Download 2026

[northernangel]

11 minutes ago, TWY2911 said:

 

Didn't Enter Shikari headline avalanche despite headlining opus before? 

 

It obviously depends on if the band will accept it but it's not out of the ordinary 

 

Enter Shikari were on a very small tour, tour that time around, they also headlined the pit at Reading the same year. They weren't playing MK Bowl for their own show and never have plus, plus venues that Korn and Deftones were playing equivalently, add Margate to that, Drumsheds, The 02, LG Arena, Cardiff and Leeds lol.

 

The madness to fit bands in people wish were there instead haha. Not alone, I wish there were bands there instead too...for the Sunday anyway

Edited November 12, 2025 by northernangel

[DomDom1984]

Pendulum's recent tour actually goes with the Shikari one in that sense.

 

I still think it's Feeder, AAR and Mastodon in Avalanche, but Mastodon seem odd for it. Pendulum as the third and that seems like a hell of a time.

 

MK is a fair point, but they might fancy it.

Edited November 12, 2025 by DomDom1984

[Larosterna]

Pendulum in the tent would be sick

[TWY2911]

1 hour ago, DomDom1984 said:

Pendulum's recent tour actually goes with the Shikari one in that sense.

 

I still think it's Feeder, AAR and Mastodon in Avalanche, but Mastodon seem odd for it. Pendulum as the third and that seems like a hell of a time.

 

MK is a fair point, but they might fancy it.

 

I can't see Mastodon playing avalanche 

 

I reckon the third avalanche headliner is yet to be announced 

[northernangel]

8 hours ago, DomDom1984 said:

Pendulum's recent tour actually goes with the Shikari one in that sense.

 

I still think it's Feeder, AAR and Mastodon in Avalanche, but Mastodon seem odd for it. Pendulum as the third and that seems like a hell of a time.

 

MK is a fair point, but they might fancy it.

Pendulum are headlining I believe at Benicassim, as are The Prodigy, they are not doing that if they plan to do small festival slots.

 

The Prodigy often do these December intimate shows, like just gone but now have an arena tour and MK Bowl show. Pendulum are way too high on that list and have 3/4 acts after them that would be 4th main or second subs on their own. Feeder, AAR are the Avalanche area you would think with Mastodon I still think likely apart of the second sub/4th down lot. Played 4th down in 2017, likely equivalent position as that's probably the longest ever gap for a return lol. Mastodon look very far away from an Avalanche act unless they are trying something different.

[BrutalLegend]

I’ve got it like this for current logo bands 

 

[northernangel]

19 minutes ago, BrutalLegend said:

I’ve got it like this for current logo bands 

 

Architect's I believe  an only play Saturday so one of them or Teibium Trivium are subbing. The issue is unfortunately it all looks a little bit flatter than the initial release of the lineup did as most were expecting to be underwhelmed anyway. 4 of the probable 2nd/3rd/second heads are very samey.

[Andre91]

The team behind Sonisphere is apparently working on a new festival to be held at Knebworth. They’re also the ones putting on the Maiden event next summer. 
 

The timing couldn’t be better for another big rock/metal festival, imo. There’s more bands touring every summer than ever before and the live ticket market is booming now more than ever. 
 

Exciting stuff coming in (probably) 2027. 

[northernangel]

2 hours ago, northernangel said:

Architect's I believe  an only play Saturday so one of them or Teibium Trivium are subbing. The issue is unfortunately it all looks a little bit flatter than the initial release of the lineup did as most were expecting to be underwhelmed anyway. 4 of the probable 2nd/3rd/second heads are very samey.

@BrutalLegend sorry about the spelling, hopefully the new screen protector that's buggered will be here soon, its doing my nut in lol.

[alexs7]

3 hours ago, Andre91 said:

The team behind Sonisphere is apparently working on a new festival to be held at Knebworth. They’re also the ones putting on the Maiden event next summer. 
 

The timing couldn’t be better for another big rock/metal festival, imo. There’s more bands touring every summer than ever before and the live ticket market is booming now more than ever. 
 

Exciting stuff coming in (probably) 2027. 

1. We don't know if it will be rock/metal

 

2. I never got to visit Sonisphere but it didn't last long - it used to repeat headliners just like Download and both festivals would flip flop bands. Are we sure both would co-exist

[Andre91]

6 hours ago, alexs7 said:

1. We don't know if it will be rock/metal

 

2. I never got to visit Sonisphere but it didn't last long - it used to repeat headliners just like Download and both festivals would flip flop bands. Are we sure both would co-exist

They aren’t going to be putting together an Afrobeats festival, are they. 

