Download 2026

[alexs7]

6 minutes ago, FeverDream said:

I don't even think you can really call them indie. As much as I love them, I've always thought of them occupying their own little space. They're evidently not indie enough or popular enough with the dark fruits crowd to play the dark fruits festivals, yet not heavy enough to satisfy the average Download attendee as a headliner.

 

I think @northernangel is bang on when they could have adapted their setlist to be heavier for 2017 and 2022. But I'm sure I've seen Simon say if you book Biffy you get Biffy and if that means a setlist full of their bigger hits that are unmistakably alt rock, rather than their heavier songs, then so be it. And tbh fair enough! 

Biffy can go down well with those crowds. The band played TRNSMT and Glastonbury last year and could easily play R+L, Kendal Calling, Truck Festival ect.

 

Still you are right they do their own thing, they are too heavy to be indie but too indie to be heavy

[FeverDream]

20 minutes ago, alexs7 said:

Biffy can go down well with those crowds. The band played TRNSMT and Glastonbury last year and could easily play R+L, Kendal Calling, Truck Festival ect.

 

Still you are right they do their own thing, they are too heavy to be indie but too indie to be heavy

TRNSMT and Glasto are not out and out dark fruits festivals so to speak, compared to say Truck or Kendal, which was my point. But aye, I guess your second paragraph is pretty spot on. 

 

Anyway, I digress. Don't want to derail this thread too much 😅 

Edited October 28, 2025 by FeverDream

[OllieJ77]

1 hour ago, Siddey1994 said:

Small crowds at Download yes.

But Biffy are absolutely not awful live. Quite the opposite.

Biffy are phenomenal live 

[northernangel]

1 hour ago, TWY2911 said:

 

Not hate but they are just not a download band whatsoever and the two times they've headlined proves that 

 

Nothing against them as a band but they just don't seem to fit either of Downloads audiences that being older rockers/metalheads and younger alternative/emo's 

Their earlier stuff that got them lower down positions at Download was heavier. After their 2008, I'd say they only just stayed on course to be playing that high up in 2012 with Opposites. After that though it is no surprise they have never gained a crowd there. 2022 looking back was a terrible setlist for Download set, 2017 was better but 2012 was overall the one for a longer set. Saturday Superhouse should absolutely be in a Download set.

 

3 minutes ago, OllieJ77 said:

Biffy are phenomenal live 

 

They never have come across that way at Download though and I've seen them 7 or 8 times now

[BlackFoxx]

Biffy best fit 2000 Trees but unfortunately are too big for it 

[OllieJ77]

1 hour ago, northernangel said:

Their earlier stuff that got them lower down positions at Download was heavier. After their 2008, I'd say they only just stayed on course to be playing that high up in 2012 with Opposites. After that though it is no surprise they have never gained a crowd there. 2022 looking back was a terrible setlist for Download set, 2017 was better but 2012 was overall the one for a longer set. Saturday Superhouse should absolutely be in a Download set.

 

 

They never have come across that way at Download though and I've seen them 7 or 8 times now

I’ve seen them at least 3 times and thought they were amazing every time 

[OllieJ77]

1 hour ago, BlackFoxx said:

Biffy best fit 2000 Trees but unfortunately are too big for it 

Wayyyy too big for Trees lol

 

They’re R&L and IOW headliner and main sub at Glasto.

[OllieJ77]

7 hours ago, TWY2911 said:

Is this the first time we haven't been 100% sure of the headliners this close to the announcement?

I mean depends who you listen too. I’m 90% confident it’s the 3 which has been rumoured for a while now (LB GnR LP), unless the info is false and everyone been told the same thing. Typically if everyone is saying it must have some truth. That being said really hoping it isn’t true!!

[TWY2911]

11 minutes ago, OllieJ77 said:

I mean depends who you listen too. I’m 90% confident it’s the 3 which has been rumoured for a while now (LB GnR LP), unless the info is false and everyone been told the same thing. Typically if everyone is saying it must have some truth. That being said really hoping it isn’t true!!

 

Tbh it could of been a lot worse in terms of my personal taste as I prefer LB to Ghost and GNR to Maiden but I accept that's an unpopular opinion lol 

[alexs7]

14 minutes ago, OllieJ77 said:

I mean depends who you listen too. I’m 90% confident it’s the 3 which has been rumoured for a while now (LB GnR LP), unless the info is false and everyone been told the same thing. Typically if everyone is saying it must have some truth. That being said really hoping it isn’t true!!

Basically we are getting LP and more than likely getting LB

 

The third headliner is whoever is being held back at the other festivals (Rock for People, Greenfield, Graspop.) 

[BlackFoxx]

37 minutes ago, OllieJ77 said:

Wayyyy too big for Trees lol

 

They’re R&L and IOW headliner and main sub at Glasto.

Yeah wasn't debating the size, was meant more as a comment of the genre or audience they fit with best.

 

Also not sure they'd fit R+L today. Do school leavers know or care about Biffy? 

[northernangel]

 

7 hours ago, OllieJ77 said:

I’ve seen them at least 3 times and thought they were amazing every time 

Everytime I've seen them outside of Download has been decent although I wouldn't agree they've been great with setlists of multiple songs I'm not a fan of as I won't have enjoyed it as much. It would be strange to enjoy music I don't like even if they 'perform it well', it wouldn't be as recognised for that by me. I'd expect the same for what I like though for other people. 

