Download 2026

[northernangel]

1 hour ago, Andre91 said:

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. 

 

Yeah you aren't headlining Download from playing Ally Pally even if it is two dates of them, you'll sub. Just play The 02 and reserve a second date for that and then the conversation starts.

34 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? 

 

I think they male more sense under Ghost with ADTR under LP myself.

[northernangel]

50 minutes ago, Judas Yeast said:

 

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

Haha tell us Maiden and LP are headlining without telling us lol.

[Andre91]

Ghost, Maiden and LP. 
 

zzzzzzzzzzzz. 

[northernangel]

4 minutes ago, Andre91 said:

Ghost, Maiden and LP. 
 

zzzzzzzzzzzz. 

Maiden and LP without SOAD or Blink being there is the best I could have hoped for so I'll be there Saturday and Sunday at least. Ghost let it down a bit but the cheaper headliner is needed. It would be bigger than Ghost as a 3rd though if they were confident and planned to return to the 85-90k point as the extra would pay for it.

[TWY2911]

1 hour ago, Andre91 said:

Ghost, Maiden and LP. 
 

zzzzzzzzzzzz. 

Hopefully the undercard delivers because that does absolutely nothing for me 

[Andre91]

9 minutes ago, TWY2911 said:

Hopefully the undercard delivers because that does absolutely nothing for me 

Same. Would watch Ghost for a little but couldn’t do a whole set. Wouldn’t have any interest in Maiden or LP whatsoever. 
 

[northernangel]

2 hours ago, TWY2911 said:

Hopefully the undercard delivers because that does absolutely nothing for me 

 

Surely you wouldn't attend and pay the costs involved if at least the two big one's don't deliver 

[Andre91]

47 minutes ago, northernangel said:

 

Surely you wouldn't attend and pay the costs involved if at least the two big one's don't deliver 

It’s about more than the headliners. I went in 2022 and had no intention of watching two of the three headliners and I didn’t watch a single second of either. 

[northernangel]

1 minute ago, Andre91 said:

It’s about more than the headliners. I went in 2022 and had no intention of watching two of the three headliners and I didn’t watch a single second of either. 

The headliners is the money maker. Believe that, you're paying for your acts to just do shorter sets. Apart from the subs are are getting an okay time in usually 1hr 10, no way am I paying a weekend price for undercard band. I mean 2022 wasn't all that anyway.

[Andre91]

19 minutes ago, northernangel said:

The headliners is the money maker. Believe that, you're paying for your acts to just do shorter sets. Apart from the subs are are getting an okay time in usually 1hr 10, no way am I paying a weekend price for undercard band. I mean 2022 wasn't all that anyway.

Headliners help but if I’ve got other big bands (subs, third downs, second stage headliners etc) who I want to see, that makes up for headliners I don’t want to see. 
 

2022 was crap overall. 

[northernangel]

5 minutes ago, Andre91 said:

Headliners help but if I’ve got other big bands (subs, third downs, second stage headliners etc) who I want to see, that makes up for headliners I don’t want to see. 
 

2022 was crap overall. 

Those spots need some doing to make up for £350 though and the shorter sets some of them will do.

[Andre91]

33 minutes ago, northernangel said:

Those spots need some doing to make up for £350 though and the shorter sets some of them will do.

Big slots don’t suffer from short sets at DL. Third downs get an hour and subs and second stage headliners get 70mins ish. 
 

It’s the shorter slots lower down that are a pain in the arse. Too many good bands with 25 minutes slots; what a waste of some brilliant bands. 

Edited August 18, 2025 by Andre91

[Siddey1994]

If Ghost bring anything like their current arena tour then it’ll be a fantastic set. Never understood how people can complain for years on end about the same old headliners then not give the new ones a chance.

 

Maiden & LP will be Maiden & LP, it’ll sell well.

[Andre91]

11 minutes ago, Siddey1994 said:

If Ghost bring anything like their current arena tour then it’ll be a fantastic set. Never understood how people can complain for years on end about the same old headliners then not give the new ones a chance.

 

Maiden & LP will be Maiden & LP, it’ll sell well.