[BlackFoxx]

10 hours ago, Andre91 said:

The team behind Sonisphere is apparently working on a new festival to be held at Knebworth. They’re also the ones putting on the Maiden event next summer. 
 

The timing couldn’t be better for another big rock/metal festival, imo. There’s more bands touring every summer than ever before and the live ticket market is booming now more than ever. 
 

Exciting stuff coming in (probably) 2027. 

Wouldn't a new festival like this suffer from some of the same issues as Download though? 

 

The genuinely massive stadium acts like Foo Fighters, MCR, SOAD, Metallica etc are still gonna be able to make more money doing their own shows under their own control rather than partnering with a festival. Couldn't this lead to more competition for headliners from the next group of acts further down? 

 

I suppose next year someone like MCR might come back next year and do festivals as it's an easier way to play more dates and hit some European markets where they're a considerably smaller band than here.

 

I've still not sure if it's sustainable long term to have two big rock/metal festivals in the UK, especially if the larger acts in that world are incentivised to keep doing their own thing. What do you think the lineups for both would be over the next three year window? 

 

A solution to the above might be if they had a broader interpretations of what a rock festival is relative to Download. Something like RIP/RAR in Germany could be an example, or moving back towards an "old Reading and Leeds" type model. I.e. a festival that not only books Linkin Park/BMTH/Slipknot but also Kings of Leon/The Killers/The Cure. 

[northernangel]

9 hours ago, alexs7 said:

1. We don't know if it will be rock/metal

 

2. I never got to visit Sonisphere but it didn't last long - it used to repeat headliners just like Download and both festivals would flip flop bands. Are we sure both would co-exist

 

There isn’t room for two big rock and metal festivals at all. The only reason that it would work is for bands that just don't want to play Download or there is beef there whatever then when you've done one year of that and they have a selection of who Download had but it doesn't work vice versa, what happens?, Download start booking everyone they would who wants to play again to kill the competition off. Sabaton, Volbeat, Papa Roach, Alter Bridge, ADTR, Twisted Sister and Alice Cooper are the one's Download didn't book. Sabaton would never get what they want here. Volbeat, Alice Cooper, Twisted Sister, Alter Bidge are all repeats or old bands that weren't wanted back here so why would you want 2 of them at a different event?, they are still the same band. Roach clearly don't want to play and you have booked Cypress Hill who not many others have so you can't have them all. Infact I believe Download might be the only one to have them once the high billing too.

[balti-pie]

i think they might be turning Sonisphere into a one day, band-curated, camping available, mega-gig.

 

Personally i wouldnt be bothered with all the faff of camping for one or two nights - that Iron Maiden event next year is hilariously overpriced and under-entertained, the lineup just doesnt even begin to look like £150/£200 worth for a weekend when you've shelled out for parking, camping, etc etc. Thats an early Bloodstock ticket ffs, and thats for four days! I think Sonisphere will be looking at one event a summer, with a massive headliner. But there's not all that many around - maiden yep, metallica (perhaps as a big 4 before Dave disappears) and then you're looking at MCR or something like that. As a one-off every few years? three years out of five, if they have a big swinging d*ck to headline it? 

[northernangel]

15 minutes ago, balti-pie said:

i think they might be turning Sonisphere into a one day, band-curated, camping available, mega-gig.

 

Personally i wouldnt be bothered with all the faff of camping for one or two nights - that Iron Maiden event next year is hilariously overpriced and under-entertained, the lineup just doesnt even begin to look like £150/£200 worth for a weekend when you've shelled out for parking, camping, etc etc. Thats an early Bloodstock ticket ffs, and thats for four days! I think Sonisphere will be looking at one event a summer, with a massive headliner. But there's not all that many around - maiden yep, metallica (perhaps as a big 4 before Dave disappears) and then you're looking at MCR or something like that. As a one-off every few years? three years out of five, if they have a big swinging d*ck to headline it? 

Likely more the case. To be honest though if Bloodstock does nothing for you then what you get for the price means nothing but I get your point. Download have have booked younger 22, 23 and 24 repeats rather than the older ones and the older smaller ones still there that's the only difference. I must admit, I'm taken in by the idea of a shower each night and no tent setting up at mad cool and Creamfields was great due to it which would be two nights this time but plenty to do it the day.

[alexs7]

2 hours ago, balti-pie said:

i think they might be turning Sonisphere into a one day, band-curated, camping available, mega-gig.

