Download 2026

[OllieJ77]

11 hours ago, Audiorocker said:

There any chance Bizkit could sub GnR if Ghost have an exclusive friday slot?

No they said last time if Limp Bizkit play they headline.

[OllieJ77]

54 minutes ago, Jrose said:

Didnt say anything personal aside from axl cant sing in my opinion. business logic dictates gnr are a massive ticket seller due to their popularity. it's not anything controversial, it's factual. they also had metallica since 2023, there's no rule suddenly outlawing massive bands from 70/80/90s because they're blooding younger bands. 

just playing devils advocate but…

 

Are they still a massive ticket pull in 2025? Most of the older crowd are now older and less likely to want to go aside maybe a day ticket. Most of the younger generation likely (and I include myself) have no interest in seeing them. Axl can’t sing. The older fans have seen them recently and unless they are die hards are they going to be bothered about seeing them again given their awful? 

[craigcharles420]

I reckon GNR can pull in numbers but maybe they should go away for a few years before playing again. They have done the UK a lot since reuniting so I imagine most people who want to see them have had plenty of chance these last 10 years or so.

[firehazard]

1 hour ago, OllieJ77 said:

No they said last time if Limp Bizkit play they headline.

 

Andy said "Next time they come back, they have to be headlining, surely?" on an Instagram post, which isn't the same thing. He also knew he wouldn't be booking in the future. 

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/C8WoeKQtEMJ/?igsh=eXgzdGhqZDY3ZDN4

 

[Marka23]

1 hour ago, OllieJ77 said:

No they said last time if Limp Bizkit play they headline.

Copping said it was what he thinks should happen not that it definitely would happen. He also previously said he'd never book SOAD again after they subbed Green Day and has booked them again twice since so you can't really take what he says seriously.

 

Plus with Kam being the main booker now it's always possible he doesn't seem Limp Bizkit as a headline act so doesn't book them.

[northernangel]

2 hours ago, Jrose said:

i agree, his vocals are shot to pieces sadly. but i dont think that will have any real impact on ticket sales. people just like to say 'i was there' linkin park will sell well as they havent rinsed it to death for 10 years like gnr - but without chester, it's not quite the same draw. 

 

I think Emily sounds good enough with LP overall to be a better draw than GNR with an way off key Axl. She isn't perfect, obviously better with the newer stuff as it was made for her but there are way worse efforts over the years for replacements I expect.

32 minutes ago, firehazard said:

 

Andy said "Next time they come back, they have to be headlining, surely?" on an Instagram post, which isn't the same thing. He also knew he wouldn't be booking in the future. 

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/C8WoeKQtEMJ/?igsh=eXgzdGhqZDY3ZDN4

 

 

23 minutes ago, Marka23 said:

Copping said it was what he thinks should happen not that it definitely would happen. He also previously said he'd never book SOAD again after they subbed Green Day and has booked them again twice since so you can't really take what he says seriously.

 

Plus with Kam being the main booker now it's always possible he doesn't seem Limp Bizkit as a headline act so doesn't book them.

Glad two people have pointed this oit, I got absolutely flamed and torn to shreds by saying this a while back and most of it was by Andre who was clearly choosing to read different words given you two have actually put what was said, he was alone in doing that mind.

[Marka23]

49 minutes ago, northernangel said:

 

I think Emily sounds good enough with LP overall to be a better draw than GNR with an way off key Axl. She isn't perfect, obviously better with the newer stuff as it was made for her but there are way worse efforts over the years for replacements I expect.

 

Glad two people have pointed this oit, I got absolutely flamed and torn to shreds by saying this a while back and most of it was by Andre who was clearly choosing to read different words given you two have actually put what was said, he was alone in doing that mind.

With Limp Bizkit being announced to headline festivals it does look likely they'll headline Download. That said they've not been announced for any festivals the same week as Download yet. 

 

At the moment they've only been announced for Rock Am Ring/Im Park which they're not actually headlining and Resurrection Fest and Tons of Rock which they are headlining.

 

Looking at this it's possible they headline some festivals and sub others so it's at least slightly possible for Download they're either subbing main again or headlining 2nd stage again. 

 

[DomDom1984]

It's pretty certain that LP at the moment are a bigger draw with Emily as the singer than they were for a long time with Chester. 

 

Not a go at Chester of course, but they've been playing their biggest ever European shows. Their current pull can't be questioned. 

[northernangel]

1 hour ago, Marka23 said:

With Limp Bizkit being announced to headline festivals it does look likely they'll headline Download. That said they've not been announced for any festivals the same week as Download yet. 

 

At the moment they've only been announced for Rock Am Ring/Im Park which they're not actually headlining and Resurrection Fest and Tons of Rock which they are headlining.