I don’t think anyone is saying Ghost aren’t worthy or won’t give them a chance. I’d definitely go along and watch them for a bit, it’s just I’ve seen them before but find myself less and less interested with each new album, musically speaking. Who knows, they put on that good of a show I might end up staying for the whole thing. God knows there won’t be anything to watch instead of them… 

[Siddey1994]

48 minutes ago, Andre91 said:

I don’t think anyone is saying Ghost aren’t worthy or won’t give them a chance. I’d definitely go along and watch them for a bit, it’s just I’ve seen them before but find myself less and less interested with each new album, musically speaking. Who knows, they put on that good of a show I might end up staying for the whole thing. God knows there won’t be anything to watch instead of them… 

I can understand the hate for the later albums, not necessarily dissing the arena rock sound but I wish TF would stop trying to chase hits when their older songs are catchy and melodic enough. I will defend them though on the basis that basically every other big modern metal band is trying to be Jordan Fish-core.

Edited August 18, 2025 by Siddey1994

[Andre91]

Just now, Siddey1994 said:

I can understand the hate for the later albums, not necessarily dissing the arena rock sound but I wish TF would stop trying to chase hits when their older songs are catchy and melodic enough. I will defend them though on the basis that basically every other modern metal band is trying to be Jordan Fish-core.

I don’t hate the new album, I just find the last couple a bit throw away in that I haven’t gone back to them. 
 

Fishcore is getting out of hand. PRESIDENT stir a rage deep inside of me that I haven’t felt for a long while. 

[Siddey1994]

5 minutes ago, Andre91 said:

I don’t hate the new album, I just find the last couple a bit throw away in that I haven’t gone back to them. 
 

Fishcore is getting out of hand. PRESIDENT stir a rage deep inside of me that I haven’t felt for a long while. 

I certainly prefer Skeleta to Impera, though they’re basically in the same kind of ballpark.

 

And agreed on President. I had faith in them (got big love for Charlie) but basically all they’ve put out is pure gash.

[northernangel]

1 hour ago, Andre91 said:

Big slots don’t suffer from short sets at DL. Third downs get an hour and subs and second stage headliners get 70mins ish. 
 

It’s the shorter slots lower down that are a pain in the arse. Too many good bands with 25 minutes slots; what a waste of some brilliant bands. 

 

It is still 30 minutes short of their own show though isn't it, even a shorter headline set is still 20 minutes short of that set. Download giving the 3rd down band longer than most is good I agree but it's not £350 agree.

10 minutes ago, Siddey1994 said:

I certainly prefer Skeleta to Impera, though they’re basically in the same kind of ballpark.

 

And agreed on President. I had faith in them (got big love for Charlie) but basically all they’ve put out is pure gash.

 

All I've heard from PRESIDENT so far is of no interest to be fair.

[Andre91]

23 minutes ago, northernangel said:

 

It is still 30 minutes short of their own show though isn't it, even a shorter headline set is still 20 minutes short of that set. Download giving the 3rd down band longer than most is good I agree but it's not £350 agree.

 

All I've heard from PRESIDENT so far is of no interest to be fair.

For you it’s not £350 agree. 

[TWY2911]

6 hours ago, northernangel said:

 

Surely you wouldn't attend and pay the costs involved if at least the two big one's don't deliver 

 

I go to download for the experience with friends and there's going to be at least a few bands each day that I want to see anyway 

 

I get my ticket before the lineup comes out every year but it's each to their own 

[Andre91]

If the headliners really are as predictable as some say they are… 

 

APEX: Ghost / Evanescence / Killswitch Engage / Anthrax / Mammoth / Green Lung / Bat Sabbath 

 

OPUS: Alice In Chains / Mastodon / Superheaven / Lacuna Coil 

 

AVALANCHE: Bloodhound Gang / Less Than Jake 

 

DOGTOOTH: Cavalera (plays Chaos A.D.) / Cancer Bats 

 

 

APEX: Iron Maiden / Trivium / Megadeth / The Warning / Bury Tomorrow / Those Damn Crows / Make Them Suffer / Cage Fight 

 

OPUS: Ice Nine Kills / Beartooth / Kublai Khan TX / Nova Twins

 

AVALANCHE: letlive. / The Devil Wears Prada 

 

DOGTOOTH: Static-X / Suicide Silence 

 

 

APEX: Linkin Park / Bad Omens / Motionless In White / Malevolence / PRESIDENT / Hot Milk / LANDMVRKS / thrown 

 

OPUS: Volbeat / Coheed and Cambria / Paleface Swiss / Fit For A King 

 

AVALANCHE: Bilmuri / Hot Mulligan 

 

DOGTOOTH: Perturbator / Deafheaven

Edited August 18, 2025 by Andre91

[OllieJ77]

5 hours ago, Andre91 said:

If the headliners really are as predictable as some say they are… 

 

