Download 2026

[northernangel]

3 minutes ago, Marka23 said:

Download haven't exactly failed to get Maiden when the band chose to do an exclusive show at Knebworth, granted it is a surprise for them to not play Download at all during their 50th anniversary. 

 

There are quite a few festivals with a missing headliner or two that Ghost could easily fit into. Plus there are also the festivals that haven't announced anyone yet like Download and Hellfest so Ghost is still very likely.

Especially on a tour that fits festival vibes perfectly and they are backed by a promoter that has money by the bucket load. You could use that example though for many bands who choose their own tours. They persuaded Green Day a stadium band in their own right but not Maiden who've had a 4 year gap and not toured this tour there.

[northernangel]

5 minutes ago, chatty said:

Stick one of them in there and Alice on third and that'll do me.

Marilyn Manson is the one I'm pretty sure is going to be there myself. 

 

4 minutes ago, chatty said:

Are Alice in Chains mooted somehow or just a hope for people. Didn't they take time off as a member has been really ill? Or have they got over it now. 

 

I mean I hope they are there as I love a bit AIC. 

 

Not a fan but hope I think.

[Marka23]

3 minutes ago, northernangel said:

Especially on a tour that fits festival vibes perfectly and they are backed by a promoter that has money by the bucket load. You could use that example though for many bands who choose their own tours. They persuaded Green Day a stadium band in their own right but not Maiden who've had a 4 year gap and not toured this tour there.

Maiden simply just wanted to do their own show at Knebworth instead. 

 

Download likely will have approached them for Download and been told they're doing their own show instead. 

Edited October 21, 2025 by Marka23

[sw25]

it sounds like Maiden & Download were talking about the Thursday 'Maiden curated' day which would have fitted the newer DL model of stepping away from the same old bands from the regular line up but also providing an option. for whatever reason it did not happen and a very similar day at Knepworth is happening instead. I think with the main arena build likely already in place at Knepworth for Oasis dates it made better sense for Maiden to do that instead.

 

or the Thursday rumour could also be rubbish and they were never in the mix or chose to do their own thing.

[Marka23]

17 minutes ago, sw25 said:

it sounds like Maiden & Download were talking about the Thursday 'Maiden curated' day which would have fitted the newer DL model of stepping away from the same old bands from the regular line up but also providing an option. for whatever reason it did not happen and a very similar day at Knepworth is happening instead. I think with the main arena build likely already in place at Knepworth for Oasis dates it made better sense for Maiden to do that instead.

 

or the Thursday rumour could also be rubbish and they were never in the mix or chose to do their own thing.

It's possible talks were happening and they fell through and Maiden chose to do Knebworth.

 

Then again after what happened for '23 I'll be surprised if Download ever does anything again on the Thursday 

[northernangel]

8 minutes ago, Marka23 said:

It's possible talks were happening and they fell through and Maiden chose to do Knebworth.

 

Then again after what happened for '23 I'll be surprised if Download ever does anything again on the Thursday 

 

They just need to leant how to be a organized festival and think about it properly. Download is pretty much a weekend festival, setup and organized as though it is a series of day festivals alone.

Edited October 21, 2025 by northernangel

[Marka23]

22 minutes ago, northernangel said:

 

They just need to leant how to be a organized festival and think about it properly. Download is pretty much a weekend festival, setup and organized as though it is a series of day festivals alone.

All they really need to do is open camping from Tuesday and that solve most of the issues 

[northernangel]

12 minutes ago, Marka23 said:

All they really need to do is open camping from Tuesday and that solve most of the issues 

 

It should be yes but they are a festival that fail to adapt to weather conditions and prepare quite frequently so getting something in order for that to work well it's a straight forward talk for them.

[sw25]

I would have thought that a Thursday evening 'soft opening' for say the Main Stage only for a run of 4 bands would work well at Download even as a paid extra.

 

They have a field full of music loving campers surrounding the arena. give the option of a 4th day for those who want it.

 

[TWY2911]

6 minutes ago, sw25 said:

I would have thought that a Thursday evening 'soft opening' for say the Main Stage only for a run of 4 bands would work well at Download even as a paid extra.

 

They have a field full of music loving campers surrounding the arena. give the option of a 4th day for those who want it.

