Download 2026

[Andre91]

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.

 

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.

Listen to some more bands, mate! 
 

Out of interest, if you could book your ideal DL next year, how would it look? Give us top 4 main and second stage headliners each day. 

[northernangel]

14 minutes ago, OllieJ77 said:

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.

 

You're not getting the arena show though are you from those bands you're paying that for. You are getting lesser times, less production. Take Jimmy Eat World just for example, it was an hours set with a very basic staging of their banner and a few lights, Weezer subbed and they had very little more if anymore. Showdown bought the pyro at least. The Friday and Saturday were very acceptable undercards for me but a lot of the crowd were not into that Friday day as much as fans of those bands in a different setting would be. As a top 4 it looks great on paper but it didn't really work at Download. If you like two of the 3 headliners yes you can't really complain but to not be bothered by any of them and still pay £350 would show the costs of gigs don't bother you to pay for and they will continue to rise for that reason.

 

13 minutes ago, Andre91 said:

Listen to some more bands, mate! 
 

Out of interest, if you could book your ideal DL next year, how would it look? Give us top 4 main and second stage headliners each day. 

Why?, listen to some more bands so I can try and force myself to like options that will cover for headliners?, no thanks.

 

It's hard for me to do that as my ideal lineup wouldn't be placed at Download lol. That Green Day top 4 but with The Offspring subbing instead probably comes close to my ideal. Also, Download very rarely ever book undercards of interest on days where I'm really interested in the headliner. 

 

Blink 182 or SOAD

Yungblud

AFI

 

Maiden

Disturbed

Volbeat

 

LP

ADTR

The Distillers

 

I would also have 3rd options such as The Gaslight Anthem, Skindred and HIM if around. HIM might be 4th though. But I wouldn't say a big part of the Download crowd would also like it. I'd buy a weekend ticket for that from the off without looking at twickets as I'd want to be there. The chances are there would be a band lower down on two of those days I'd like too.

[Andre91]

12 minutes ago, northernangel said:

 

You're not getting the arena show though are you from those bands you're paying that for. You are getting lesser times, less production. Take Jimmy Eat World just for example, it was an hours set with a very basic staging of their banner and a few lights, Weezer subbed and they had very little more if anymore. Showdown bought the pyro at least. The Friday and Saturday were very acceptable undercards for me but a lot of the crowd were not into that Friday day as much as fans of those bands in a different setting would be. As a top 4 it looks great on paper but it didn't really work at Download. If you like two of the 3 headliners yes you can't really complain but to not be bothered by any of them and still pay £350 would show the costs of gigs don't bother you to pay for and they will continue to rise for that reason.

 

Why?, listen to some more bands so I can try and force myself to like options that will cover for headliners?, no thanks.

 

It's hard for me to do that as my ideal lineup wouldn't be placed at Download lol. That Green Day top 4 but with The Offspring subbing instead probably comes close to my ideal. Also, Download very rarely ever book undercards of interest on days where I'm really interested in the headliner. 

 

Blink 182 or SOAD

Yungblud

AFI

 

Maiden

Disturbed

Volbeat

 

LP

ADTR

The Distillers

 

I would also have 3rd options such as The Gaslight Anthem, Skindred and HIM if around. HIM might be 4th though. But I wouldn't say a big part of the Download crowd would also like it. I'd buy a weekend ticket for that from the off without looking at twickets as I'd want to be there. The chances are there would be a band lower down on two of those days I'd like too.

No, listen to more bands because you constantly bemoan a lack of options to watch when there’s probably loads of newer bands you’re not aware of who could appeal to you. Isn’t that the natural thing to do when looking at a festival lineup? Listen to a few songs by everyone to see if there’s anything that appeals to you? 
 

YUNGBLUD into SOAD wouldn’t work. 

AFI flopped last time in that slot. 

 

Disturbed are bum and it’s shocking they subbed even once, let alone a second time. 
 

Volbeat are big enough to sub now, arguably, or could headline second, bit like when Ghost did a couple of years ago, except Ghost could have headlined.
 

