Download 2026

[OllieJ77]

25 minutes ago, TWY2911 said:

 

"I don't care how popular they are they shouldn't play because I don't like them" okay mate 

Biggest baby in here that guy is. He’d want Def Leppard headlining All 3 days!

[Gejonimo]

Reading and Leeds had this issue around a decade ago, but they leaked the entire poster in the bakcground and someone figured out the link to access it. I think it was around 2014.

[firehazard]

21 minutes ago, xydroh said:

so ghost is still on the table?

 

If you want to believe the nonsense WhatsApp image. 

[Gejonimo]

6 minutes ago, rock_on said:

 

Rush would draw more as a UK exclusive after years of being inactive than GNR are going to draw 8 years into their touring with a reputation for patchy live performances... 

But Rush will never play Download, and I say this as a huge fan of Rush. 

[andyrhodes24]

Looks like they’ve hidden those images now or whatever the technical phrasing is, links go to 404 now.

[rock_on]

1 minute ago, Gejonimo said:

But Rush will never play Download, and I say this as a huge fan of Rush. 

 

If you were that big a fan you'd no the not playing festivals or in Europe was down to Neil's health issues. Sadly that's no longer a consideration which makes them a viable option for festivals. 

 

3 minutes ago, OllieJ77 said:

Biggest baby in here that guy is. He’d want Def Leppard headlining All 3 days!

 

No, I wouldn't

[astrotwatter]

[firehazard]

On 28/10/2025 at 17:56, alexs7 said:

Kam (the new lead booker for Download) said on instagram "great hanging out with the ghost team on their sold out UK tour" with one of the photos being them on a jet so safe to assume they went to all the dates 

 

I'm not sure how hanging out with them means they were there for all dates, but just to recap: your reasoning for believing Ghost could be headlining is because the booker was very publicly seen with them? How often has that happened before, bearing in mind how protective they are of the line-up?

[northernangel]

2 minutes ago, OllieJ77 said:

Biggest baby in here that guy is. He’d want Def Leppard headlining All 3 days!

Yup. I don't think Bizkit should be doing it, @TWY2911 agrees with certain reasons but i can't be bothered with bashing what i can avoid. I think truth be told its probably more a case of if you get lower down bands you like and then putting up with it as your closer with nothing opposite due to how they do the clashing. I agree they are a novelty band though. I don't dislike them but when in the last 4 years haven't I had a chance to see them and they've are a bit once you've done it you've done it. If they subbed then no issue but that would have never happened, more unlikely that headlining given history amd it's they accept that basically. I do fully think they've got them in to balance books from booking GNR and LP but booking GNR to do is a bit a WHY?! lol and that's quite shared on here.

[firehazard]

5 minutes ago, andyrhodes24 said:

Looks like they’ve hidden those images now or whatever the technical phrasing is, links go to 404 now.

 

Deleted or removed is usually the technical term.

[andyrhodes24]

1 minute ago, firehazard said:

 

Deleted or removed is usually the technical term.

[SweetJesus]

AC/DC announced America tour. Now we’re waiting 9:15 pm to be announced for Download 🔥🔥🔥

[Sparticus]

5 minutes ago, SweetJesus said:

AC/DC announced America tour. Now we’re waiting 9:15 pm to be announced for Download 🔥🔥🔥

Is this why mad cool have added a night to accommodate?

[thisisthesam]

Missed a trick if it's not Ghost...

[Gejonimo]

2 minutes ago, thisisthesam said:

Missed a trick if it's not Ghost...

Ghost aren't disbanding and have decades of touring left in them, plenty of time. 

[rock_on]

Can see a lot of people spending their money at the Maiden gigs rather than going to Download this year. 

[alexs7]

Just now, rock_on said:

Can see a lot of people spending their money at the Maiden gigs rather than going to Download this year. 

Maiden gig has a worse lineup 

[rock_on]

Just now, alexs7 said:

Maiden gig has a worse lineup 

 

That's not possible, it's got Maiden on it. Which is probably why Download have ended up with Limp Bizkit as Maiden were originally booked for Download. . 

[alexs7]

2 minutes ago, rock_on said:

 

That's not possible, it's got Maiden on it. Which is probably why Download have ended up with Limp Bizkit as Maiden were originally booked for Download. . 

Yes but it's got a weak af support bill

[rock_on]

Just now, alexs7 said:

Yes but it's got a weak af support bill

 

It's Iron Maiden - they could have Donald Duck and Orville supporting and it would be a stronger lineup than the leaked Download lineup for the headliner alone.

[partypirate]

I don’t mind that GnR are headlining tbh. I know his voice is crap these days and they play forever but after a day on the ale it will be fun to out-sing him. No interest in LB so will go find someone else to watch. Looking forward to LP as the new album is great.

 

Looking like plenty more in the line-up which will be of interest too.

[Jrose]

1 hour ago, rock_on said:

If it is LP/LB/GNR that's the weakest Download line-up in years. Absolutely nothing exciting. 

 

Linkin Park are a glorified tribute band these days and Emily doesn't work as a singer.

 

LB are a decades old novelty band. Don't get how they'd headline your mum's back garden let alone Download.

 

GNR were a draw in 2018 (I bought my ticket to see them that year) but the set wasn't great and anybody who wants to see them could have gone to their own tour in recent years. Awful booking.

 

 

if this is the line up, it's 2 of the strongest headliners available and a cheap one to compensate for it. a few 12 year olds dont know gnr, that's fine. but gnr are the biggest draw in the rock world, not named acdc or metalica, even if axl cant sing. it's a mainstream festival for the masses. gnr day sells 100k tickets no problem, and the festival survives another year because of it

[rock_on]

5 minutes ago, partypirate said:

I don’t mind that GnR are headlining tbh. I know his voice is crap these days and they play forever but after a day on the ale it will be fun to out-sing him. No interest in LB so will go find someone else to watch. Looking forward to LP as the new album is great.

 

Looking like plenty more in the line-up which will be of interest too.

 

Good luck finding something else to watch during a headline set at Download where all the other stages close during the headliners. One of the many issues with the festival.

[rock_on]

1 minute ago, Jrose said:

if this is the line up, it's 2 of the strongest headliners available and a cheap one to compensate for it. a few 12 year olds dont know gnr, that's fine. but gnr are the biggest draw in the rock world, not named acdc or metalica, even if axl cant sing. it's a mainstream festival for the masses. gnr day sells 100k tickets no problem, and the festival survives another year because of it

 

GNR couldn't sell out Wembley, they aren't shifting 100k tickets in 2026. It's not 2018 anymore fella, there reputation for being awful live is catching up with them. Rush are available, AC/DC are available, Ghost are available and Download is booking Limp Bizkit and GNR, it's unforgivably bad bookings. 

[losing43]

GNR is a really poor headliner for next year. Terrible live performances, even for a pretty low standard compared to other acts in similar vein (i.e Kiss, Aerosmith) - way too many recent UK performances over the recent years and would have taken a considerable chunk of the budget. Fallen out of love with DL in recent years after previously going every year, and decisions like this shows me why