APEX: Ghost / Evanescence / Killswitch Engage / Anthrax / Mammoth / Green Lung / Bat Sabbath 

 

OPUS: Alice In Chains / Mastodon / Superheaven / Lacuna Coil 

 

AVALANCHE: Bloodhound Gang / Less Than Jake 

 

DOGTOOTH: Cavalera (plays Chaos A.D.) / Cancer Bats 

 

 

APEX: Iron Maiden / Trivium / Megadeth / The Warning / Bury Tomorrow / Those Damn Crows / Make Them Suffer / Cage Fight 

 

OPUS: Ice Nine Kills / Beartooth / Kublai Khan TX / Nova Twins

 

AVALANCHE: letlive. / The Devil Wears Prada 

 

DOGTOOTH: Static-X / Suicide Silence 

 

 

APEX: Linkin Park / Bad Omens / Motionless In White / Malevolence / PRESIDENT / Hot Milk / LANDMVRKS / thrown 

 

OPUS: Volbeat / Coheed and Cambria / Paleface Swiss / Fit For A King 

 

AVALANCHE: Bilmuri / Hot Mulligan 

 

DOGTOOTH: Perturbator / Deafheaven

I’d be very happy with that lineup not going to lie. Personally I’m fine with Ghost Maiden LP as headliners but that’s because I’ve never seen any of them but I get for others who have it might not be as big of a draw.

 

[OllieJ77]

17 hours ago, northernangel said:

Haha tell us Maiden and LP are headlining without telling us lol.

To be fair though a lot of people have predicted Blink so if it’s an easier prediction then they gotta be an option haha but I think it’ll be Ghost Maiden and LP.

[northernangel]

13 hours ago, Andre91 said:

For you it’s not £350 agree. 

 

It shouldn't be either. If that it worth £350 then add the headliners to that and you can't complain about paying £450/500 for a weekend ticket given the costs involved in those over the rest.

8 hours ago, Andre91 said:

If the headliners really are as predictable as some say they are… 

 

APEX: Ghost / Evanescence / Killswitch Engage / Anthrax / Mammoth / Green Lung / Bat Sabbath 

 

OPUS: Alice In Chains / Mastodon / Superheaven / Lacuna Coil 

 

AVALANCHE: Bloodhound Gang / Less Than Jake 

 

DOGTOOTH: Cavalera (plays Chaos A.D.) / Cancer Bats 

 

 

APEX: Iron Maiden / Trivium / Megadeth / The Warning / Bury Tomorrow / Those Damn Crows / Make Them Suffer / Cage Fight 

 

OPUS: Ice Nine Kills / Beartooth / Kublai Khan TX / Nova Twins

 

AVALANCHE: letlive. / The Devil Wears Prada 

 

DOGTOOTH: Static-X / Suicide Silence 

 

 

APEX: Linkin Park / Bad Omens / Motionless In White / Malevolence / PRESIDENT / Hot Milk / LANDMVRKS / thrown 

 

OPUS: Volbeat / Coheed and Cambria / Paleface Swiss / Fit For A King 

 

AVALANCHE: Bilmuri / Hot Mulligan 

 

DOGTOOTH: Perturbator / Deafheaven

 

It's a good job there are some decent headliners to see as that's awful overall. I also can't see if they continue the same last two years trajectory that being booked as the undercard as that's just any Download undercard from the previous 2023 back 10 years.

 

But:

 

Bloodhound Gang/Evanescence ideally not clashing. Happy to miss LTJ as I've seen them enough now, Lacuna Coil.

 

Maiden, Beartooth, The Warning, Nova Twins

 

LP, Volbeat, MIW

 

I would probably make an effort to watch all of those and hang around twickets for a weekend ticket. Friday would likely involve heading into Nottingham early.

[OllieJ77]

1 hour ago, northernangel said:

 

It shouldn't be either. If that it worth £350 then add the headliners to that and you can't complain about paying £450/500 for a weekend ticket given the costs involved in those over the rest.

 

It's a good job there are some decent headliners to see as that's awful overall. I also can't see if they continue the same last two years trajectory that being booked as the undercard as that's just any Download undercard from the previous 2023 back 10 years.

 

I think I paid £300 for next years festival on the price freeze, £100 a day for music with the cost of gigs these days for an arena show your looking at £60-£70 and then some for bigger bands. So I think it’s well worth the money on value especially if you like the headliners. My general rule is if I like 2 of the headliners I think the money is more than worth it as there will always be some bands on the undercard I like. 
 

I thought the undercard for this years was really good personally.