Download 2026

[kitatus]

1 hour ago, Audiorocker said:

Who on here thinks it will be Bizkit, GnR and Linkin Park ???

I'm already all in on NIN, Ghost and Linkin Park. NIN are unlikely but I think it's more likely than Bizkit considering we've had two years straight of Bizkit.

[andyrhodes24]

1 hour ago, Audiorocker said:

Who on here thinks it will be Bizkit, GnR and Linkin Park ???

Swap GnR for Ghost and I’m happy, or even Bizkit for Ghost.

[alexs7]

48 minutes ago, craigcharles420 said:

I can't imagine getting this bothered about who does or does not headline a music fest. They'll get who they get and that's it. The only real criteria is that they're popular and they fit in well with the intended audience. It's really not that deep.

People forget we are a small minority compared to the thousands of people to attend Download. Most people don't analyse tours and who's around in Europe for months. You'd think GnR would be the musical equivalent of norovirus from reading these threads but the average person will see them headline and think "Woah they got a legendary band" or "Woah Limp Bizkit are really fun live"

 

It always sells well (don't listen to people who say everyone will flock to Bloodstock because that never happens, it just sells out easier because it's a smaller site). Because big bands always headline and always have an audience who will go and see them.

 

With the way people spoke about the 2025 lineup up you would think that nobody was going to go, but that field was heaving with everyone enjoying all the bands. 

 

I still enjoy theorising and guessing, but some people get wayyy too worked up over a music festival.

[losing43]

I still have a feeling RHCP may show up

[alexs7]

23 minutes ago, losing43 said:

I still have a feeling RHCP may show up

While I hope not (not my thing) I do think there is a chance for us to get absolutely blindsided come 3rd.

 

I definitely think there is a sub/second stage headliner that has not shown up anywhere else yet

[TWY2911]

45 minutes ago, alexs7 said:

People forget we are a small minority compared to the thousands of people to attend Download. Most people don't analyse tours and who's around in Europe for months. You'd think GnR would be the musical equivalent of norovirus from reading these threads but the average person will see them headline and think "Woah they got a legendary band" or "Woah Limp Bizkit are really fun live"

 

It always sells well (don't listen to people who say everyone will flock to Bloodstock because that never happens, it just sells out easier because it's a smaller site). Because big bands always headline and always have an audience who will go and see them.

 

With the way people spoke about the 2025 lineup up you would think that nobody was going to go, but that field was heaving with everyone enjoying all the bands. 

 

I still enjoy theorising and guessing, but some people get wayyy too worked up over a music festival.

 

Exactly

 

No matter what the lineup is you'll have people moaning 

[firehazard]

3 hours ago, OKMess said:

As Judas has had insider knowledge before I'm not sure whether to believe this or not. I think GnR is codswallop personally based on nothing but vibes. I think it's LP/Ghost + one of Limp Bizkit or NIN at the moment. AFAIK there's nothing other than this longstanding rumour to suggest GnR are doing anything next summer, again, I think this was mostly escalated based on someone 'leaking' they were at Nova which turned out to be untrue. 

 

Judas said their source this year said it's Ghost, Linkin Park and a special Iron Maiden day tacked on. 

 

Their last guess was Limp Bizkit, Ghost and Linkin Park. They previously didn't know where GnR came from, so that isn't based on insider knowledge. 

[Potato94]

9 hours ago, alexs7 said:

In fairness two of those bands subbed recently (23 and 24) and Download probably don't want to rebook someone for the same spot.

 

Or those bands wanted to headline and Download said no (wouldn't be shocked if Architects wanted to having done some arenas and number one album)

Architects didn't get a number one album with the new album....

They also failed to sell out any of the arenas

Would also be hella disappointed with them as a headliner as i was at their manchester show last week and he sounded like elmo when trying to do his high screams

 

[Spiral_Low]

My guess:

 

Bad Omens - Muse - Linkin Park

[raincityhc]

16 hours ago, Andre91 said:

Leeds Festival Sunday was full of people in red hats and Bizkit had a bigger crowd than the headliner. People will absolutely buy tickets to see them.

