Download 2026

[OllieJ77]

31 minutes ago, Siddey1994 said:

To play devil’s advocate, I don’t think anyone’s trying to downplay Yungblud’s career. But to suggest that performance didn’t boost his profile would be disingenuous.

Exactly. I went to his arena show a few years back been a fan for a while but I just didn’t think Download would book him. 

[OllieJ77]

9 hours ago, northernangel said:

 

I reckon they could just about do it if they got Blink, Maiden and LP in.  I'm not sure they would pull in enough numbers though for a sub slot going by their 2022 show based on the extra numbers though headliners would take in.

 

His performance will definitely help. Well it was suggested by you he's headliner or nothing now recently so if he was booked to sub after a decade of hard work, what is the extra bit that was getting to get him to headline or nothing if his tribute performance counts for nothing? Doesn't make sense.

I don’t think we’re getting Blink Iron Maiden Linkin Park that’s 3 very expensive headliners don’t think they’ve got the budget for that. We’ll get two of the three and then a slightly smaller newer headliner like Ghost Parkway etc 

[foolee]

36 minutes ago, OllieJ77 said:

I don’t think we’re getting Blink Iron Maiden Linkin Park that’s 3 very expensive headliners don’t think they’ve got the budget for that. We’ll get two of the three and then a slightly smaller newer headliner like Ghost Parkway etc 

Would be shocked if Ghost don’t headline. I really think it’s Ghost and Linkin Park, the 3rd is the only one up for debate in my opinion. Kinda depends who’s touring but with MCR doing their own shows and SOAD likely doing the same I think it’ll be Iron Maiden. I think the fact BMTH are doing Nova Rock and probably more June festivals next summer suggests a Blink isn’t touring Europe again next summer. 

[northernangel]

9 hours ago, foolee said:

His amazing new album and another arena tour selling very well. Of course the one off song would’ve done well for his profile but you can’t discount the years of hard work he has done .

 

I don't think anyone is discounting it, they are just saying that his performance won't just be irrelevant to his trajectory now. I don't think his tour is selling that well, last I looked tickets were easy to get....but that was before that show 

53 minutes ago, OllieJ77 said:

Exactly. I went to his arena show a few years back been a fan for a while but I just didn’t think Download would book him. 

 

A few years ago they wouldn't have.

51 minutes ago, OllieJ77 said:

I don’t think we’re getting Blink Iron Maiden Linkin Park that’s 3 very expensive headliners don’t think they’ve got the budget for that. We’ll get two of the three and then a slightly smaller newer headliner like Ghost Parkway etc 

 

Tbh youreyou're probably right but they have had 3 expensive headliners previously. 

13 minutes ago, foolee said:

Would be shocked if Ghost don’t headline. I really think it’s Ghost and Linkin Park, the 3rd is the only one up for debate in my opinion. Kinda depends who’s touring but with MCR doing their own shows and SOAD likely doing the same I think it’ll be Iron Maiden. I think the fact BMTH are doing Nova Rock and probably more June festivals next summer suggests a Blink isn’t touring Europe again next summer. 

 

The fact Maiden included arena and Stadium shows in their tour this year as well on a tour that Download have not had and it would have been 4 years since last time all signs point there. Unless they do another stadium show which I can't see or outdoor place, they won't suddenly do another batch of arenas they already did, everything aligns.

[Andre91]

11 hours ago, northernangel said:

 

I reckon they could just about do it if they got Blink, Maiden and LP in.  I'm not sure they would pull in enough numbers though for a sub slot going by their 2022 show based on the extra numbers though headliners would take in.

 

His performance will definitely help. Well it was suggested by you he's headliner or nothing now recently so if he was booked to sub after a decade of hard work, what is the extra bit that was getting to get him to headline or nothing if his tribute performance counts for nothing? Doesn't make sense.

What @foolee said. 