Distillers aren’t big enough to be third down and would probably pull out anyway. 
 

You’ve also mentioned how you aren’t getting big arena productions from bands like JEW and Weezer when they play DL but those bands don’t have big productions at their own shows anyway. You get some acts who have production and bring it, such as Machine Head when they headlined second or Parkway when they subbed, and then you get others who don’t, like Architects when they subbed. 

Edited August 19, 2025 by Andre91

[northernangel]

2 minutes ago, Andre91 said:

No, listen to more bands because you constantly bemoan a lack of options to watch when there’s probably loads of newer bands you’re not aware of who could appeal to you. Isn’t that the natural thing to do when looking at a festival lineup? Listen to a few songs by everyone to see if there’s anything that appeals to you? 
 

YUNGBLUD into SOAD wouldn’t work. 

AFI flopped last time in that slot. 

 

Disturbed are bum and it’s shocking they subbed even once, let alone a second time. 
 

Volbeat are big enough to sub now, arguably, or could headline second, bit like when Ghost did a couple of years ago, except Ghost could have headlined.
 

Distillers aren’t big enough to be third down and would probably pull out anyway. 
 

You’ve also mentioned how you aren’t getting big arena productions from bands like JEW and Weezer when they play DL but those bands don’t have big productions at their own shows anyway. You get some acts who have production and bring it, such as Machine Head when they headlined second or Parkway when they subbed, and then you get others who don’t, like Architects when they subbed. 

I listened to a lot of bands off of the Download lineup last time and saw who I wanted. Listening to bands yes but does not mean I'll automatically like them, you like heavier music than me so you will like more than me and that's obvious. For exmaple, I would never want them to booked Lornashore, Machinehead, Architects, Spiritbox, LOG and so on.

 

They still get more lighting and production than at Downlaoad. But no Yungblud probably wouldn't work but you can move it about like put Disturbed there, one of my favourite heavier bands ever.

 

But like you asked me who I would book, I said, you don't like them. AFI flopping does not surprise me.

 

I can't remember where The Distillers were due to play last time whether it was 3rd or 4th equivalent but if 4th then stick them there. But yes their chances of being rebooked are low.

 

I also didnt think Disturbed should have been booked to sub but because of Downloads rubbish scheduling now with the sub playing before second headline now which plays before the the main headliner starts, the sub is basically is 3rd down position anyway. Also, because its earlier also affects the natural lighting of the day. Its crazy actually that some people suggest The Prodigy to sub Download in that slot with pure daylight lol, headlining second now would be bad enough. Let's just be clear though, if Bullet can sub at this point then Disturbed will have no issues getting that slot, they are selling tickets quicker, pricier and in every way heavier than Bullet did for their tour.

 

Download booked one of the best top 4 runs they have ever booked in their history this year on Friday but it didn't appeal to you. Sunday likely did appeal to you but I'd have taken Bullet, AAF and Dead Poet Society out of that and chucked the rest. Bullet also just playing the same set as on tour was poor and hence I wasn't bothered.

[Andre91]

13 minutes ago, northernangel said:

I listened to a lot of bands off of the Download lineup last time and saw who I wanted. Listening to bands yes but does not mean I'll automatically like them, you like heavier music than me so you will like more than me and that's obvious. For exmaple, I would never want them to booked Lornashore, Machinehead, Architects, Spiritbox, LOG and so on.

 

They still get more lighting and production than at Downlaoad. But no Yungblud probably wouldn't work but you can move it about like put Disturbed there, one of my favourite heavier bands ever.

 

But like you asked me who I would book, I said, you don't like them. AFI flopping does not surprise me.

 

I can't remember where The Distillers were due to play last time whether it was 3rd or 4th equivalent but if 4th then stick them there. But yes their chances of being rebooked are low.