Didn't their recent UK tour sell out as well ? Which is a good 70-80k tickets ?

[raincityhc]

1 hour ago, Spiral_Low said:

My guess:

 

Bad Omens - Muse - Linkin Park

Bad omens in some hot water aren't they ? 

[OKMess]

11 minutes ago, raincityhc said:

Bad omens in some hot water aren't they ? 

What's the skinny?

[craigcharles420]

1 hour ago, Spiral_Low said:

My guess:

 

Bad Omens - Muse - Linkin Park

A bit soon for Bad Omens to headline, no? I reckon it won't be too long though

[Spiral_Low]

8 minutes ago, craigcharles420 said:

A bit soon for Bad Omens to headline, no? I reckon it won't be too long though

I dislike them but I think Download will bump them, partly because the other 2 will be expensive. 

[craigcharles420]

40 minutes ago, Spiral_Low said:

I dislike them but I think Download will bump them, partly because the other 2 will be expensive. 

I just think it is a big push to get them headlining. Too much of a big push. I guess it doesn't really matter though. If the other two are Muse or LP tier, they can take the gamble.

[DomDom1984]

There is zero chance of Bad Omens as a headliner. Don't want to be setting a precedent of smaller acts doing it.

[andyrhodes24]

1 hour ago, OKMess said:

What's the skinny?

Shared a post on Insta supporting Israel by the sounds. Lots of people saying he’s supporting genocide and that he’s a Zionist but I can’t be arsed reading it all.

[Andre91]

Bad Omens aren’t getting the bump yet. 

[alexs7]

2 hours ago, raincityhc said:

Didn't their recent UK tour sell out as well ? Which is a good 70-80k tickets ?

Unlike other people I genuinely think LB are a great headliner, Very fun live (Break Stuff twice is fun people are just boring, although I agree about the covers ect) And will sell tickets (hell they were meant to headline the very first Download.)

 

My only issue is at the moment they are overexposed. Having been active in the UK every year since about 2022 means anyone who's wanted to see them has already and it just doesn't seem like an exciting get.

 

I would be fine with it but it would hit so much harder if they waited a few years.

[alexs7]

2 hours ago, craigcharles420 said:

A bit soon for Bad Omens to headline, no? I reckon it won't be too long though

If they had a Sleep Token-esque tour they probably could have.

 

However (despite selling out the Ally Pally date) Their arena dates have not sold well at all, when I last checked Manchester had so many seats left and it's probably the same for the others.

 

If they were selling out the Co-Op and the O2 then they definitely could do it however they aren't at that level yet.

 

I definitely think their break (while mental health obviously comes first and matters most) did kill much of the momentum they had in 2024, coming off the Bring Me tour ect.

[OllieJ77]

Bad Omens need to either headline second or main sub before they headline. They won’t headline 2026 purely because their ticket sales won’t be at the level needed and also because they hadn’t toured uk arenas before so download arent going to booked them to headline prior to that. And they would have booked headliners way before the tour got announced. Will they headline in the future, absolutely 

[WhoOdyssey]

4 hours ago, Potato94 said:

Architects didn't get a number one album with the new album....

They also failed to sell out any of the arenas

Would also be hella disappointed with them as a headliner as i was at their manchester show last week and he sounded like elmo when trying to do his high screams

 

They're definitely not headline material yet, but number 1s aren't everything...

 

Their 2025 #2 album sold more in its first week than their 2021 #1 - they just released it on a busier week.

Edited October 16, 2025 by WhoOdyssey

[DomDom1984]

Bad Omens definitely are on the right trajectory. Have to imagine it won't be too long. It's just not now.

[chatty]

Headline the second stage I reckon. They will headline in a couple of years time unless they somehow go to absolute sh*t. 

[rock_on]

19 hours ago, Siddey1994 said:

If someone could show me how the block function works (or if it even exists) this would be the easiest 2 second job in history. Guy is like the troll final boss of efests.

 

In case you still need this - hover over his profile picture and click 'ignore' out of the buttons that show up.