 

Looking at this it's possible they headline some festivals and sub others so it's at least slightly possible for Download they're either subbing main again or headlining 2nd stage again. 

 

Im not saying they won't headline, I'm saying the wording that was used at the time was not a direct clear they will headline next time. As I said it wasn't just Andre, it was others as well and I was the only one not seeing it properly...yet those two others clearly read, I think they'll headline next time they play, surely they have to. Nothing concrete to say they will.

 

Marilyn Manson is also doing Resurrection festival headline as well and only two of their headliners last year would headline the very big rock festivals. Look at 2024 too, two of them one, one subs and one probably doesn't even sub at Download now for example. I would day Iron Maiden next year also have cost them more than any headliner in the last 3 years at least. Bearing in mind too, when they had a 3 day festival in 2023?, only 1 headliner would headline everywhere and in 2022 only 1 of 5 headliners would top your Downloads.

[northernangel]

2 minutes ago, DomDom1984 said:

It's pretty certain that LP at the moment are a bigger draw with Emily as the singer than they were for a long time with Chester. 

 

Not a go at Chester of course, but they've been playing their biggest ever European shows. Their current pull can't be questioned. 

I don't think they are a bigger pull as much in the sense that with Chester happening and the long break there was a the period when likewise bands had the huge pickup. I think we can be rest assured that if LP could sell Wembley at those prices that easy then with Chester it was a foregone conclusion.

[Marka23]

Quite a few on reddit are adamant GnR are headlining all saying they have apparent insiders 

[Frankly Mr Shankly]

Could probably switch out Ghost for Gn’R and it still works, I think 

Edited September 27, 2025 by Frankly Mr Shankly

[craigcharles420]

1 hour ago, northernangel said:

I don't think they are a bigger pull as much in the sense that with Chester happening and the long break there was a the period when likewise bands had the huge pickup. I think we can be rest assured that if LP could sell Wembley at those prices that easy then with Chester it was a foregone conclusion.

They're playing bigger shows now than they were for the last couple of tours when Chester was around. LP are bigger now than they have been in almost 20 years I think

[Frankly Mr Shankly]

1 minute ago, craigcharles420 said:

They're playing bigger shows now than they were for the last couple of tours when Chester was around. LP are bigger now than they have been in almost 20 years I think

Yeah but that’s because they took a 6 year break and in that time ‘nu metal’ has had a huge revival. If Chester was still around and they’d taken that break and then come back, they’d arguably be even bigger than they are now.

[Andre91]

Linkin Park are bigger now than they ever have been. It only seems to be the USA who haven’t taken to Emily. 
 

Anyway… I’m watching Guilt Trip’s set from Hellfest and they should get that Static Dress spot and open the Main Stage next year. Such a sick band. I think they’d be the perfect opener on a possible Bizkit day. 

[andyrhodes24]

Saw Pierce The Veil on Thursday and their crowd couldn’t be further from a typical Download crowd. For a start, half of them wouldn’t get the time off school.

 

Good enough gig but far more of a Slam Dunk band on that display.

[partypirate]

It’s going to be very surprising if Ghost don’t headline. Surely this is the time for them to do it. Maybe we get Ghost / GnR / LP.

 

 

[Andre91]

12 minutes ago, andyrhodes24 said:

Saw Pierce The Veil on Thursday and their crowd couldn’t be further from a typical Download crowd. For a start, half of them wouldn’t get the time off school.

 

Good enough gig but far more of a Slam Dunk band on that display.

I think they’re a decent band and quite like a fair bit of their stuff but it baffles me why they’re so big all these years after their pomp. Why them? 
 

Word is they were offered third down this year but wanted to sub so turned the festival down. Whilst they haven’t sold out, supposedly the UK dates so far have sold well, so I can see them getting that sub spot next year, especially since they aren’t going to be at Slam Dunk. 
 

I now think that Bad Omens will take the second stage headline spot they were supposed to do in the first place. Their production is pretty big now. 
 

Bizkit / Architects / Callboy 

 

KSE 

 

 

Ghost / Triv / MegaDave 

 

Bad Omens

 

LP / PTV / INK 

 

Volbeat 

 

[andyrhodes24]

9 minutes ago, Andre91 said:

I think they’re a decent band and quite like a fair bit of their stuff but it baffles me why they’re so big all these years after their pomp. Why them? 
 

Word is they were offered third down this year but wanted to sub so turned the festival down. Whilst they haven’t sold out, supposedly the UK dates so far have sold well, so I can see them getting that sub spot next year, especially since they aren’t going to be at Slam Dunk. 
 

I now think that Bad Omens will take the second stage headline spot they were supposed to do in the first place. Their production is pretty big now. 
 