 

I also didnt think Disturbed should have been booked to sub but because of Downloads rubbish scheduling now with the sub playing before second headline now which plays before the the main headliner starts, the sub is basically is 3rd down position anyway. Also, because its earlier also affects the natural lighting of the day. Its crazy actually that some people suggest The Prodigy to sub Download in that slot with pure daylight lol, headlining second now would be bad enough. Let's just be clear though, if Bullet can sub at this point then Disturbed will have no issues getting that slot, they are selling tickets quicker, pricier and in every way heavier than Bullet did for their tour.

 

Download booked one of the best top 4 runs they have ever booked in their history this year on Friday but it didn't appeal to you. Sunday likely did appeal to you but I'd have taken Bullet, AAF and Dead Poet Society out of that and chucked the rest. Bullet also just playing the same set as on tour was poor and hence I wasn't bothered.

Eh? I watched the whole Friday run of bands 😂 Rise Against were typically dull but JEW and Weezer were two of my weekend highlights; I had a grand old time watching them in the sun singing along to every song (quite literally every word of every song for Weezer’s entire set). Green Day really surprised me; I didn’t expect to enjoy them as much as I did and I was really impressed. I stayed for almost the whole set. 
 

Re: AFI, they were dead in the water playing third down in 2017. I watched them and loved it as I’m a big fan and had never seen them but the crowd was really, really small. Opening band of the day small. The band themselves seemed really pissed off about it, or something in general, and Davey launched his mic and stormed off at the end of the set.

 

It definitely didn’t help that they were clashing with Max & Igor Cavalera playing Roots in full over on the second stage. To this day that is still one of the worst, maybe the worst, clashes I’ve ever had at a festival. Glad I stick with AFI though. 

[northernangel]

42 minutes ago, Andre91 said:

Eh? I watched the whole Friday run of bands 😂 Rise Against were typically dull but JEW and Weezer were two of my weekend highlights; I had a grand old time watching them in the sun singing along to every song (quite literally every word of every song for Weezer’s entire set). Green Day really surprised me; I didn’t expect to enjoy them as much as I did and I was really impressed. I stayed for almost the whole set. 
 

Re: AFI, they were dead in the water playing third down in 2017. I watched them and loved it as I’m a big fan and had never seen them but the crowd was really, really small. Opening band of the day small. The band themselves seemed really pissed off about it, or something in general, and Davey launched his mic and stormed off at the end of the set.

 

It definitely didn’t help that they were clashing with Max & Igor Cavalera playing Roots in full over on the second stage. To this day that is still one of the worst, maybe the worst, clashes I’ve ever had at a festival. Glad I stick with AFI though. 

 

You made an open point about the Friday being the worst day leading up to the festival and that you were not really that bothered about it. RA I enjoyed, better than last time but they are better indoors. Weezer I found really boring and out of place, just not a booking for Download what so ever and it really showed. Atmosphere was pretty dead and people just waiting, and I was 4 rows from the front which i was for every main stage Friday band apart from Rise Against and I wasn't far back then. AFI should have just been put in the Avalanche. 

 

I very nearly went for Biffy Clyro, ADTR and AFI but I didn't expect much from Biffy to be honest for reasons otherwise explained. I also wouldn't have wanted a dead set from AFI as they were the big one for me, last saw in NME at Reading 08 but always thought 3rd down was too high and on main. At that time AFI into Prophets was class.

[Andre91]

11 minutes ago, northernangel said:

 

You made an open point about the Friday being the worst day leading up to the festival and that you were not really that bothered about it. RA I enjoyed, better than last time but they are better indoors. Weezer I found really boring and out of place, just not a booking for Download what so ever and it really showed. Atmosphere was pretty dead and people just waiting, and I was 4 rows from the front which i was for every main stage Friday band apart from Rise Against and I wasn't far back then. AFI should have just been put in the Avalanche. 

 

I very nearly went for Biffy Clyro, ADTR and AFI but I didn't expect much from Biffy to be honest for reasons otherwise explained. I also wouldn't have wanted a dead set from AFI as they were the big one for me, last saw in NME at Reading 08 but always thought 3rd down was too high and on main. At that time AFI into Prophets was class.

Incorrect. I was always looking forward to Weezer and JEW. I said how weak the lower stages were on that Friday and I stand by that. Also CKY playing Main in 2025 was laughable and so was their performance.
 

