Download 2026

[andyrhodes24]

11 minutes ago, foolee said:

Didn’t go but I thought for such a heavy band a lot of people sitting in seats, lots of phones & a very dead crowd (still/no jumping/moshing). Odd. UK crowds used to be the best but think that’s a thing of the past.

100%, I wasn’t miles back in the standing area but I couldn’t see much of a pit. Visuals as good as you’d expect from Bad Omens but a pretty dead crowd. Don’t know what the numbers were like at the Co-op but Nottingham looked fully sold out.

[alexs7]

2 hours ago, foolee said:

Didn’t go but I thought for such a heavy band a lot of people sitting in seats, lots of phones & a very dead crowd (still/no jumping/moshing). Odd. UK crowds used to be the best but think that’s a thing of the past.

I never got the arguement of "omg people are SITTING in the SEATED section, what is this blasphemy!!!!"

 

Just because people are sitting it doesn't mean they aren't enjoying it. People have different medical conditions now and such so some people can't stand ect.

 

I hate this new trend of caring how other people enjoy gigs - just have a good time yourself.

 

Anyway Bad Omens were great in Manchester and managed to pretty much sell out the Co-Op live which is impressive. Will definitely headline next cycle.

[Chavmeisterdeluxe]

Sadly TikTok views trump just having a good time for bands of their ilk 

[chatty]

15 hours ago, alexs7 said:

I never got the arguement of "omg people are SITTING in the SEATED section, what is this blasphemy!!!!"

 

Just because people are sitting it doesn't mean they aren't enjoying it. People have different medical conditions now and such so some people can't stand ect.

 

I hate this new trend of caring how other people enjoy gigs - just have a good time yourself.

 

Anyway Bad Omens were great in Manchester and managed to pretty much sell out the Co-Op live which is impressive. Will definitely headline next cycle.

Think they are more referencing the overall gig. It's certainly fine to be seated at a gig. Done it plenty myself and had a good time. 

 

You don't want all the crowd there though, you need some atmosphere for everyone to enjoy. 

 

I've been to gigs of both ilk tbf, if the front of crowd doesn't get going then it can have an impact on the atmosphere. I think that's fair enough. 

[RedJosh]

22 hours ago, andyrhodes24 said:

Saw Bad Omens last night and they’re as comfortable a sub act as you’ll ever see. A lot filler I’d argue should be cut from a festival set but they’ll 100% headline one day. Crowd was weird though, a lot of phones out throughout, a lot of people just chatting throughout.

We were by the side of the sound desk as we just wanted to watch the show properly and the atmosphere was much better than I expected for being so far back. The crowd by us was all busy singing other than a group of women behind us who talked through verses of some of the songs, sang the chorus or big lines and talked about what they'd like to do with Noah. We did see lots of phones about, but no more than normal.

 

I will say that your experience is what it is like seeing any of the bands baddies like at the moment, especially the big four of Bad Omens, Sleep Token and Spiritbox, as well as the adopted Bring Me to a lesser degree now. Imagine it would have been like it for Ghost this year if they didn't have the Yondr pouches. There is like a whole fan base online who collate and archive all their movements and chats to the crowd from every show, dissect them and talk about what they mean, before creating their own narrative.

 

I used to be involved in the Sleep Token Discord, but opted out over 2 years ago as it became so lame. Whole day conversations about what one little dance Vessel did mean the night before and what is he conveying to the fans. Discussions on how they can show Vessel they love him and care about him with synchronised hand signs or dance routines during or at specific points of a certain song to make clear they aren't the crazy fans.

[andyrhodes24]

6 minutes ago, RedJosh said:

We were by the side of the sound desk as we just wanted to watch the show properly and the atmosphere was much better than I expected for being so far back. The crowd by us was all busy singing other than a group of women behind us who talked through verses of some of the songs, sang the chorus or big lines and talked about what they'd like to do with Noah. We did see lots of phones about, but no more than normal.

 

I will say that your experience is what it is like seeing any of the bands baddies like at the moment, especially the big four of Bad Omens, Sleep Token and Spiritbox, as well as the adopted Bring Me to a lesser degree now. Imagine it would have been like it for Ghost this year if they didn't have the Yondr pouches. There is like a whole fan base online who collate and archive all their movements and chats to the crowd from every show, dissect them and talk about what they mean, before creating their own narrative.

 

I used to be involved in the Sleep Token Discord, but opted out over 2 years ago as it became so lame. Whole day conversations about what one little dance Vessel did mean the night before and what is he conveying to the fans. Discussions on how they can show Vessel they love him and care about him with synchronised hand signs or dance routines during or at specific points of a certain song to make clear they aren't the crazy fans.

