Download 2026

[alexs7]

After doing some maths I believe we are only getting 2 logo bands this next announcement.

Main subs = Cypress Hill, Trivium/Architects, Bad Omens

Main third = Electric Callboy, Babymetal, Ice Nine Kills

Main fourth = Pendulum, Black Veil Brides, The Pretty Reckless

Second headliners = Halestorm, Trivium/Architects, TBA Band (probably Volbeat)

Second subs = Feeder, Mastodon, Behemoth

Avalanche headliners = TBA, All American Rejects, Scooter

Dogtooth headliners = Cavelera, Blood Incantation, Static-X

This announcement will probably be underwhelming but tbf I believe all the heavy hitters were in the initial lineup.

I imagine Volbeat will be the big logo band (unless ADTR or All Time Low are free) and I think Soft Play will be our avalanche headliner (if they are big enough for that yet.)

 

(yes I did paste my post from the Download fourms)

Removed formatting that made post difficult to read - Alvoram

Edited February 1 by Alvoram
removed formatting

[northernangel]

1 hour ago, alexs7 said:

After doing some maths I believe we are only getting 2 logo bands this next announcement.

Main subs = Cypress Hill, Trivium/Architects, Bad Omens

Main third = Electric Callboy, Babymetal, Ice Nine Kills

Main fourth = Pendulum, Black Veil Brides, The Pretty Reckless

Second headliners = Halestorm, Trivium/Architects, TBA Band (probably Volbeat)

Second subs = Feeder, Mastodon, Behemoth

Avalanche headliners = TBA, All American Rejects, Scooter

Dogtooth headliners = Cavelera, Blood Incantation, Static-X

This announcement will probably be underwhelming but tbf I believe all the heavy hitters were in the initial lineup.

I imagine Volbeat will be the big logo band (unless ADTR or All Time Low are free) and I think Soft Play will be our avalanche headliner (if they are big enough for that yet.)

 

(yes I did paste my post from the Download fourms)

Removed formatting that made post difficult to read - Alvoram

 

Pendulum playing 4th down is unlikely. They've done MK Bowl, they are doing a massive London outdoor show. They also are either subbing or headlining second at Boardmasters who's headliners would sub in and in the bigger case headline Download if they fit. Nothing at all to suggest they are fourth down. I dont think you have any sub, 3rd or second stage headliners to come. Also you think Feeder as low as they are will be second stage headliner but Pendulum will do equivalent on main?, the size difference between them is huge 

[alexs7]

55 minutes ago, northernangel said:

 

Pendulum playing 4th down is unlikely. They've done MK Bowl, they are doing a massive London outdoor show. They also are either subbing or headlining second at Boardmasters who's headliners would sub in and in the bigger case headline Download if they fit. Nothing at all to suggest they are fourth down. I dont think you have any sub, 3rd or second stage headliners to come. Also you think Feeder as low as they are will be second stage headliner but Pendulum will do equivalent on main?, the size difference between them is huge 

They are far down on the poster next to BVB and TPR. They are either subbing opus or fourth down on main (unless they are gonna risk them in the tent.)

 

I can't imagine them playing above any of the bands listed above them.

 

Pendulum are more DnB than they are rock, I don't think their placement at Download matters much to them.

[northernangel]

1 hour ago, alexs7 said:

They are far down on the poster next to BVB and TPR. They are either subbing opus or fourth down on main (unless they are gonna risk them in the tent.)

 

I can't imagine them playing above any of the bands listed above them.

 

Pendulum are more DnB than they are rock, I don't think their placement at Download matters much to them.

They could quite easily be the last name of the higher one's. Download anmounced more names this time and the option for every sub, 3rd and second head is there. Pendulum are much bigger than BVB or TPR who I don't see doing their own ourdpor shows. Scooter have 4 names on their line as well but 4 names can't play 3 spaces.

 

The Prodigy are more dance than rock, Chase and Status are a drum and bass duo....it didn't stop them headlining and subbing main stage one after the other.

