Download 2026

[TWY2911]

1 minute ago, alexs7 said:

I always feel bad yet also laugh when bands get venues downgraded.

 

Like recently One Ok Rock had to downgrade from AO Arena to the O2 Apollo...

 

I think some older bands have that ego 

 

Same reason Scorpions refuse to play any festival unless they headline (not saying they aren't a big band, there's also bands like Manowar that have a similar ego) 

[alexs7]

1 minute ago, TWY2911 said:

 

I think some older bands have that ego 

 

Same reason Scorpions refuse to play any festival unless they headline (not saying they aren't a big band, there's also bands like Manowar that have a similar ego) 

Didn't Twisted Sister say that they were gonna "headline festivals" and they aren't headlining a single one

[chatty]

8 minutes ago, alexs7 said:

Yeah true - I guess if Download could survive while R+L were booking more rock bands they could do it again.

 

Although I would be worried we will keep getting Download 2008 situations if that happens

There's easily enough bands that can sell two festivals but you'll always have some years where some aren't about and others want to do their own thing and you end up with the odd poor one. 

 

Think if you have: 

 

Oasis, RHCP, Muse, Blur, SOAD, MCR, LP, GNR, Metallica, Paramore, Arctic Monkeys, U2, Green Day, Sting, Pearl Jam, Radiohead, The Cure, The Killers, Kings of Leon, Green Day, Smashing Pumpkins, Foo fighters, NIN, LB, Offspring, Korn, Dream Theatre, MBV, Nick Cave, Pixies, Bring Me The Horizon, Avenged Sevenfold, The Strokes, BFMV, Tool, Gorillaz, Blink etc with newer bands stepping up and the occasions where bands come out of the woodwork say Stone Roses as an example then there should be enough to do well for two festivals. 

 

Of course some of them arent top top draws but you'd fit them in with ones that were.

 

Festivals are difficult mindz a bad year can ruin you. 

[rock_on]

19 minutes ago, chatty said:

There's easily enough bands that can sell two festivals but you'll always have some years where some aren't about and others want to do their own thing and you end up with the odd poor one. 

 

Think if you have: 

 

Oasis, RHCP, Muse, Blur, SOAD, MCR, LP, GNR, Metallica, Paramore, Arctic Monkeys, U2, Green Day, Sting, Pearl Jam, Radiohead, The Cure, The Killers, Kings of Leon, Green Day, Smashing Pumpkins, Foo fighters, NIN, LB, Offspring, Korn, Dream Theatre, MBV, Nick Cave, Pixies, Bring Me The Horizon, Avenged Sevenfold, The Strokes, BFMV, Tool, Gorillaz, Blink etc with newer bands stepping up and the occasions where bands come out of the woodwork say Stone Roses as an example then there should be enough to do well for two festivals. 

 

Of course some of them arent top top draws but you'd fit them in with ones that were.

 

Festivals are difficult mindz a bad year can ruin you. 

 

Half those bands will never headline Download and quite a few would be comfortably picked for or have already done R+L. There's not enough space in the market for a third festival chasing those bands.

[alexs7]

5 minutes ago, rock_on said:

 

Half those bands will never headline Download and quite a few would be comfortably picked for or have already done R+L. There's not enough space in the market for a third festival chasing those bands.

I do think instead of another festival, R+L should just start booking more rock again. 

 

With how well LB and BMTH went down this year and Travis Scott going down like a fart it definitely proves the festival still has that market.

[chatty]

9 minutes ago, rock_on said:

 

Half those bands will never headline Download and quite a few would be comfortably picked for or have already done R+L. There's not enough space in the market for a third festival chasing those bands.

Leeds is moving further away from this bands by year and Glastonbury is moving more and more into a pop festival so maybes not yet but I think we're not far off having another festival come in and have a go at least. 

[rock_on]

4 minutes ago, chatty said:

Leeds is moving further away from this bands by year and Glastonbury is moving more and more into a pop festival so maybes not yet but I think we're not far off having another festival come in and have a go at least. 

 

They were really moving away from those sort of bands this year with their co-headline of BMTH and Limp Bizkit...

[Larosterna]

1 hour ago, TWY2911 said:

 

Paramore anyone? 

Not happening, mostly because Hayley will probably want to tour her solo stuff before the band get back for another album but they would be incredible, one of my favourite bands.

[Larosterna]

1 hour ago, Siddey1994 said:

I agree but it is worth noting FOB played a fair amount of their “pop” material at DL and it still went down well. I agree they should lean more heavily on the classics though.