 

 

Make the Thursday main stage only with just British bands like the pilot 

[Marka23]

17 minutes ago, sw25 said:

I would have thought that a Thursday evening 'soft opening' for say the Main Stage only for a run of 4 bands would work well at Download even as a paid extra.

 

They have a field full of music loving campers surrounding the arena. give the option of a 4th day for those who want it.

 

Give a band that would normally headline the avalanche stage or something a main headliner slot for the Thursday. 

[OllieJ77]

I imagine DL approached Maiden who said they wanted to do their own show. Not really a big issue. I could see them saying we’ll do a Maiden Thursday or that being an offer and Maiden not wanting to do Thursday perhaps? 🤷‍♂️

[DomDom1984]

Didn't someone mention on here that DL almost lost their licence after the four day year?

 

I'd imagine that won't come back again in any form.

[OllieJ77]

Just now, DomDom1984 said:

Didn't someone mention on here that DL almost lost their licence after the four day year?

 

I'd imagine that won't come back again in any form.

As someone who got there on the Wednesday I had zero problems hahaha 

[Marka23]

16 minutes ago, OllieJ77 said:

As someone who got there on the Wednesday I had zero problems hahaha 

I set off at 8am aiming to arrive for about 11am with a break about half way, ended up not arriving until 4pm.

[Marka23]

28 minutes ago, OllieJ77 said:

I imagine DL approached Maiden who said they wanted to do their own show. Not really a big issue. I could see them saying we’ll do a Maiden Thursday or that being an offer and Maiden not wanting to do Thursday perhaps? 🤷‍♂️

There were probably certain restrictions on what they could do like having a Maiden themed area like they are for Knebworth 

[The All Round Ball :|]

Been so busy recently so not in the loop at all. Any new revelations or bands that are confirmed? 

[northernangel]

43 minutes ago, DomDom1984 said:

Didn't someone mention on here that DL almost lost their licence after the four day year?

 

I'd imagine that won't come back again in any form.

 

23 minutes ago, Marka23 said:

I set off at 8am aiming to arrive for about 11am with a break about half way, ended up not arriving until 4pm.

Download sent people all the way down to the very furthest end to turn round and come back to then be told they couldn't enter a car park that they had valid passes for that was half empty. Awful awful organisation. By refusing to let people in it then added to the chaos on the road of cars not getting anywhere fast and having to back track all the way and round the roundabout to south car park across the road. 

 

The year after that, they failed to acknowledge the country has 6 months of rain from November onwards and that preparations might need putting in place to open on time rather than ignoring this and having to start things late, delaying or taking bands off.....this happened right back in 2012 as well so they hadn't learnt from mistakes 11/12 years later. On top of this, in 2011 the year before, on Friday morning the campsite next to yellow was waterlogged and they left loads of people queueing on Friday morning to get into the campsite 2 days after camping opened. I've never been to that point to a worse organised festival than that. Even Glastonbury that has made silly stage position bookings still cover themselves in preparation for things better as a non profitable festival. 

[kitatus]

17 minutes ago, The All Round Ball :| said:

Been so busy recently so not in the loop at all. Any new revelations or bands that are confirmed? 

Skindred I think

[Spiral_Low]

1 hour ago, OllieJ77 said:

As someone who got there on the Wednesday I had zero problems hahaha 

Was a nightmare for us. Left before 9am normally a 4 hour drive inc stop for lunch. Got to campsite gone 11pm. 

[OllieJ77]

42 minutes ago, Spiral_Low said:

Was a nightmare for us. Left before 9am normally a 4 hour drive inc stop for lunch. Got to campsite gone 11pm. 

What day was that Thursday or Wednesday? I arrived at 1pm Wednesday queued a bit for car park then once Parked was plain sailing to get a spot. 

[archiegow]

New video on Download socials

’Illumination is imminent’ - lot of people calling Ghost in the comments

[AwakeToken4]

3 minutes ago, archiegow said:

New video on Download socials

’Illumination is imminent’ - lot of people calling Ghost in the comments

I'm thinking Bad Omens from this idk why, it's probably ghost which is great but it feels like the new bad omens promo

 

[moams]

6 minutes ago, archiegow said:

New video on Download socials

’Illumination is imminent’ - lot of people calling Ghost in the comments

You can hear the whisper saying “The castle awaits its return. Deliver them”.

[Andre91]

Parkway?