 

Of course they care where they play, but why they would accept a daytime slot after 2023s show as said by many I've no idea. Like the reason that unless The Prodigy headline Download again it's unlikely they'll play again as it's not dark enough. 

[alexs7]

2 hours ago, northernangel said:

They could quite easily be the last name of the higher one's. Download anmounced more names this time and the option for every sub, 3rd and second head is there. Pendulum are much bigger than BVB or TPR who I don't see doing their own ourdpor shows. Scooter have 4 names on their line as well but 4 names can't play 3 spaces.

 

The Prodigy are more dance than rock, Chase and Status are a drum and bass duo....it didn't stop them headlining and subbing main stage one after the other.

 

Of course they care where they play, but why they would accept a daytime slot after 2023s show as said by many I've no idea. Like the reason that unless The Prodigy headline Download again it's unlikely they'll play again as it's not dark enough. 

Well unless Download is willing to put them in the tent (which I would love, but I doubt they are gonna do it) They have to play in the daytime because only headliners get the dark

[Codhead]

In Alphabetical order my hitlist is...

 

Bad Omens

Bloodywood

Feeder
Linkin Park

Mammoth

Scooter

The All American Reject

 

There's so many bands that I don't know, so this will change when I start looking into them more.

[northernangel]

On 01/02/2026 at 19:51, alexs7 said:

Well unless Download is willing to put them in the tent (which I would love, but I doubt they are gonna do it) They have to play in the daytime because only headliners get the dark

Yes. The way Download book now by not clashing any bigger stages with the main stage makes Pendulum a waste of a booking. The time of the second stage headliner now is pointless for any band where a lightshow is a big part. 

[TWY2911]

I really wish they'd start putting bands on other stages to clash with the headliner 

 

At the very least the avalanche headliner should along with the dogtooth headliner since the style of music booked on either stage is always very different 

[cragzy]

According yo Microsoft copilot, the day by day stage split should be announced around March or April because in the past its always been either one of them months my personal opinion it will be next month but in the middle of March 

[Frankly Mr Shankly]

10 hours ago, cragzy said:

According yo Microsoft copilot, the day by day stage split should be announced around March or April because in the past its always been either one of them months my personal opinion it will be next month but in the middle of March 

Last year it was February. 

[Audiorocker]

Probably a week out from the line up additions? Am hoping for something exciting - Volbeat, Skindred, Papa Roach, Enter Shikari mentioned but no real hints at the moment. Anyone heard anything?

[Andre91]

37 minutes ago, Audiorocker said:

Probably a week out from the line up additions? Am hoping for something exciting - Volbeat, Skindred, Papa Roach, Enter Shikari mentioned but no real hints at the moment. Anyone heard anything?

I think you’ll get Volbeat from that list and that’s it. 

[AwakeToken4]

Probably a bit too early but has anyone heard any rumblings about potential secret sets or any bands leaked for the 2nd announcement? I thought maybe a prophets of rage  acoustic 

[northernangel]

14 hours ago, Audiorocker said:

Probably a week out from the line up additions? Am hoping for something exciting - Volbeat, Skindred, Papa Roach, Enter Shikari mentioned but no real hints at the moment. Anyone heard anything?

I don't even think you'll get Volbeat.

[Ozymandias]

With what's been announced I dont think there will be any additional medium/large size bands announced 

[alexs7]

31 minutes ago, Ozymandias said:

With what's been announced I dont think there will be any additional medium/large size bands announced 

I think we are getting one second stage headliner sized band (probably Volbeat let's be honest) and one Avalanche headliner sized band alongside some small bands.

 

Cypress Hill/Trivium/Bad Omens = Subs

Halestorm/Architects/??? = Second headliners

 

It makes sense to hold back one major name for the second announcement.- people on Reddit however started suggesting Deftones and other bands that will never happen 

[Ozymandias]

1 hour ago, alexs7 said:

I think we are getting one second stage headliner sized band (probably Volbeat let's be honest) and one Avalanche headliner sized band alongside some small bands.

