Download 2026

[Andre91]

I don’t think Slayer will bother coming over here after the flop of those shows. They’ll stick to the US where they can headline every festival they play. Maybe they’d come here for a Hellfest headline set but I can’t see them bothering to come to the UK to headline the Second Stage. 

[OllieJ77]

On 19/08/2025 at 15:50, Andre91 said:

Do me a favour and get a job on the booking team please. Several posters you’ve posted and I’m all for them! 

[Dead throne]

4 hours ago, Andre91 said:

I don’t think Slayer will bother coming over here after the flop of those shows. They’ll stick to the US where they can headline every festival they play. Maybe they’d come here for a Hellfest headline set but I can’t see them bothering to come to the UK to headline the Second Stage. 

they'll do Europe too, (maybe not as headliners) like Graspop, Hellfest etc, headline some of the Eastern European festivals 

[Spiral_Low]

17 hours ago, Andre91 said:

I don’t think Slayer will bother coming over here after the flop of those shows. They’ll stick to the US where they can headline every festival they play. Maybe they’d come here for a Hellfest headline set but I can’t see them bothering to come to the UK to headline the Second Stage. 

I reckon we might see them do a co-headline tour in the UK with someone like Rob Zombie or Pantera. Get a band like In Flames as support and they could do several arenas (I mean Pantera did a few on their own previously anyway). 

[OllieJ77]

Apparently someone on the Iron Maiden forum has ruled them out of Download next year. Person on Reddit in download sub has told me so could be rubbish who knows.

[SweetJesus]

18 hours ago, Dead throne said:

they'll do Europe too, (maybe not as headliners) like Graspop, Hellfest etc, headline some of the Eastern European festivals 

Is this prediction or you have a good source?

[Andre91]

Brent Hinds has died 😞 

 

https://metalinjection.net/news/brent-hinds-dead-at-51

 

Tragic motorcycle crash. Jesus. RIP.

[Siddey1994]

5 minutes ago, Andre91 said:

Brent Hinds has died 😞 

 

https://metalinjection.net/news/brent-hinds-dead-at-51

 

Tragic motorcycle crash. Jesus. RIP.

Damn that’s tragic 😕 RIP.

[gabrielomachado]

RIP Brent Hinds. What an awful year.

[Dead throne]

On 21/08/2025 at 15:17, SweetJesus said:

Is this prediction or you have a good source?

just a prediction haha

[Zampa]

On 19/08/2025 at 13:20, Frankly Mr Shankly said:

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

Good. Was a circle jerk forum the last few years, although the tour news and cheap ticket news was helpful.

Who is Lee going to reinvent himself as now?

[NorthernSoul52]

I honestly can't see Maiden doing it, if only because I assumed they wouldn't do Europe again next summer. 2027 is another matter however, but no idea if they'll even want to do a third year of Run for Your Lives or move back onto something else instead.

 

If they do a third year though, probably a couple of judicious changes would be useful in that setlist.

 

Would be delighted with Ghost. That feels increasingly like a good bet, I'd reckon.

[northernangel]

59 minutes ago, NorthernSoul52 said:

I honestly can't see Maiden doing it, if only because I assumed they wouldn't do Europe again next summer. 2027 is another matter however, but no idea if they'll even want to do a third year of Run for Your Lives or move back onto something else instead.

 

If they do a third year though, probably a couple of judicious changes would be useful in that setlist.

 

Would be delighted with Ghost. That feels increasingly like a good bet, I'd reckon.

If Maiden don't do England next year, it'll be the first time in 20 years at least they haven't played two years running in the UK and they've not done this tour at Download.

[Audiorocker]

Download's facebook reels sharing Deftones new album....I wonder if they will plug a few to tease possible bookings???

[kale]

man all im hoping for is acid bath would kill for them at this point

[OllieJ77]

Taking this with a massive pinch of salt as no clue if this person is chatting nonsense or not but. Someone on Reddit has said they’ve been told by someone who works the industry that Linkin Park and Limp Bizkit are two of the headliners. 
 

I can see Linkin Park think we all have said would be shocked if it wasn’t them.

 

However Limp Bizkit feels too soon since they last played for me. Don’t think a band has ever headlined after just one year off from playing the festival (main subbed 2024 to headline in 2026). Further to this they just played R&L (they were a lot of fun to be fair) and also done a UK tour recently. Think playing UK 3 years on the bounce is unlikely personally but interested to hear others views on it. I know Copping said next time they play they’ll headline and I’m not doubting that wouldn’t be the case as they are a headline act just think it’s too soon for 2026. 
 

Thoughts?

 

Person’ other guess for the third slot (said they hadn’t been told the third headliner which to me seems weird cus if you was going to tell someone you’d say all three but whatever) was Ghost, again think most of us have said Ghost.

[OllieJ77]

On 25/08/2025 at 15:04, NorthernSoul52 said:

I honestly can't see Maiden doing it, if only because I assumed they wouldn't do Europe again next summer. 2027 is another matter however, but no idea if they'll even want to do a third year of Run for Your Lives or move back onto something else instead.

 

If they do a third year though, probably a couple of judicious changes would be useful in that setlist.

 

Would be delighted with Ghost. That feels increasingly like a good bet, I'd reckon.

To be fair someone on the Iron Maiden forums also ruled them out of headlining download for next year and they’ve leaked announcements for Iron Maiden before….

[Andre91]

Yeah, Bizkit for a FOURTH summer in a row would be overkill. Then again, the demand for them is clearly there as they keep drawing massive crowds wherever they go. Whilst I think they should and will headline the next time they play, it would be disappointing if it came as soon as next summer. 

[Spiral_Low]

33 minutes ago, kale said:

man all im hoping for is acid bath would kill for them at this point

Would be wasted at Download, get a 30 min set in Dogtooth to a half a crowd that is just hiding from sun. Be much better at Arctangent or Damnation. 

[Andre91]

13 minutes ago, Spiral_Low said:

Would be wasted at Download, get a 30 min set in Dogtooth to a half a crowd that is just hiding from sun. Be much better at Arctangent or Damnation. 

Neither could afford them. DL is the only one that could but I don’t see it happening. 

[northernangel]

Yeah LB next year would be an awful booking, the coverage they've already done in the UK in recent years so far and their position as a strong sub even after their Download appearance last year couldn't sell out the Reading day as a strong sub. It's definitely time to refresh and come back.

[Spiral_Low]

18 minutes ago, Andre91 said:

Neither could afford them. DL is the only one that could but I don’t see it happening. 

Maybe but they just aren't that big tbh. If they genuinely want to come to UK and Europe they'll have to accept less cash than they get in the US, or just not bother. 

[Andre91]

9 minutes ago, Spiral_Low said:

Maybe but they just aren't that big tbh. If they genuinely want to come to UK and Europe they'll have to accept less cash than they get in the US, or just not bother. 

They were never big in the first place. Their return is one of the oddest but coolest that’s ever happened. They supposedly were given $1-1.5m dollars to play Sick New World and now they’re headlining an arena later this year. So yeah, if they can do all of that in the US, they don’t need to bother coming over here 

[TWY2911]

Acid Bath are one of my favourite metal bands 

 

Them headlining dogtooth or subbing opus would be incredible for me but like what's been said I can't see it with how much they are earning with their reunion in the US 

[Andre91]

1 minute ago, TWY2911 said:

Acid Bath are one of my favourite metal bands 

 

Them headlining dogtooth or subbing opus would be incredible for me but like what's been said I can't see it with how much they are earning with their reunion in the US 

Subbing Opus would be immense, especially under someone else great like an Alice In Chains or a Mastodon.