Weezer are 100% a Download band and they fit right in. It’s not their fault the crowd was full of uncultured fools who only know Beverley Hills and Buddy Holly and not Why Bother and In The Garage. 

[Frankly Mr Shankly]

Official download forums are closing in Sep, so I’d guess this section might get a little busier after that. 

[northernangel]

14 minutes ago, Andre91 said:

Incorrect. I was always looking forward to Weezer and JEW. I said how weak the lower stages were on that Friday and I stand by that. Also CKY playing Main in 2025 was laughable and so was their performance.
 

Weezer are 100% a Download band and they fit right in. It’s not their fault the crowd was full of uncultured fools who only know Beverley Hills and Buddy Holly and not Why Bother and In The Garage. 

 

Don't you always mention how average JEW are as a live band too? So you weren't looking forward to Rise Against and Green Day so hence with everyone else's opinion of how solid it was, you disagreed and were disappointed overall considering that's two of the 4 main top ones. It's not completely incorrect, it was definitely your leads favourite day in pre festival talks.

 

CKY was terrible.

 

Weezer were a terrible fit and multiple people I know said the same, they were a bit dull, boring and Rivers stage presence of what made them a must watch back when I first saw them had gone completely, that's mine and others I know view. It probably is the festivals fault for booking a band that didn't fit the scene enough for people to be bothered. People aren't uncultured just because they don't like what you do. In fairness, Weezer are nothing like what they would usually have booked to sub amd let's be right they shouldn't have subbed. Great lineup for the day, wrong festival to place it at. 

 

Lower downs were not great no but you won't get as strong or good lower bands. Second stage was pretty pork through with the Avalanche having s couple of decent options. I saw 12 bands from the first two days so I'll take that given day two was free.

[gary1979666]

37 minutes ago, northernangel said:

I also wouldn't have wanted a dead set from AFI as they were the big one for me, last saw in NME at Reading 08 but always thought 3rd down was too high and on main. At that time AFI into Prophets was class.

 

I had that combo back in 08 too - AFI were amazing in the tent; not managed to see them since.  Thinking about the LostP's sets makes me sad - had some amazing songs back in the day - shame Watkins was a nonce.

[Andre91]

5 minutes ago, northernangel said:

 

Don't you always mention how average JEW are as a live band too? So you weren't looking forward to Rise Against and Green Day so hence with everyone else's opinion of how solid it was, you disagreed and were disappointed overall considering that's two of the 4 main top ones. It's not completely incorrect, it was definitely your leads favourite day in pre festival talks.

 

CKY was terrible.

 

Weezer were a terrible fit and multiple people I know said the same, they were a bit dull, boring and Rivers stage presence of what made them a must watch back when I first saw them had gone completely, that's mine and others I know view. It probably is the festivals fault for booking a band that didn't fit the scene enough for people to be bothered. People aren't uncultured just because they don't like what you do. In fairness, Weezer are nothing like what they would usually have booked to sub amd let's be right they shouldn't have subbed. Great lineup for the day, wrong festival to place it at. 

 

Lower downs were not great no but you won't get as strong or good lower bands. Second stage was pretty pork through with the Avalanche having s couple of decent options. I saw 12 bands from the first two days so I'll take that given day two was free.

What, so because I’ve found a band boring in the past, I’m not allowed to think different on another occasion and enjoy them?
 

What are you on about with Green Day? I’ve just said earlier how much I enjoyed them. 
 

Why are you talking like that Friday run was a failure? Because it wasn’t. All bands had big crowds. I was much further back (near the sound tower) and people were singing along for all of them. 
 

Weezer are big enough to sub and they fit under Green Day perfectly. And yes, people are uncultured if they know Buddy Holly and not the rest of the Blue Album. 

Edited August 19, 2025 by Andre91

[gabrielomachado]

Kinda pointless to keep posting on the DL forum since it's going to die in two weeks, and way before any announcement. Here's my first and only prediction here in EFests

 

Friday

Apex: GHOST / Alice Cooper / Ice Nine Kills / In This Moment

 

Opus: Good Charlotte / Sublime / Hollywood Undead

 

Avalanche: Bloodhound Gang / t.A.t.U.