 

Personally i wouldnt be bothered with all the faff of camping for one or two nights - that Iron Maiden event next year is hilariously overpriced and under-entertained, the lineup just doesnt even begin to look like £150/£200 worth for a weekend when you've shelled out for parking, camping, etc etc. Thats an early Bloodstock ticket ffs, and thats for four days! I think Sonisphere will be looking at one event a summer, with a massive headliner. But there's not all that many around - maiden yep, metallica (perhaps as a big 4 before Dave disappears) and then you're looking at MCR or something like that. As a one-off every few years? three years out of five, if they have a big swinging d*ck to headline it? 

I know they aren't metal or alternative but Oasis are definitely gonna do something next year no matter how much they say they aren't 

[Spiral_Low]

9 hours ago, BlackFoxx said:

Wouldn't a new festival like this suffer from some of the same issues as Download though? 

 

The genuinely massive stadium acts like Foo Fighters, MCR, SOAD, Metallica etc are still gonna be able to make more money doing their own shows under their own control rather than partnering with a festival. Couldn't this lead to more competition for headliners from the next group of acts further down? 

 

I suppose next year someone like MCR might come back next year and do festivals as it's an easier way to play more dates and hit some European markets where they're a considerably smaller band than here.

 

I've still not sure if it's sustainable long term to have two big rock/metal festivals in the UK, especially if the larger acts in that world are incentivised to keep doing their own thing. What do you think the lineups for both would be over the next three year window? 

 

A solution to the above might be if they had a broader interpretations of what a rock festival is relative to Download. Something like RIP/RAR in Germany could be an example, or moving back towards an "old Reading and Leeds" type model. I.e. a festival that not only books Linkin Park/BMTH/Slipknot but also Kings of Leon/The Killers/The Cure. 

Your thinking in terms of needing to sell 75000+ tickets like Download does, but Sonisphers capacity was 60000 so they can never do that. Instead look at Bloodstock - easy sold 20000 tickets with Machine Head, Trivium and Gojira, could probably have abother 5000 to 10000 more. 

 

Any new Sonisphere should be looking at doing 40000 to 50000 tickets and booking line up accordingly, with any more bonus. For example have bands like Machine Head and Gojira as headliners, also bands like Placebo, Volbeat, Incubus, Sabaton.....bands that pull in a crowd by not command Download level fee's and ticket expectations. 

 

Loads of festivals arounds for dark fruits bands like the Killers, no need to match then up with metal bands plus you run the risk of crowd trouble like R&L are infamous for. 

Edited November 14, 2025 by Spiral_Low

[BlackFoxx]

5 minutes ago, Spiral_Low said:

Your thinking in terms of needing to sell 75000+ tickets like Download does, but Sonisphers capacity was 60000 so they can never do that. Instead look at Bloodstock - easy sold 20000 tickets with Machine Head, Trivium and Gojira, could probably have abother 5000 to 10000 more. 

 

Any new Sonisphere should be looking at doing 40000 to 50000 tickets and booking line up accordingly, with any more bonus. For example have bands like Machine Head and Gojira as headliners, also bands like Placebo, Volbeat, Incubus, Sabaton.....bands that pull in a crowd by not command Download level fee's and ticket expectations. 

 

Loads of festivals arounds for dark fruits bands like the Killers, no need to match then up with metal bands plus you run the risk of crowd trouble like R&L are infamous for. 

Doesn't this just put them in competition with Download for the pool of sub-headliners and second stage headliners instead? How much would such a hypothetical festival cost? I reckon it might be a bit tricky to market that festival, as why would someone not just go to Download where they could see similar bands but then also a bigger headliner each day? 

 

The likes of 2000 Trees, Arctangent and Bloodstock work at least because a) they undercut the price of Download, which makes sense as the bands are significantly smaller - and b) they also cater to a different audience or subset of genres. What sort of niche would the hypothetical Sonisphere have other than as a smaller Download?

[northernangel]

17 minutes ago, Spiral_Low said:

Your thinking in terms of needing to sell 75000+ tickets like Download does, but Sonisphers capacity was 60000 so they can never do that. Instead look at Bloodstock - easy sold 20000 tickets with Machine Head, Trivium and Gojira, could probably have abother 5000 to 10000 more. 

 

Any new Sonisphere should be looking at doing 40000 to 50000 tickets and booking line up accordingly, with any more bonus. For example have bands like Machine Head and Gojira as headliners, also bands like Placebo, Volbeat, Incubus, Sabaton.....bands that pull in a crowd by not command Download level fee's and ticket expectations. 