Bizkit / Architects / Callboy 

 

KSE 

 

 

Ghost / Triv / MegaDave 

 

Bad Omens

 

LP / PTV / INK 

 

Volbeat 

 

The Co-op arena was pretty much sold out, I think it holds 21k but they said on stage it was their biggest ever European gig and that there was 15k there. Curtain up right at the very back of the arena seating and only a couple of pockets of empty seats elsewhere.

 

A lot of bands I didn’t think were big enough seem to be playing Co-op Live. PTV, INK, Architects, Haim. Didn’t realise how big a place it was still I was stood on the arena floor, it’s massive.

[northernangel]

1 hour ago, Frankly Mr Shankly said:

Could probably switch out Ghost for Gn’R and it still works, I think 

 3DG won't be that low. I also dont think Bad Omens are playing that low, they are subbing/second headliner every. A proper second headline though, mot second stages where bands would play 3rd down main stage.

1 hour ago, craigcharles420 said:

They're playing bigger shows now than they were for the last couple of tours when Chester was around. LP are bigger now than they have been in almost 20 years I think

 

Yes, but as the said the revival on that scene has been massive. No band that circle of likewise acts apart from Metallica had ever done stadium dates regularly apart from maybe Iron Maiden. They all did arena shows so when you say when Chester was around they did smaller shows, yes because they all did. LP on the face of it has sold tickets suggesting their size comparison but let's not the time they have and off die to circumstances and that with Chester they wouldn't be selling them as well. The Chester element would only emphasise that, they probably play Wembley twice plus headline Download next year so it's not a case of they got bigger due to a new singer....it's circumstantial and time.

 

33 minutes ago, Andre91 said:

I think they’re a decent band and quite like a fair bit of their stuff but it baffles me why they’re so big all these years after their pomp. Why them? 
 

Word is they were offered third down this year but wanted to sub so turned the festival down. Whilst they haven’t sold out, supposedly the UK dates so far have sold well, so I can see them getting that sub spot next year, especially since they aren’t going to be at Slam Dunk. 
 

I now think that Bad Omens will take the second stage headline spot they were supposed to do in the first place. Their production is pretty big now. 
 

Bizkit / Architects / Callboy 

 

KSE 

 

 

Ghost / Triv / MegaDave 

 

Bad Omens

 

LP / PTV / INK 

 

Volbeat 

 

Thats absolutely shocking!

[Frankly Mr Shankly]

10 minutes ago, northernangel said:

 3DG won't be that low. I also dont think Bad Omens are playing that low, they are subbing/second headliner every. A proper second headline though, mot second stages where bands would play 3rd down main stage.

 

In 2023 Three Days Grace were third down on the second stage so I thought fifth on main was about right, or have they had some sort of resurgence? Genuine question, I know very little about them.

 

I could see Bad Omens taking second stage over subbing just because they have a big arena sized production, but agree they’re probably more likely to sub. 
 

[NorthernSoul52]

Missed a few days out, but back. Ghost having nothing lined up for next year at all, particularly with this first wave of festivals... makes me wonder where exactly they're going to edge up.

[Larosterna]

2 hours ago, Frankly Mr Shankly said:

In 2023 Three Days Grace were third down on the second stage so I thought fifth on main was about right, or have they had some sort of resurgence? Genuine question, I know very little about them.

 

I could see Bad Omens taking second stage over subbing just because they have a big arena sized production, but agree they’re probably more likely to sub. 
 

Adam Gontier is back and they have a new album. Just checked on Spotify as well, 17.6 million monthly listeners is more than I thought. I think they could sub, definitely will bring a crowd for nostalgia as well since One-X is twenty next year.

[Judas Yeast]

1 hour ago, NorthernSoul52 said:

Missed a few days out, but back. Ghost having nothing lined up for next year at all, particularly with this first wave of festivals... makes me wonder where exactly they're going to edge up.

 

Neither have GnR but they're hotly rumoured tbf. Lots of festivals still to announce too

[northernangel]

2 hours ago, Frankly Mr Shankly said:

In 2023 Three Days Grace were third down on the second stage so I thought fifth on main was about right, or have they had some sort of resurgence? Genuine question, I know very little about them.

 

I could see Bad Omens taking second stage over subbing just because they have a big arena sized production, but agree they’re probably more likely to sub. 
 

 

Well their tour this year has sold very well and I wouldn't say it's is less than 4th down which is where I expect them. They have similar to what Rise Against did but Glasgow 02 over Northern Ireland date. I heard crowds singing three days grace in their masses exiting the arena as well over whatever the headliner was and they played earlier enough in the day to have been moved on by lol.

 

I don't think Bad Omens will play unless they sub as again I think they'll would be allowing themselves to play a lesser slot for Download than others. I think the only reason really a band should have that slot, like Pantera for example is when they know aren't going to get the headline option ever at Download at least.

Edited September 27, 2025 by northernangel