Download 2026

[Sparticus]

5 minutes ago, Spiral_Low said:

Bad Omens, Muse, Linkin Park, Skindred, Trivium, Volbeat. Theres 6 of your logo acts 😉

A trio of Limp bizkit, Muse and Linkin Park make the old guard grown and the millenial audience happy!

Volbeat must be likely given they are at RIP/RAR the week beforehand.

[Audiorocker]

11 minutes ago, Spiral_Low said:

Bad Omens, Muse, Linkin Park, Skindred, Trivium, Volbeat. Theres 6 of your logo acts 😉

So certain!! I would see all of those tbf 👍

[Spiral_Low]

42 minutes ago, Audiorocker said:

So certain!! I would see all of those tbf 👍

Just a guess of course haha. But going off whose likely and whose at Nova Rock. 

[northernangel]

2 hours ago, Sparticus said:

A trio of Limp bizkit, Muse and Linkin Park make the old guard grown and the millenial audience happy!

Volbeat must be likely given they are at RIP/RAR the week beforehand.

And the last time Download shared Volbeat it was the only headliner at both RAR and Nova festivals they did share and they were 3rd down. It could happen that Download only get LP from them but they also like a repeat way too much and ther is usually 1 from Nova. It will probably be different purely by the fact that any other time both festivals would have had LP this year but didn't. Had that been the case I'd say Volbeat was all we get. 

 

There is also the factor they might want higher now that Download want to give.

[OllieJ77]

5 hours ago, northernangel said:

And the last time Download shared Volbeat it was the only headliner at both RAR and Nova festivals they did share and they were 3rd down. It could happen that Download only get LP from them but they also like a repeat way too much and ther is usually 1 from Nova. It will probably be different purely by the fact that any other time both festivals would have had LP this year but didn't. Had that been the case I'd say Volbeat was all we get. 

 

There is also the factor they might want higher now that Download want to give.

Volbeat as main sub.

[astrotwatter]

Linkin Park/Bad Omens

Trivium

 

Muse/Volbeat

Slayer

 

Limp Bizkit/Alice in Chains

A Perfect Circle

[Audiorocker]

58 minutes ago, astrotwatter said:

Linkin Park/Bad Omens

Trivium

 

Muse/Volbeat

Slayer

 

Limp Bizkit/Alice in Chains

A Perfect Circle

Sign me up. 

[Gejonimo]

Foos doing stadium shows so can pretty much be ruled out, not that they were heavily rumoured.

[partypirate]

Sweden Rocks announced. No GnR. No less clearer on who will headline Download!

[alexs7]

Sweden Rock gives us nothing new - Just the same names floating around Europe.

 

Ghost hope is slowly wearing off on me not going to lie.

[sw25]

45 minutes ago, Gejonimo said:

Foos doing stadium shows so can pretty much be ruled out, not that they were heavily rumoured.

where did you get detail Foos doing stadium shows next year?

[Heyzoos]

5 minutes ago, alexs7 said:

Sweden Rock gives us nothing new - Just the same names floating around Europe.

Anyone out there want to procrastinate at work enough to collate the various European logo bands for us...?

[benjicwood]

9 minutes ago, Heyzoos said:

Anyone out there want to procrastinate at work enough to collate the various European logo bands for us...?

 

https://downloadfestfans.freeforums.net/thread/17/download-2026-rumours I've kept track a bit on the new Download Forum that was set up (that isn't really the new Download Forum yet because the old one is still going)

[Heyzoos]

Hero. Cheers.

[ThatDazFella]

23 minutes ago, Heyzoos said:

Anyone out there want to procrastinate at work enough to collate the various European logo bands for us...?

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1sFGbQE7YWi-ucbuBiu1afojbp5SJ-IbjAWE221kCfUY/edit?usp=sharing_esl&[email protected]&sharingaction=manageaccess&role=reader&ts=68f0b9c7 Not my work but I have been following this which was shared on reddit.