We ended up pretty much on the front left corner of the sound desk after we moved, couldn’t hear Noah for people chatting and singing.

 

Maybe I’ve been in too many pits recently to remember what it’s like further back, I’ve certainly no idea what Architects was like by the sound desk!

 

Yeah I knew going into Bad Omens had that cult following akin to Sleep Token, I don’t remember it so much from the BMTH support in 2024 but maybe they’ve taken off fully since then.

[northernangel]

Evanescence playing arenas september 2026 should probably be thought of as a good returning bet for 2027. Coop, Leeds, Birmingham NIA and The 02. 

 

They could headline off of that to be honest.

[RedJosh]

2 hours ago, andyrhodes24 said:

We ended up pretty much on the front left corner of the sound desk after we moved, couldn’t hear Noah for people chatting and singing.

 

Maybe I’ve been in too many pits recently to remember what it’s like further back, I’ve certainly no idea what Architects was like by the sound desk!

 

Yeah I knew going into Bad Omens had that cult following akin to Sleep Token, I don’t remember it so much from the BMTH support in 2024 but maybe they’ve taken off fully since then.

Architects still had pits by the sound desk at every UK show and in Amsterdam. A very different atmosphere indeed. 

 

At the Brum support slot with BMTH, we were near the front and there were women just screaming constantly. I've seen Sleep Token 22 times so knew what to expect from what their shows have been like since they blew up and the Spiritbox Ally Pally show😂

[northernangel]

Sonisphere have updated their Facebook an hour ago 

[alexs7]

It was mentioned on the other Download fourms so I am gonna post it here too.

 

Papa Roach responded with the eyes emoji when someone asked them about Download. We thought they were ruled out but now a potential name for the second announcement?

[Chavmeisterdeluxe]

1 hour ago, alexs7 said:

It was mentioned on the other Download fourms so I am gonna post it here too.

 

Papa Roach responded with the eyes emoji when someone asked them about Download. We thought they were ruled out but now a potential name for the second announcement?

 

They were only ruled out by the people who think it's impossible to travel from Europe to the UK and back on consecutive days.

[TWY2911]

31 minutes ago, Chavmeisterdeluxe said:

 

They were only ruled out by the people who think it's impossible to travel from Europe to the UK and back on consecutive days.

 

Same thing happened last year when people were adamant green day weren't gonna be there because they would have to travel to Italy for a date two days later lol 

 

Architects were apparently ruled out this year because of that as well

 

Download is literally situated next to an airport 

Edited December 2, 2025 by TWY2911

[DomDom1984]

33 minutes ago, Chavmeisterdeluxe said:

 

They were only ruled out by the people who think it's impossible to travel from Europe to the UK and back on consecutive days.

 

I don't even bother with folk that say that. I seen REM headline T the day after they played in Europe. If a headliner can pull it off, anyone can.

[northernangel]

3 hours ago, alexs7 said:

It was mentioned on the other Download fourms so I am gonna post it here too.

 

Papa Roach responded with the eyes emoji when someone asked them about Download. We thought they were ruled out but now a potential name for the second announcement?

 

I wonder if Download have contacted and offered a better spot.

1 hour ago, TWY2911 said:

 

Same thing happened last year when people were adamant green day weren't gonna be there because they would have to travel to Italy for a date two days later lol 

 

Architects were apparently ruled out this year because of that as well

 

Download is literally situated next to an airport 

 

No, people were adamant Green Day would only be doing the Friday due to travel and tbf for a band with a bigger stage setup to be in Italy a following day that was fair.

[northernangel]

If Papa Roach are there it'll be Sunday. They are in Czech Thursday so would be Switzerland Friday or Saturday.

[TWY2911]

Bad Omens subbing LB - Cypress Hill subbing GNR - Papa Roach subbing LP? 

 

The only band I see headlining opus out of them three is Cypress Hill 

[northernangel]

34 minutes ago, TWY2911 said:

Bad Omens subbing LB - Cypress Hill subbing GNR - Papa Roach subbing LP? 

 

The only band I see headlining opus out of them three is Cypress Hill 

Bad Omens can basically only do Sunday so it would have to be Bad Omens and Papa Roach taking the slots.

[alexs7]

40 minutes ago, TWY2911 said:

Bad Omens subbing LB - Cypress Hill subbing GNR - Papa Roach subbing LP? 

