Download 2026

[Siddey1994]

Either way, I don’t think Biffy will be back for a while. Time will tell if they remain headliners or not, honestly my main concern with them recently is that Simon’s voice seems to be giving up the ghost after so many years of (regrettably) poor screaming technique, so not sure exactly how they’ll sound in 5 years unless he works on that.

[FeverDream]

9 minutes ago, Siddey1994 said:

Either way, I don’t think Biffy will be back for a while. Time will tell if they remain headliners or not, honestly my main concern with them recently is that Simon’s voice seems to be giving up the ghost after so many years of (regrettably) poor screaming technique, so not sure exactly how they’ll sound in 5 years unless he works on that.

He sounded ok at TRNSMT but yeah I don't think the ESB side project helped much 

[FeverDream]

On 03/08/2025 at 00:24, Thatonekid said:

wacken announcement potential def leppard hopefully not lamb of god Sepultura and thrown will be sick also never more  and orbit culture could be on the board for download which is cool

Honestly nothing on here screams out to me that I'd definitely want to have at Download other than Europe and maybe Airbourne and Sabotage. Hopefully we don't get Def Leppard though 😬

[Siddey1994]

11 minutes ago, FeverDream said:

He sounded ok at TRNSMT but yeah I don't think the ESB side project helped much 

This is most likely the culprit yeah

[charlierc]

1 hour ago, FeverDream said:

He sounded ok at TRNSMT but yeah I don't think the ESB side project helped much 

Think it was a mix. Sounded decent at Pinkpop, then rough at Glastonbury, then better at TRNSMT. 

[OllieJ77]

Not to rehash the Biffy debate but given the tour it’s pretty nailed on to rule them out of contention for 2026 Download headliner. As a Biffy fan I hope they headline the festival again but I reckon the organisers will push for other bands in the next few years first.

 

On The Prodigy, not my cup of tea they didn’t headline Reading and Leeds last year they were second stage headliners so will be interesting to see how Download views them. Think it’s an interesting option if Download did book them to headline but, I’d hope they’d have a band playing on Avalanche at the same time.
 

 Crossing all my fingers we don’t get Def Leppard as headliners next year!! SOAD I reckon will play Wembley Stadium or London Stadium maybe a north show as well. I also reckon we could get MCR doing the same in 2026. Would be very happy with either at Download 2026 though. 
 

Still sticking with my prediction / wish of Ghost, Blink 182, Linkin Park and if it isn’t Blink I reckon we’ll get Maiden. Think that would be a very solid set headliners 3 out of those 4 in any capacity.
 

Seen Parkway been mentioned and whilst they’re one of my favourite bands I don’t think ticket sales are there for the organisers to book them as a headliner for 3 day festival just yet. I know someone mentioned ticket sales don’t matter for tours but I personally disagree the organisers aren’t going to book a band as a headliner if they haven’t got the footfall to their own shows is how I view it. 

[northernangel]

3 hours ago, OllieJ77 said:

Not to rehash the Biffy debate but given the tour it’s pretty nailed on to rule them out of contention for 2026 Download headliner. As a Biffy fan I hope they headline the festival again but I reckon the organisers will push for other bands in the next few years first.

 

On The Prodigy, not my cup of tea they didn’t headline Reading and Leeds last year they were second stage headliners so will be interesting to see how Download views them. Think it’s an interesting option if Download did book them to headline but, I’d hope they’d have a band playing on Avalanche at the same time.
 

 Crossing all my fingers we don’t get Def Leppard as headliners next year!! SOAD I reckon will play Wembley Stadium or London Stadium maybe a north show as well. I also reckon we could get MCR doing the same in 2026. Would be very happy with either at Download 2026 though. 
 

Still sticking with my prediction / wish of Ghost, Blink 182, Linkin Park and if it isn’t Blink I reckon we’ll get Maiden. Think that would be a very solid set headliners 3 out of those 4 in any capacity.
 

Seen Parkway been mentioned and whilst they’re one of my favourite bands I don’t think ticket sales are there for the organisers to book them as a headliner for 3 day festival just yet. I know someone mentioned ticket sales don’t matter for tours but I personally disagree the organisers aren’t going to book a band as a headliner if they haven’t got the footfall to their own shows is how I view it. 

 

I think The Prodigy could do it with two other big headliners, I don't think their tour given how strong it is guarantees they get it plus there is the likes of Alter Bridge who have done arenas tours as well and got it.

 

I think the general view is it is out of those options you mention. I can't see Maiden doing an arena tour again as except for London they were arenas. And I can't see them doing a wider range outdoor Stadium tour as surely they do that this first time round.