[northernangel]

Going by the last couple of years of sonic temple, a headliner has played Download which has probably been discussed which likely leaves BMTH as the only option there.

[Spiral_Low]

37 minutes ago, northernangel said:

Going by the last couple of years of sonic temple, a headliner has played Download which has probably been discussed which likely leaves BMTH as the only option there.

Band dont play Czechia, fly to the UK, and then go back to Austria, all in the space of 3 days. The logistics of that doesn't add up. 

10 hours ago, BlackFoxx said:

Biffy best fit 2000 Trees but unfortunately are too big for it 

Maybe but Trees is developing the reputation as an amazing festival for that style of music, which is attracting bands to want to play, and I'm sure James would have made them a great offer.

[OKMess]

10 hours ago, OllieJ77 said:

I mean depends who you listen too. I’m 90% confident it’s the 3 which has been rumoured for a while now (LB GnR LP), unless the info is false and everyone been told the same thing. Typically if everyone is saying it must have some truth. That being said really hoping it isn’t true!!

Can I ask why people are so certain of GnR? Is it because of who shared the rumour? Who was that? I don't really care if they play, I just can't see why this feels so nailed on to some folk. Ghost and NIN feel more likely. Foo Fighters have a Download (and admittedly R+L) shaped hole in their tour schedule and we know they're waiting to announce Europe. There seems to be nothing to suggest GnR. 

[Spiral_Low]

9 minutes ago, OKMess said:

Can I ask why people are so certain of GnR? Is it because of who shared the rumour? Who was that? I don't really care if they play, I just can't see why this feels so nailed on to some folk. Ghost and NIN feel more likely. Foo Fighters have a Download (and admittedly R+L) shaped hole in their tour schedule and we know they're waiting to announce Europe. There seems to be nothing to suggest GnR. 

I mean I think it's Bad Omens or Limp Bizkit, with Muse and Linkin Park, so it's not everyone saying that! 

Edited October 29, 2025 by Spiral_Low

[OKMess]

5 minutes ago, Spiral_Low said:

I mean I think it's Bad Omens or Limp Bizkit, with Muse and Linkin Park, so it's not everyone saying that! 

There appears to be tickets available to everyone of Bad Omens' shows though and they're after the announcement. I can't see them giving them the bump up based on that, they're not known enough to fill the 'people will enjoy them even if they don't shift tickets on their own back' bracket and they're not hype enough to get pushed like ST were last year. I think their schedule has a DL shaped gap, but it's already pretty full too. I reckon they have sub-headliner written all over them. 

[Spiral_Low]

8 minutes ago, OKMess said:

There appears to be tickets available to everyone of Bad Omens' shows though and they're after the announcement. I can't see them giving them the bump up based on that, they're not known enough to fill the 'people will enjoy them even if they don't shift tickets on their own back' bracket and they're not hype enough to get pushed like ST were last year. I think their schedule has a DL shaped gap, but it's already pretty full too. I reckon they have sub-headliner written all over them. 

Yeah but if 21 headliers say no then you start asking the subs, see 2024 😉

 

Edit: Wouldn't rule out Sabaton either

Edited October 29, 2025 by Spiral_Low

[northernangel]

50 minutes ago, Spiral_Low said:

Band dont play Czechia, fly to the UK, and then go back to Austria, all in the space of 3 days. The logistics of that doesn't add up. 

Maybe but Trees is developing the reputation as an amazing festival for that style of music, which is attracting bands to want to play, and I'm sure James would have made them a great offer.

 

Exactly. The point was that won't figure.

[Andre91]

21 minutes ago, Spiral_Low said:

Yeah but if 21 headliers say no then you start asking the subs, see 2024 😉

 

Edit: Wouldn't rule out Sabaton either

Sabaton are playing Nova Rock on the Saturday so I doubt they’ll be at DL. They’ve got a big show to shift around. 

[Spiral_Low]

44 minutes ago, Andre91 said:

Sabaton are playing Nova Rock on the Saturday so I doubt they’ll be at DL. They’ve got a big show to shift around. 

Ah didn't realise they were the Saturday at Nova. 

[craigcharles420]

11 hours ago, BlackFoxx said:

Yeah wasn't debating the size, was meant more as a comment of the genre or audience they fit with best.

 

Also not sure they'd fit R+L today. Do school leavers know or care about Biffy? 

They would fit R&L I reckon but maybe not as the main stage headliner. Sub or co headline I think. They would fit in at IOW or Victorious.

[chatty]

13 hours ago, northernangel said:

 

They never have come across that way at Download though and I've seen them 7 or 8 times now

I thought they were average when I saw them at Glastonbury tbh. Weren't bad but not a performance that stood out for me either. 

[chatty]

Some of the bands playing about I wouldn't mind Tom Morello and Bush turning up. Also have Sammy Hagar, Joan Jett, Billy Idol and more bands like that which I do like at a festival because I'm probably not going to pay to see them on tour so it's a good chance to catch them here. 

 

Be loads of newer bands I'll give a chance as well but hopefully a few absolute random as out acts show up somewhere. 

[andyrhodes24]

A couple more names knocking about next June