[Siddey1994]

I’d be shocked if they haven’t got Ghost. Fully expecting them to be playing the EU circuit including Download, Hellfest, Graspop etc next year

[OllieJ77]

3 hours ago, northernangel said:

 

I don't think anyone is discounting it, they are just saying that his performance won't just be irrelevant to his trajectory now. I don't think his tour is selling that well, last I looked tickets were easy to get....but that was before that show 

 

A few years ago they wouldn't have.

 

Tbh youreyou're probably right but they have had 3 expensive headliners previously. 

 

The fact Maiden included arena and Stadium shows in their tour this year as well on a tour that Download have not had and it would have been 4 years since last time all signs point there. Unless they do another stadium show which I can't see or outdoor place, they won't suddenly do another batch of arenas they already did, everything aligns.

Yeah and given it’s 4 years since they last played again is a decent amount of time has passed. I’m wishful for Blink but am expecting Maiden. Won’t be unhappy with that to be fair just would prefer Blink, can’t have everything. My mate went to the London gig and said they were very good. 

[OllieJ77]

2 hours ago, Siddey1994 said:

I’d be shocked if they haven’t got Ghost. Fully expecting them to be playing the EU circuit including Download, Hellfest, Graspop etc next year

Yeah would be surprising just seems a natural new headliner to book! 

[northernangel]

38 minutes ago, OllieJ77 said:

Yeah and given it’s 4 years since they last played again is a decent amount of time has passed. I’m wishful for Blink but am expecting Maiden. Won’t be unhappy with that to be fair just would prefer Blink, can’t have everything. My mate went to the London gig and said they were very good. 

If it's Ghost, Maiden and LP, unless the Ghost day has a decent enough undercard I'll do the same as this year. Turn up at East Mids car park, do an night sleep in the car and then drive home Sunday night. Don't really fancy dragging a tent and stuff in Saturday just to take it down the next day.

[northernangel]

11 hours ago, foolee said:

Would be shocked if Ghost don’t headline. I really think it’s Ghost and Linkin Park, the 3rd is the only one up for debate in my opinion. Kinda depends who’s touring but with MCR doing their own shows and SOAD likely doing the same I think it’ll be Iron Maiden. I think the fact BMTH are doing Nova Rock and probably more June festivals next summer suggests a Blink isn’t touring Europe again next summer. 

Why would BMTH doing Nova Rock mean Blink aren't touring?

 

I will say out of Ghost, Maiden and LP, if Yungblud does sub, I'd rather he was under one of the others but he would play under Ghost I think. Considering the support acts LP have been having, I think they would have someone pretty heavy. I'll take a sub trio of Yungblud, ADTR and Disturbed though.

[OllieJ77]

8 hours ago, northernangel said:

Why would BMTH doing Nova Rock mean Blink aren't touring?

 

I will say out of Ghost, Maiden and LP, if Yungblud does sub, I'd rather he was under one of the others but he would play under Ghost I think. Considering the support acts LP have been having, I think they would have someone pretty heavy. I'll take a sub trio of Yungblud, ADTR and Disturbed

 

Didnt someone say that Blink are doing an album next year? Could mean they’re taking some time off touring but suppose they haven’t been announced for festivals from that I’ve seen bar when we were young for this year. Until we have an actual leak who knows I’m just going on wishful thinking/hoping!

[foolee]

10 hours ago, northernangel said:

Why would BMTH doing Nova Rock mean Blink aren't touring?

 

I will say out of Ghost, Maiden and LP, if Yungblud does sub, I'd rather he was under one of the others but he would play under Ghost I think. Considering the support acts LP have been having, I think they would have someone pretty heavy. I'll take a sub trio of Yungblud, ADTR and Disturbed though.

Cause there’s literally nothing to suggest Blink will still be touring and would basically be a 4th year in a row touring which would be strange. The point re BMTH is they’ve been everywhere for the last few years and suggests to me there’s no loads of options with rock/metal artists touring next summer. Obviously I could be way off with this but that’s my hunch.  