 

Parkway is the borderline one. It's not ticket sales don't matter for tours, it's that ticket sales don't automatically mean a promoter and organiser are going to book said bank for their event as headliner if they don't see it still viable, that's the difference. I mentioned this because I question whether Download would book Biffy to headline again after the crowds and reaction of the past two added with further light material if they want to see crowds reach back to 90k again. I think it would have to be the Friday if they did it and with a very strong Saturday and Sunday to go with....and they wouldn't be the top of the list in a scenario now where going into a wider spectrum of booking they have more options. I don't see loads of options of what Download book to headline where Biffy fit it as the wider crossover needed. They are nothing like any of the headliners for exmaple thag have been booked to headline the past two years based on 2.0...which is already where the numbers also dwindled this year as Green Day who obviously brought the most in, are so different to both that followed. Next year at least if Blink and LP are both booked they will share a lot of bands, both similar periods and it'll likely stretch to weekend tickets as they'll play a day apart. Plus Maiden will bring fans. 

[northernangel]

On 04/08/2025 at 09:13, FeverDream said:

Honestly nothing on here screams out to me that I'd definitely want to have at Download other than Europe and maybe Airbourne and Sabotage. Hopefully we don't get Def Leppard though 😬

I don't think we had a Wacken headline since at least 2023 do I'd doubt it.

 

Ghost/Blink

Yungblud

 

Ice Nine Kills

 

Maiden

Evanescence

 

Marilyn Manson

 

LP

ADTR

 

Judas Priest

 

is my guess currently. I think Blink with those two is the best trio they could book. With Yungblud as well, a lot of the heavier fans of the likes of Sabbath etc have said his performance was one of their favourites of the day, it would be an absolute miss not to at least ask him. Whole to go lower I don't really know apart from Bat Sabbath opening the Friday main stage....seems like an obvious booking.

 

[Audiorocker]

1 hour ago, northernangel said:

I don't think we had a Wacken headline since at least 2023 do I'd doubt it.

 

Ghost/Blink

Yungblud

 

Ice Nine Kills

 

Maiden

Evanescence

 

Marilyn Manson

 

LP

ADTR

 

Judas Priest

 

is my guess currently. I think Blink with those two is the best trio they could book. With Yungblud as well, a lot of the heavier fans of the likes of Sabbath etc have said his performance was one of their favourites of the day, it would be an absolute miss not to at least ask him. Whole to go lower I don't really know apart from Bat Sabbath opening the Friday main stage....seems like an obvious booking.

 

That would be a good set of bands/acts. 

Many seem to think Ghost are nailed on this year though...

[DomDom1984]

Marilyn Manson can f**k off.

 

Think I'd quite like to see Judas Priest at something like this. 

[northernangel]

47 minutes ago, Audiorocker said:

That would be a good set of bands/acts. 

Many seem to think Ghost are nailed on this year though...

I think Yungblud could get away with playing under either of those, he wouldn't suit Maiden or LP I don't think really but I reckon underneath Blink would be a solid top 3. I don't know how I wouldn't go with those 3. The only other bands that would make it a guarantee to go to would be SOAD and I'd take Maiden out of those 3 for it. I'm also not convinced that SOAD will just do Download in 27 after a stadium show in 26. I do think think having both years booked out means they are here both years necessarily.

[Audiorocker]

Seems to me the Friday slot is the one that's more mysterious at the moment. 

 

Ghost on the Saturday night, following the Sleep Token precedent. 

 

Linkin Park on the Sunday due to their 2 Germany dates on the Thurs and Fri.

 

Friday's options?? Muse, Blink 182, foo fighters, My Chemical Romance or SOAD.

[Frankly Mr Shankly]

2 hours ago, Audiorocker said:

Seems to me the Friday slot is the one that's more mysterious at the moment. 

 

Ghost on the Saturday night, following the Sleep Token precedent. 

 

Linkin Park on the Sunday due to their 2 Germany dates on the Thurs and Fri.

 

Friday's options?? Muse, Blink 182, foo fighters, My Chemical Romance or SOAD.

There isn’t really a ‘pattern’ to how they book the days, it’s whoever is available on whatever day works. 

[TWY2911]

17 minutes ago, Frankly Mr Shankly said:

There isn’t really a ‘pattern’ to how they book the days, it’s whoever is available on whatever day works. 

 

I think their preference is to have the "biggest" headliner on the Saturday but like you said it depends on what band is available on what day

[northernangel]

5 hours ago, Audiorocker said:

Seems to me the Friday slot is the one that's more mysterious at the moment. 