[Marka23]

So far I'm thinking headliners are Ghost/Limp Bizkit/Linkin Park 

 

Logo acts across the weekend could be Bad Omens, Trivium, Alice Cooper, Megadeth, Anthrax, Electric Callboy, Babymetal, Twisted Sister and Foreigner.

[northernangel]

1 hour ago, alexs7 said:

Sweden Rock gives us nothing new - Just the same names floating around Europe.

 

Ghost hope is slowly wearing off on me not going to lie.

 

Hoping Twisted Sister get added to RAR. Can't believe how many festivals have got Maiden and Download failed to grab them. I think that will kill the lineup in comparison to others as their booking elsewhere hasn't weakened the announcements either apart from Resurrection which is smaller anyway.

 

I'm not where else Ghost have to play for it not to be a European Exclusive or something. 

[chatty]

At this point I think the absolute ideal for me would be: 

 

NIN/Marilyn Manson 

 

Ghost/Volbeat

 

Linkin Park/Limp Bizkit

 

Alternatively if LB are headlining: 

 

NIN/Alice Cooper

 

Limp Bizkit/Marilyn Manson

 

Linkin Park/Bad Omens

 

Then AIC, Electric Callboy, A Perfect Circle, Skindred, Slayer, Twisted Sister, The Hu, Megadeth scattered about. 

 

 

[sw25]

I think Maiden not doing Download would not be seen as a failure to most. I think if they did play it would be more of a collective groan in terms of stepping back to the same old bands.

[northernangel]

2 minutes ago, chatty said:

At this point I think the absolute ideal for me would be: 

 

NIN/Marilyn Manson 

 

Ghost/Volbeat

 

Linkin Park/Limp Bizkit

 

Alternatively if LB are headlining: 

 

NIN/Alice Cooper

 

Limp Bizkit/Marilyn Manson

 

Linkin Park/Bad Omens

 

Then AIC, Electric Callboy, A Perfect Circle, Skindred, Slayer, Twisted Sister, The Hu, Megadeth scattered about. 

 

 

 

I don't think Alice Cooper subs. If he does and Slayer or AIC didn't they've had a struggle 

[Marka23]

7 minutes ago, northernangel said:

 

Hoping Twisted Sister get added to RAR. Can't believe how many festivals have got Maiden and Download failed to grab them. I think that will kill the lineup in comparison to others as their booking elsewhere hasn't weakened the announcements either apart from Resurrection which is smaller anyway.

 

I'm not where else Ghost have to play for it not to be a European Exclusive or something. 

Download haven't exactly failed to get Maiden when the band chose to do an exclusive show at Knebworth, granted it is a surprise for them to not play Download at all during their 50th anniversary. 

 

There are quite a few festivals with a missing headliner or two that Ghost could easily fit into. Plus there are also the festivals that haven't announced anyone yet like Download and Hellfest so Ghost is still very likely.

Edited October 21, 2025 by Marka23

[chatty]

3 minutes ago, northernangel said:

 

I don't think Alice Cooper subs. If he does and Slayer or AIC didn't they've had a struggle 

Stick one of them in there and Alice on third and that'll do me.

[chatty]

Are Alice in Chains mooted somehow or just a hope for people. Didn't they take time off as a member has been really ill? Or have they got over it now. 

 

I mean I hope they are there as I love a bit AIC. 

[Marka23]

8 minutes ago, chatty said:

At this point I think the absolute ideal for me would be: 

 

NIN/Marilyn Manson 

 

Ghost/Volbeat

 

Linkin Park/Limp Bizkit

 

Alternatively if LB are headlining: 

 

NIN/Alice Cooper

 

Limp Bizkit/Marilyn Manson

 

Linkin Park/Bad Omens

 

Then AIC, Electric Callboy, A Perfect Circle, Skindred, Slayer, Twisted Sister, The Hu, Megadeth scattered about. 

 

 

Slayer or Alice Cooper subbing Ghost would be great 

[partypirate]

Alice Cooper subbing Ghost would be fantastic