 

Dogtooth: Perturbator / Spineshank
_________
Saturday

 

Apex: IRON MAIDEN / Megadeth / Trivium / Malevolence

 

Opus: A Perfect Circle / Acid Bath / Kerry King

 

Avalanche: While She Sleeps / Kublai Khan TX

 

Dogtooth: Obituary / Suicide Silence
________
Sunday

Apex: LINKIN PARK / Architects / Electric Callboy / The Pretty Reckless

 

Opus: Volbeat / Three Days Grace 2X / Bush

 

Avalanche: The Interrupters / PUP

 

Dogtooth: Cavalera playing Chaos A.D. / Fear Factory

[losing43]

Dream lineup for me

[Andre91]

[Andre91]

52 minutes ago, losing43 said:

Dream lineup for me

That Friday would be the best day this festival has ever booked. 
 

Torture opening the Main Stage? You madman. I love it. 

Edited August 19, 2025 by Andre91

[gabrielomachado]

9 minutes ago, Andre91 said:

Just read on Graspop forums form a reliable source that MiW are touring Europe again next June, so I think they're nailed on for that spot. Was thinking of Electric Callboy instead, but they toured so much on the last few years and played basically everywhere, maybe they won't be around next year.

[andyrhodes24]

Got my Bad Omens tickets for Nottingham. They brought full production when they supported BMTH in 2024 so this should be special.

 

EDIT: I’ve navigated the tricky presale process if anyone needs the link.

Edited August 19, 2025 by andyrhodes24

[northernangel]

3 hours ago, Andre91 said:

What, so because I’ve found a band boring in the past, I’m not allowed to think different on another occasion and enjoy them?
 

What are you on about with Green Day? I’ve just said earlier how much I enjoyed them. 
 

Why are you talking like that Friday run was a failure? Because it wasn’t. All bands had big crowds. I was much further back (near the sound tower) and people were singing along for all of them. 
 

Weezer are big enough to sub and they fit under Green Day perfectly. And yes, people are uncultured if they know Buddy Holly and not the rest of the Blue Album. 

 

You've said JEW were boring on a couple of previous occasions.

 

You enjoyed Green Day but you weren't that bothered about them originally, which I quite clear by you being really surprised by them. IF you are really excited for them then the fact they were really good wouldn't be any surprise.

 

Because the Friday run should have hit differently for me. I disagree with Weezer but we'll leave that there and agree to disagree. One of the most out of place bookings personally I've seen in live watching play Download and I'm not alone in that. Perfect fit under Green Day at a different event but again I'll leave that. Your view is your, mine is mine and we don't need either or to agree to validate our own.

 

No they are not!, why should they known everything you do as well as you do and every word that you do? That's just really really arrogant! How entitled is it to feel that a crowd for a band you really like should know every word like you do? Weezer might not even have been a big deal to those particular people past the two songs regularly played on Kerrang and the likes. It could well be they were there for a good spot for Green Day and that's just how it is.

[northernangel]

2 hours ago, gabrielomachado said:

Kinda pointless to keep posting on the DL forum since it's going to die in two weeks, and way before any announcement. Here's my first and only prediction here in EFests

 

Friday

Apex: GHOST / Alice Cooper / Ice Nine Kills / In This Moment

 

Opus: Good Charlotte / Sublime / Hollywood Undead

 

Avalanche: Bloodhound Gang / t.A.t.U.

 

Dogtooth: Perturbator / Spineshank
_________
Saturday

 

Apex: IRON MAIDEN / Megadeth / Trivium / Malevolence

 

Opus: A Perfect Circle / Acid Bath / Kerry King

 

Avalanche: While She Sleeps / Kublai Khan TX

 

Dogtooth: Obituary / Suicide Silence
________
Sunday

Apex: LINKIN PARK / Architects / Electric Callboy / The Pretty Reckless

 

Opus: Volbeat / Three Days Grace 2X / Bush

 

Avalanche: The Interrupters / PUP

 

Dogtooth: Cavalera playing Chaos A.D. / Fear Factory

 

That Sunday run of 3DG, Volbeat and LP we'll take. Saturday would be a day on it in Nottingham then returning and I'll wait for Good Charlotte to play Slam Dunk, even though I think they'll get them over Download anyway.

