Download 2026

[northernangel]

13 minutes ago, foolee said:

I could see an All Time Low, Yungblud & Limp Bizkit top 3 working with Volbeat, A Perfect Circle, Trivium, Sabaton or Megadeth headlining 2nd stage (Imagine we’ll get 3 of these in a sub or 2nd stage headliner position).
 

I think Bad Omens & Architects will both take either a sub slot of 2nd stage headliner.

 

I reckon Papa Roach, The Offspring & Twenty One Pilots will either be R&L or London/Halifax shows. 

I don't know where people get idea idea that sub and second stage healiner are the same, looks the bands booked for second stage, they are 3rd down main bands. Megadeth, Sabaton, Trivium and maybe Volbeat are the only one's that option still applies to. The only exception applies for a band that know they won't be going to the top and Architects especially and Bad Omens aren't surely going to be playing sub level and drop down.

Edited September 30, 2025 by northernangel

[Andre91]

DOWN are about so I hope they appear on the lineup. One of the bands I’d want to see the most. Phil’s black metal band Scour are around too. 

[TWY2911]

2 hours ago, Audiorocker said:

A question for all - Who are the 'old timer' band you would still like to see play DL one more time...knowing it would be their last. I would say old timer these days is a band who made their name before the 90s.

 

AC/DC definitely 

[TWY2911]

I can see Slayer being announced for a few European fests in their second wave 

 

I know they marketed their last download appearance as their last UK Show but that's already been broken lol 

 

Have them sub Limp Bizkit or headline opus

[Marka23]

1 hour ago, TWY2911 said:

I can see Slayer being announced for a few European fests in their second wave 

 

I know they marketed their last download appearance as their last UK Show but that's already been broken lol 

 

Have them sub Limp Bizkit or headline opus

Slayer would probably sub main this time. 90 minute set with full production 

[firehazard]

NIN has just hinted at more tour dates next year. 

[kitatus]

9 minutes ago, firehazard said:

NIN has just hinted at more tour dates next year. 

Ghost and NIN announcing next year dates in the same week... a guy can dream.

[Marka23]

34 minutes ago, firehazard said:

NIN has just hinted at more tour dates next year. 

Would be great if we end up with Ghost and NIN as headliners 

[firehazard]

NIN and Ghost would be my dream headliners too... which I know is why it's going to end up being Limp Bizkit and GnR 🫠

[ThatDazFella]

9 hours ago, TWY2911 said:

 

AC/DC definitely 

Pure fantasy booking: Led Zeppelin

[Gejonimo]

14 hours ago, Audiorocker said:

A question for all - Who are the 'old timer' band you would still like to see play DL one more time...knowing it would be their last. I would say old timer these days is a band who made their name before the 90s.

Call me absolutely insane...Paul McCartney.

 

Saw him last year and he was phenomenal, and I truly believe his back catalogue and show are universal and transcend age/genres. 

[Bluewolf]

14 hours ago, Audiorocker said:

A question for all - Who are the 'old timer' band you would still like to see play DL one more time...knowing it would be their last. I would say old timer these days is a band who made their name before the 90s.

Judas Priest for sure

[King101]

14 hours ago, northernangel said:

I don't know where people get idea idea that sub and second stage healiner are the same, looks the bands booked for second stage, they are 3rd down main bands. Megadeth, Sabaton, Trivium and maybe Volbeat are the only one's that option still applies to. The only exception applies for a band that know they won't be going to the top and Architects especially and Bad Omens aren't surely going to be playing sub level and drop down.

I think it’s largely a hangover from 2023.

Historically Second Stage headliner was equivalent to 3rd on main.

 

In 2023 that definitely changed and the second stage headliners were as big, if not bigger, than the subs. FFDP, Evanescence and Ghost would have all been main sub and are probably bigger than the bands subbed.

 

Pantera then maintained that level in 2024 before it fully slipped back in 2025.

[Bluewolf]

So NIN for a Headliner Slot ?

Debut album before 1991

 

[kitatus]

In before the inevitable "NIN aren't on my playlist therefore they're not big enough to headline Download festival"

[BingusBongus]

NIN would be an absolute vibe. 

[OllieJ77]

I’d much rather have NIN then GnR!!

[RandomEnglishPerson]

15 minutes ago, OllieJ77 said:

I’d much rather have NIN than GnR!!

I forward this, would be a f**king blast

[northernangel]

2 hours ago, King101 said:

I think it’s largely a hangover from 2023.

Historically Second Stage headliner was equivalent to 3rd on main.

 

In 2023 that definitely changed and the second stage headliners were as big, if not bigger, than the subs. FFDP, Evanescence and Ghost would have all been main sub and are probably bigger than the bands subbed.

 

Pantera then maintained that level in 2024 before it fully slipped back in 2025.

They used to be 3rd or even 4th sometimes. 2023 was just a year of being being stacked a bit more. I'm not 100% Evanescence would have been main sub at that point, Placebo wouldn't be either. So it was like 2 yes, 2 no until Skindred stepped in.

[foolee]

If Download book NIN to headline I’d be a very happy man. Ghost, NIN & Linkin Park would be a curveball we aren’t expecting due to the Limp Bizkit rumours. 

[Hart Attack]

Ghost / Halestorm / Papa Roach / Electric Callboy / Malevolence
Volbeat

Nine Inch Nails / Architects / Killswitch Engage / Motionless In White / Breaking Benjamin
Trivium

 

Linkin Park / Bad Omens / Ice Nine Kills / The Pretty Reckless / Three Days Grace
A Perfect Circle

[Andre91]

4 hours ago, King101 said:

I think it’s largely a hangover from 2023.

Historically Second Stage headliner was equivalent to 3rd on main.

 

In 2023 that definitely changed and the second stage headliners were as big, if not bigger, than the subs. FFDP, Evanescence and Ghost would have all been main sub and are probably bigger than the bands subbed.

 

Pantera then maintained that level in 2024 before it fully slipped back in 2025.

Agreed. Second stage headliners fluctuate between third down and sub sized. I agree that all of those you mentioned would also sub. Chuck Machine Head in there too these days, probably. Rob Zombie headlined Second last time he played but could also sub Main. 

Bands like Slayer, Alice In Chains, Bad Omens, for example, could just as likely headline second or sub main. 

Edited October 1, 2025 by Andre91

[craigcharles420]

NIN headlining would be immense

[carlosevenos]

I really don't see Limp Bizkit being headliners this year. it was only the other year they played, and can't see them being back that quick and being bumped up the bill. Maybe next year. I reckon we're definitely getting Ghost and Linkin Park and looking like NIN is possible now. Not a fan, but will be better than guns n roses.

[partypirate]

Ghost / NIN / LP would be great.