 

Ghost on the Saturday night, following the Sleep Token precedent. 

 

Linkin Park on the Sunday due to their 2 Germany dates on the Thurs and Fri.

 

Friday's options?? Muse, Blink 182, foo fighters, My Chemical Romance or SOAD.

If Green Day were available another day then ST would have been Friday 

[Siddey1994]

21 hours ago, Audiorocker said:

Seems to me the Friday slot is the one that's more mysterious at the moment. 

 

Ghost on the Saturday night, following the Sleep Token precedent. 

 

Linkin Park on the Sunday due to their 2 Germany dates on the Thurs and Fri.

 

Friday's options?? Muse, Blink 182, foo fighters, My Chemical Romance or SOAD.

Yeah nah the ST thing wasn’t a “precedent”, usually if the biggest headliner is available they’ll be on the Saturday so they take centre stage on the poster.

Foos aren’t playing download, in my opinion ever.

[northernangel]

3 minutes ago, Siddey1994 said:

Yeah nah the ST thing wasn’t a “precedent”, usually if the biggest headliner is available they’ll be on the Saturday so they take centre stage on the poster.

Foos aren’t playing download, in my opinion ever.

 

Yeah I don't think Foos will ever play, they aren't anything like what's been booked in this newer version either, not that I don't think they would be accepted.

 

There is no way that if Ghost and Maiden or even Blink over Ghost are there than Maiden won't be Saturday or Sunday. They have never headlined Friday in the 3 previous times and it won't happen now. They have however headlined Saturday 3 of the 4 times they have headlined it.

[OllieJ77]

17 hours ago, northernangel said:

If Green Day were available another day then ST would have been Friday 

Spot on! Quite like the idea of a new headliner starting the weekend off on the Friday. 

[OllieJ77]

38 minutes ago, Siddey1994 said:

Yeah nah the ST thing wasn’t a “precedent”, usually if the biggest headliner is available they’ll be on the Saturday so they take centre stage on the poster.

Foos aren’t playing download, in my opinion ever.

On Foos I reckon at some point they might / if download throw enough money at them however I think they would always choose Glasto, R&L and maybe even Isle Of Wight over Download.

[Audiorocker]

Would Foo Fighters command more of a fee than Green Day? 

 

Also, with Linkin Park tipped for this year...are they the expensive booking?

[northernangel]

3 hours ago, Audiorocker said:

Would Foo Fighters command more of a fee than Green Day? 

 

Also, with Linkin Park tipped for this year...are they the expensive booking?

Simply put if they book two expensive headliners but then sell closer to 90k tickets than 75k cap theyve covered themselves.

[Audiorocker]

This is how I see it shaping up:

 

Fri -

Ghost

Bad Omens

Electric Callboy

 

Sat -

Iron Maiden 

Alice in Chains 

Papa Roach

 

Sun -

Linkin Park

Yungblud

Good Charlotte

[Spiral_Low]

If I could pick the top 5 each day:

 

Fri

SOAD

Lamb Of God

Amon Amarth

Bloodywood 

Lowen

 

Sat

Iron Maiden

Judas Priest

Alice In Chains

L7

Testament

 

Sun

Linkin Park

Incubus

Halestorm

Green Lung 

Zeal & Ardor

 

[northernangel]

3 hours ago, Audiorocker said:

This is how I see it shaping up:

 

Fri -

Ghost

Bad Omens

Electric Callboy

 

Sat -

Iron Maiden 

Alice in Chains 

Papa Roach

 

Sun -

Linkin Park

Yungblud

Good Charlotte

 

If you are going to book Yungblud and Good Charlotte below like that, then book a pop headliner to carry it off.

13 minutes ago, Spiral_Low said:

If I could pick the top 5 each day:

 

Fri

SOAD

Lamb Of God

Amon Amarth

Bloodywood 

Lowen

 

Sat

Iron Maiden

Judas Priest

Alice In Chains

L7

Testament

 

Sun

Linkin Park

Incubus

Halestorm

Green Lung 

Zeal & Ardor

 

 

Headliners aside I'd hate that lol. I'd go in for SOAD based on that, Maiden and Halestorm to LP.

[Frankly Mr Shankly]

20 hours ago, Siddey1994 said:

 

Foos aren’t playing download, in my opinion ever.

People said the same thing in the past about AC/DC, Muse and Green Day. 
 

Foos have been preliminarily booked twice in the past and then changed plans. So they are open to it. It’s just a matter of the right time and offer, it will happen eventually.