[Frankly Mr Shankly]

[foolee]

17 minutes ago, Frankly Mr Shankly said:

Not a fan of any of the main stage headliners but I actually really rate this. Love the Opus & Avalanche headliners (bar ADTR) so wouldn’t be ideal clash wise but quite a few I’ve never seen as well that I wouldn’t mind checking out (Tool, Ghost, Evanescene). Good effort and a bit different to what we’ve seen predicted recently!

[Andre91]

1 hour ago, Frankly Mr Shankly said:

That Tool Main Stage day would be absolutely stunning. Mastodon into Trivium would be an awesome way to end the night and I could clear off home part way through Pierce The Veil. Happy days. 

[northernangel]

5 hours ago, Frankly Mr Shankly said:

 

C&C, AFI and Feeder would be decent enough.

MIW, Evanescence.

Mudvayne, ADTR, LP.

 

I would hope for much better but it's OK if a cheap weekend ticket could be got. AFI, Evanescence, Mudvayne and LP to one's I couldn't miss. Without AFI though I wouldn't bother with that Friday.

 

[OllieJ77]

19 hours ago, Frankly Mr Shankly said:

I’d pass on Tool but rest of the lineup is tidy! 

[northernangel]

Going for Yungblud, Halestorm and ADTR as subs next year

[northernangel]

Would be fairly sure Bad Omens will be a sub point and not headliner id they play off of this comeback with only Ally Pally in there. Maybe of they add another date to it that could change but I still see sub with this. They would fit very well under Ghost but that would be a terrible top two for one day personally.

Edited August 18, 2025 by northernangel

[Andre91]

26 minutes ago, northernangel said:

Would be fairly sure Bad Omens will be a sub point and not headliner id they play off of this comeback with only Ally Pally in there. Maybe of they add another date to it that could change but I still see sub with this. They would fit very well under Ghost but that would be a terrible top two for one day personally.

The 25th is being held for a second Ally Pally date. That would take it to just under 70,000 tickets if (when) they sell them out. 
 

If they do book BO as a non-headliner, it kinda throws into the air what their criteria is for a headliner because those are big enough numbers. I can see them subbing, personally, but they should be getting the headline push. 

[Frankly Mr Shankly]

Suspect they’ll sell out this tour quickly, with other dates added to it (like Sleep Token did). 
 

For me at this point they should be holding out for the headliner position or nothing. 

[Judas Yeast]

As far as I'm aware, Bad Omens aren't headlining next year. I'd definitely love to see them get a good spot but if I was them, I'd hold out till 2027 for a proper festival tour!

[OllieJ77]

4 minutes ago, Judas Yeast said:

As far as I'm aware, Bad Omens aren't headlining next year. I'd definitely love to see them get a good spot but if I was them, I'd hold out till 2027 for a proper festival tour!

I imagine 2026 is too soon for them to be booked as headliners with the tour just being announced. But reckon they could be booked as Main subs for next year to line up a future headline slot in a few more years time? Reckon slot them under someone like Iron Maiden to give a nice balance of old and new metal.

[Andre91]

26 minutes ago, Judas Yeast said:

As far as I'm aware, Bad Omens aren't headlining next year. I'd definitely love to see them get a good spot but if I was them, I'd hold out till 2027 for a proper festival tour!

I can see them coming back to Euro fests and fulfilling the bookings they cancelled the other year. I think they’d sub DL now, though, and under LP would make sense. 
 

Any word on who is headlining 👀? Is it as obvious as a couple of potential acts seems? 

[Judas Yeast]

24 minutes ago, Andre91 said:

I can see them coming back to Euro fests and fulfilling the bookings they cancelled the other year. I think they’d sub DL now, though, and under LP would make sense. 
 

Any word on who is headlining 👀? Is it as obvious as a couple of potential acts seems? 

 

If what I've heard is true then they're easier to guess than the past couple of years for sure