 

Cypress Hill/Trivium/Bad Omens = Subs

Halestorm/Architects/??? = Second headliners

 

It makes sense to hold back one major name for the second announcement.- people on Reddit however started suggesting Deftones and other bands that will never happen 

We shall see, intrigued as to how it will all shape up

[TWY2911]

I think we'll get at least one big logo band

 

I really don't think Trivium are big enough to sub main stage though I'll probably get proven wrong, Volbeat play arenas so are a much better shout for a bump up and sub GNR 

[northernangel]

1 hour ago, TWY2911 said:

I think we'll get at least one big logo band

 

I really don't think Trivium are big enough to sub main stage though I'll probably get proven wrong, Volbeat play arenas so are a much better shout for a bump up and sub GNR 

There are very few years for a lineup that was considered decent when released that there is a pretty consistent need to put bands into lower places than a poster suggests as people don't think the current options are big enough even though the numbers stack up. I wouldn't say it's not decent but there is a lack of variety.

[BingusBongus]

Trivium subbing makes sense in the context of their co-headline tour with BFMV last year, and Bullet taking the same spot at last year's festival.

 

Think we are maybe due one or two more logo acts. Got a hunch that All Time Low might be there as a 2nd stage headliner and were held back because of their tour, but I've not evidence at all of that.

 

I said a few months ago that we might end up with one or two of the Metallica supports. Slam Dunk have Knocked Loose, I wouldn't be too surprised if we get Pantera, Gojira or Avatar. Phil Anselmo is doing triple duty in Europe next summer too with Down and Scour being booked on a few festivals, so maybe one of those could turn up? Pepper is at Download with Corrosion Of Conformity so maybe Down is more likely (although I'd prefer Scour).

 

Outside of those, I think it'll be a take your pick from the smaller acts doing the EU circuit in June, along with maybe one or two UK based acts that haven't got anything else planned. Not gonna be massive, but in my view the lineup is already one of the better ones on name recognition alone.

 

 

[TWY2911]

1 minute ago, BingusBongus said:

Trivium subbing makes sense in the context of their co-headline tour with BFMV last year, and Bullet taking the same spot at last year's festival.

 

Think we are maybe due one or two more logo acts. Got a hunch that All Time Low might be there as a 2nd stage headliner and were held back because of their tour, but I've not evidence at all of that.

 

I said a few months ago that we might end up with one or two of the Metallica supports. Slam Dunk have Knocked Loose, I wouldn't be too surprised if we get Pantera, Gojira or Avatar. Phil Anselmo is doing triple duty in Europe next summer too with Down and Scour being booked on a few festivals, so maybe one of those could turn up? Pepper is at Download with Corrosion Of Conformity so maybe Down is more likely (although I'd prefer Scour).

 

Outside of those, I think it'll be a take your pick from the smaller acts doing the EU circuit in June, along with maybe one or two UK based acts that haven't got anything else planned. Not gonna be massive, but in my view the lineup is already one of the better ones on name recognition alone.

 

 

 

Gojira would be main stage sub at this point imo so I can't see it being them as Download don't like bands playing that high to have any other shows in the UK during the year 

[TWY2911]

Have I missed A Day To Remember being ruled out? I think they would be the most likely a long with Volbeat as the big logo band if they haven't already been ruled out 

[alexs7]

2 hours ago, TWY2911 said:

I think we'll get at least one big logo band

 

I really don't think Trivium are big enough to sub main stage though I'll probably get proven wrong, Volbeat play arenas so are a much better shout for a bump up and sub GNR 

I feel like headlining Bloodstock gives you Sub privileges

[Andre91]

Give us DOWN. 

[TWY2911]

1 hour ago, alexs7 said:

I feel like headlining Bloodstock gives you Sub privileges

 

Meshuggah were fourth down last year after headlining Bloodstock, Opeth subbed second 

 

Normally Bloodstock will have two smaller headliners and one headliner that would main stage sub at Download