To be fair I think a difference is that with Paramore at least (no opinion on Panic) is that their later "poppier" stuff is pretty well recieved compared to FOB. After Laughter and This Is Why both were great.

 

That being said I reckon if they were to headline it would be a lot of songs from BNE and Riot with the other stuff sprinkled in.

[chatty]

33 minutes ago, rock_on said:

 

They were really moving away from those sort of bands this year with their co-headline of BMTH and Limp Bizkit...

For one day, the other two days were full hip hop and pop mainly. 

[rock_on]

I think Paramore are more likely for 2027 - it would be the 20th anniversary for Riot! that year and it came out on 11 June so could end up doing it very close to the anniversary, surely they would play it in full? Back up with Brand New Eyes in full and you've got a hell of a set.

[LazyDavid]

2027 give me:

Paramore - Deftones - My Chemical Romance

 

Get Turnstile on before Paramore too

[RedJosh]

2 hours ago, Andre91 said:

Some people in here need to give their heads a wobble. System Of A Down sold out two extortionately priced stadium shows in a matter of hours. Yet people wouldn’t buy tickets to see them at Download? Delulu or what. 

Download day tickets cheaper than most System tickets for Spurs too...

[Marka23]

2 hours ago, alexs7 said:

Didn't Twisted Sister say that they were gonna "headline festivals" and they aren't headlining a single one

They did. Either got told the were or just assumed they were 

[Larosterna]

59 minutes ago, LazyDavid said:

2027 give me:

Paramore - Deftones - My Chemical Romance

 

Get Turnstile on before Paramore too

Would be great, I think we'd only get one of Paramore or MCR though and I'm leaning the latter. 

 

Strike while the nu metal revival is hot with Deftones, get one of the big pop punk acts and grab a fresher legacy act like Foos or Pearl Jam and that would be great.

[OllieJ77]

2 hours ago, rock_on said:

 

They were really moving away from those sort of bands this year with their co-headline of BMTH and Limp Bizkit...

You are just a troll arent you. Fair play youre out here loving your best life I respect it. 

[OllieJ77]

1 hour ago, chatty said:

For one day, the other two days were full hip hop and pop mainly. 

I wouldn’t bother entertaining him anymore if I’m honest. 
 

Anyway so Twenty One Pilots should headline download here’s my 20 slide PowerPoint with reasons why …. 🤪

[Judas Yeast]

I wondered why we'd jumped so many pages today, that was a bloody rollercoaster!

[Steve G]

On 15/09/2025 at 10:55, NorthernSoul52 said:

Will be curious how fast the sales are for Leeds with Manchester also now on the docket.

 

Circling back on this, I think The Cure would be excellent. C&T would need to be moving them around a bit, perhaps.

 

4 hours ago, chatty said:

Depends how they are done. 

 

Think there is a gap for a proper indie/alternative market that's been abandoned a lot recently. Basically what Leeds/Reading used to be. 

 

 

Then a festival more catered to metal/emo/pop punk etc.

 

A lot of smaller festivals have went bust so think there's probably room for another bigger one if it gets it's market right. 

 

 

Victorious Festival is probably closest to what old school R/L was. 

[Siddey1994]

4 hours ago, Larosterna said:

To be fair I think a difference is that with Paramore at least (no opinion on Panic) is that their later "poppier" stuff is pretty well recieved compared to FOB. After Laughter and This Is Why both were great.

 

That being said I reckon if they were to headline it would be a lot of songs from BNE and Riot with the other stuff sprinkled in.

Oh I know. I’m a huge Paramore fan.

[Andre91]

Paramore are another who don’t strike me as an album in full kind of band. Nor should they be. They’ve got too much excellent material from across all of their albums. 

[foolee]

I can’t see Paramore ever doing it, I just don’t think they’d ever want to. 
 

2027

Falling In Reverse - Deftones - My Chemical Romance

[SweetJesus]

7 hours ago, Judas Yeast said:

I wondered why we'd jumped so many pages today, that was a bloody rollercoaster!

10 pages of nonsense

[Andre91]

16 minutes ago, foolee said:

I can’t see Paramore ever doing it, I just don’t think they’d ever want to. 
 

2027

Falling In Reverse - Deftones - My Chemical Romance

I think they’ll do it, personally. 
 

2027: Deftones, Blink-182 & System Of A Down. 
 

I think that R&L will get MCR the next time they do festivals here.  

[OllieJ77]

7 hours ago, Judas Yeast said:

I wondered why we'd jumped so many pages today, that was a bloody rollercoaster!

Was defo an interesting discussion 🤣 

You heard anything about the latest rumour?