 

Loads of festivals arounds for dark fruits bands like the Killers, no need to match then up with metal bands plus you run the risk of crowd trouble like R&L are infamous for. 

 

Gonna and Machine Head are shifting 40-50k

[BlackFoxx]

I guess I just think Sonisphere has already tried and failed to coexist with Download. That was at a time when bands like Metallica and SOAD would play festivals, rather than now where they're incentivised and able to play their own stadium shows for more money. Maybe it would work for a year or two depending on exactly who is in the touring pool and if there is a surplus, but I just can't see it being sustainable long term. In a way spaces like Crystal Palace and Victoria Park already provide for those occasions with one off gigs for the likes of the Offspring or Deftones which have been successful. What does a whole other festival add? Download already gets a fair bit of criticism for the repetition of acts, I think this would just make it worse as it's more people trying to fish from the same pool.

[Spiral_Low]

27 minutes ago, BlackFoxx said:

Doesn't this just put them in competition with Download for the pool of sub-headliners and second stage headliners instead? How much would such a hypothetical festival cost? I reckon it might be a bit tricky to market that festival, as why would someone not just go to Download where they could see similar bands but then also a bigger headliner each day? 

 

The likes of 2000 Trees, Arctangent and Bloodstock work at least because a) they undercut the price of Download, which makes sense as the bands are significantly smaller - and b) they also cater to a different audience or subset of genres. What sort of niche would the hypothetical Sonisphere have other than as a smaller Download?

Its niche would be that its a mid size fest where you can see every band on main and second stages, no clashes. Rock and metal is huge, theres deffo scope for it. 

[alexs7]

17 hours ago, BlackFoxx said:

Doesn't this just put them in competition with Download for the pool of sub-headliners and second stage headliners instead? How much would such a hypothetical festival cost? I reckon it might be a bit tricky to market that festival, as why would someone not just go to Download where they could see similar bands but then also a bigger headliner each day? 

 

The likes of 2000 Trees, Arctangent and Bloodstock work at least because a) they undercut the price of Download, which makes sense as the bands are significantly smaller - and b) they also cater to a different audience or subset of genres. What sort of niche would the hypothetical Sonisphere have other than as a smaller Download?

I 100% agree with you.

 

Now lets look at Download 2025, this year's festival where many people complained of a weaker lineup and how it felt more "budget saving." Many bands doing the EU circuit got taken by other UK festivals (Knocked Loose. Turnstile, Electric Callboy, Linkin Park did their own show ect.)

 

Now imagine if Sonisphere was also going, you would probably lose the likes of Weezer, Don Broco, Rise Against, Bullet For My Valentine, Poppy ect. That leaves Download scrambling for names.

 

Or the opposite can happen with Sonisphere losing out on everyone, they both went for the same audience.

 

I know people want Download to struggle and fail but if Sonisphere goes for the same audience it's most likely gonna have the same fate as last time. It needs to do something different if it wants to be more than "Download but their subs actually headline us."

[northernangel]

I will point out that Gojira and Machine Head aren't shifting 40-50k was the wording, not are.

[chatty]

On 14/11/2025 at 10:34, balti-pie said:

i think they might be turning Sonisphere into a one day, band-curated, camping available, mega-gig.

 

Personally i wouldnt be bothered with all the faff of camping for one or two nights - that Iron Maiden event next year is hilariously overpriced and under-entertained, the lineup just doesnt even begin to look like £150/£200 worth for a weekend when you've shelled out for parking, camping, etc etc. Thats an early Bloodstock ticket ffs, and thats for four days! I think Sonisphere will be looking at one event a summer, with a massive headliner. But there's not all that many around - maiden yep, metallica (perhaps as a big 4 before Dave disappears) and then you're looking at MCR or something like that. As a one-off every few years? three years out of five, if they have a big swinging d*ck to headline it? 

It's basically £100 for an Iron Maiden ticket anyway. So add a few more days, camping and whatever other entertainment is on and is it really a stretch to say £150 is too much?

 

[chatty]

Is imagine if they are gonna run Knebworth it's be more in the vein of BST, a few big headliners running for a few weeks whilst the stage is set up as their own separate shows plus a few support and the option of camping over. 

 

That would probably work. Be easier to get some of the bigger bands on who Download struggle to get as it can be ran as essentially their own show and they are cutting the organisers in rather than the venue. 

 

Run separate shows for any of Maiden, Foos, Pearl Jam, Muse, Slipknot, SOAD and could probably run some underneath them like Gojira as well if they don't need to make capacity.