 

The only band I see headlining opus out of them three is Cypress Hill 

You are not booking Cypress Hill and having them sub GnR

 

It will be LB

[alexs7]

51 minutes ago, northernangel said:

If Papa Roach are there it'll be Sunday. They are in Czech Thursday so would be Switzerland Friday or Saturday.

They are at Nova sunday

Edited December 2, 2025 by alexs7

[northernangel]

22 minutes ago, alexs7 said:

You are not booking Cypress Hill and having them sub GnR

 

It will be LB

 

Yes it will be.

20 minutes ago, alexs7 said:

They are at Nova sunday

 

It won't happen then. They won't do Czech, Switzerland, back to Download and out to Austria over 4 days. Greenfield is Thursday to Saturday but they are busy Thursday so it would be Friday or Saturday. The reason why people ruled them out was 3 countries on 4 days already with having to skip back to Download in between, not because of travel travelling back to back to europe from the UK 

Edited December 2, 2025 by northernangel

[chatty]

On 01/12/2025 at 14:51, RedJosh said:

We were by the side of the sound desk as we just wanted to watch the show properly and the atmosphere was much better than I expected for being so far back. The crowd by us was all busy singing other than a group of women behind us who talked through verses of some of the songs, sang the chorus or big lines and talked about what they'd like to do with Noah. We did see lots of phones about, but no more than normal.

 

I will say that your experience is what it is like seeing any of the bands baddies like at the moment, especially the big four of Bad Omens, Sleep Token and Spiritbox, as well as the adopted Bring Me to a lesser degree now. Imagine it would have been like it for Ghost this year if they didn't have the Yondr pouches. There is like a whole fan base online who collate and archive all their movements and chats to the crowd from every show, dissect them and talk about what they mean, before creating their own narrative.

 

I used to be involved in the Sleep Token Discord, but opted out over 2 years ago as it became so lame. Whole day conversations about what one little dance Vessel did mean the night before and what is he conveying to the fans. Discussions on how they can show Vessel they love him and care about him with synchronised hand signs or dance routines during or at specific points of a certain song to make clear they aren't the crazy fans.

Sounds f**ked. 

 

What happened to going to a gigz getting smashed, bopping all over, having a sing, then going home or to the club. 

 

Or if you weren't on a mad one you stand just outside of the mosh pit. 

 

Surely fighting crowds are just the same as they always were for the most part. I get people like to take pics and vids now but nowt else should have changed. 

[charlierc]

2 hours ago, northernangel said:

No, people were adamant Green Day would only be doing the Friday due to travel and tbf for a band with a bigger stage setup to be in Italy a following day that was fair.

Still more reasonable than U2's bizarre scheduling for Glastonbury 2011, where they played that festival on a Friday but with US shows on the Wednesday and Sunday either side. Feel like it's no wonder they were jet lagged.

[northernangel]

13 minutes ago, charlierc said:

Still more reasonable than U2's bizarre scheduling for Glastonbury 2011, where they played that festival on a Friday but with US shows on the Wednesday and Sunday either side. Feel like it's no wonder they were jet lagged.

Yeah they didn't plan it at all well. I'd havs enjoyed U2 way more with no rain 

[charlierc]

28 minutes ago, northernangel said:

Yeah they didn't plan it at all well. I'd havs enjoyed U2 way more with no rain 

I mean, the weather can't be helped, although it's kinda wild how it went from such a damp and dark Friday to being sunny for Beyonce day on the Sunday.

 

One thing that was very much in their control was that there was a timing error which meant that on the opening song, Edge and Larry came in at wrong parts to each other so the timing sounded all wrong.

 

I also remember on that day, I was seeing The Killers at Hyde Park in London and I distinctly remember the lead singer of since-broken-up support act Wolf Gang saying "Be glad you're not at Glastonbury where its raining", only for it to duly begin lashing it down during Kaiser Chiefs. Talk about tempting fate.

[northernangel]

1 hour ago, charlierc said:

I mean, the weather can't be helped, although it's kinda wild how it went from such a damp and dark Friday to being sunny for Beyonce day on the Sunday.

 

One thing that was very much in their control was that there was a timing error which meant that on the opening song, Edge and Larry came in at wrong parts to each other so the timing sounded all wrong.

 

I also remember on that day, I was seeing The Killers at Hyde Park in London and I distinctly remember the lead singer of since-broken-up support act Wolf Gang saying "Be glad you're not at Glastonbury where its raining", only for it to duly begin lashing it down during Kaiser Chiefs. Talk about tempting fate.

Strange British weather isn't it, it can be great and then it can be a massive put off.