Motionless In White

 

Architects

 

Linkin Park

A Day To Remember or Bad Omens

Neck Deep

 

Trivium

 

 

[foolee]

Also how do Twenty One Pilots fit less than say FOB, I don’t get it. 

[DomDom1984]

FOB have more guitars. That's about it.

 

I think TOP are definitely in the alternative mould. And if DL are looking to branch out a touch, they're a good fit. 

[NorthernSoul52]

First MSP album has some FILTHY! riffs going for it.

[NorthernSoul52]

I think Ghost on the Friday feels like a slam dunk at this point - just cannot imagine, if back in Europe next summer, why they would be passed over.

[Siddey1994]

43 minutes ago, Spiral_Low said:

Blink-182 are considered alternative though. 21P aren't. Not much more to it tbh.

21P are definitely considered alternative lol

[Siddey1994]

29 minutes ago, NorthernSoul52 said:

First MSP album has some FILTHY! riffs going for it.

Honestly they could fill a Download-worthy set with just songs from the first 3 albums - riffs galore 

[DomDom1984]

39 minutes ago, NorthernSoul52 said:

First MSP album has some FILTHY! riffs going for it.

 

It's an incredible piece of work. Their 3rd and 4th are probably the two greatest albums ever.

 

I just don't see where they fit at DL.