[markro]

4 hours ago, Frankly Mr Shankly said:

Official download forums are closing in Sep, so I’d guess this section might get a little busier after that. 

For the best, an awful corner of the Internet. I'm a long time lurker there but it's gone downhill past few years. Some of the takes are horrendous. People just trying to get reactions. It's had its day. 

Edited August 19, 2025 by markro

[gabrielomachado]

Here's the list of some bands doing the festival circuit next June: 

 

 Motionless In White, Yellowcard, New Found Glory, Bury Tomorrow, Drain, Elder, The Story So Far, The Bouncing Souls, Holding Absence, August Burns Red, High On Fire, Gaerea, State Champs, The Flatliners, The Home Team, Ways Away, Gridiron, Modern Life Is War, Fiddlehead, Free Throw, Glare, Harms Way, Speed, Split Chain, Superheaven, Oversize

 

Last time I saw this same guy leaking a list of bands, he got almost everything right, including the Faith No More reunion that was supposed to happen in 2020.

 

[Andre91]

55 minutes ago, northernangel said:

 

You've said JEW were boring on a couple of previous occasions.

 

You enjoyed Green Day but you weren't that bothered about them originally, which I quite clear by you being really surprised by them. IF you are really excited for them then the fact they were really good wouldn't be any surprise.

 

Because the Friday run should have hit differently for me. I disagree with Weezer but we'll leave that there and agree to disagree. One of the most out of place bookings personally I've seen in live watching play Download and I'm not alone in that. Perfect fit under Green Day at a different event but again I'll leave that. Your view is your, mine is mine and we don't need either or to agree to validate our own.

 

No they are not!, why should they known everything you do as well as you do and every word that you do? That's just really really arrogant! How entitled is it to feel that a crowd for a band you really like should know every word like you do? Weezer might not even have been a big deal to those particular people past the two songs regularly played on Kerrang and the likes. It could well be they were there for a good spot for Green Day and that's just how it is.

What on earth are you even talking about in the bold paragraphs? Genuinely I have no idea what it’s supposed to mean. 
 

And yes. I am arrogant. Because I’m a bigger fan than everyone else who was stood around me. That makes me better than them. They are beneath me and my superior fandom. Imagine going to see Weezer and not knowing anything off of Pinkerton! Philistines. 

Edited August 19, 2025 by Andre91

[Andre91]

11 minutes ago, gabrielomachado said:

Here's the list of some bands doing the festival circuit next June: 

 

 Motionless In White, Yellowcard, New Found Glory, Bury Tomorrow, Drain, Elder, The Story So Far, The Bouncing Souls, Holding Absence, August Burns Red, High On Fire, Gaerea, State Champs, The Flatliners, The Home Team, Ways Away, Gridiron, Modern Life Is War, Fiddlehead, Free Throw, Glare, Harms Way, Speed, Split Chain, Superheaven, Oversize

 

Last time I saw this same guy leaking a list of bands, he got almost everything right, including the Faith No More reunion that was supposed to happen in 2020.

 

Imagine Drain, Gridiron, Harms Way and Speed all being at DL. That would be insane but probably unlikely after the great hardcore boycott of 2024. 
 

Would love to see High on Fire too. 

[Andre91]

I can’t wait for some of the DL Forum lot to migrate over here. Bantz will be off the charts. The place might liven up a bit. 

[Andre91]

18 minutes ago, markro said:

For the best, an awful corner of the Internet. I'm a long time lurker there but it's gone downhill past few years. Some of the takes are horrendous. People just trying to get reactions. It's had its day. 

It’s the best place on the internet for tour news. It’ll be sorely missed.