Download 2026

[northernangel]

7 minutes ago, Audiorocker said:

Agree about the capacity and enjoyment sweet spot being the 75k mark. This summer was great in that sense. Also agree Blink would be a better booking than FOB from 2024 👍

I know many roll their eyes at the idea but Maiden, ACDC, Guns n Roses and Pearl Jam are on what appears to be their final stints. I have seen none of them so would like one of them to feature this year. 

Out of those 3 it would be AC/DC, no want to see GNRs again, I kinda wish I didnt last time and went for an alternative.

 

The problem is after FOB, Green Day and say Blink, you're at the point where other than MCR, the one's that could headline of that type booking are done. Obviously there is Avril but she's not headlining, Good Charlotte are similar but they definitely aren't headlining and nor are The Offspring. MCR clearly is not happening next year but you could get them in 2027.

 

For me personally, the sweet spot of where I've got the Green Day angle but with heavier acts I like is Blink, Maiden and LP. I also feel as apposed to this year, Blink and LP are different bands but given their time periods they will cover a lot of the same fans and booking them on Friday and Sunday again would make people commit. For Maiden not to be there from point of view would be the big disappointment but I'd expect id they have been offered something different we'll know before Download announces and given this tour I'll probably look to go.

[Andre91]

Give us I Set My Friends On Fire and The Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza. 

[TWY2911]

1 hour ago, northernangel said:

Out of those 3 it would be AC/DC, no want to see GNRs again, I kinda wish I didnt last time and went for an alternative.

 

The problem is after FOB, Green Day and say Blink, you're at the point where other than MCR, the one's that could headline of that type booking are done. Obviously there is Avril but she's not headlining, Good Charlotte are similar but they definitely aren't headlining and nor are The Offspring. MCR clearly is not happening next year but you could get them in 2027.

 

For me personally, the sweet spot of where I've got the Green Day angle but with heavier acts I like is Blink, Maiden and LP. I also feel as apposed to this year, Blink and LP are different bands but given their time periods they will cover a lot of the same fans and booking them on Friday and Sunday again would make people commit. For Maiden not to be there from point of view would be the big disappointment but I'd expect id they have been offered something different we'll know before Download announces and given this tour I'll probably look to go.

 

Paramore are another one that are headliner size and would fit with that target audience, whether they would be a popular booking would be a different story as there new stuff is definitely more pop but that didn't stop them booking FOB who also lead more to the pop side 

[Andre91]

Paramore will be, without a doubt, a band who Download go after to headline. It doesn’t matter that their newer stuff is more pop leaning; their sets are still crammed with classic Paramore material. Also, the Doghouse has gone off in recent years when Ain’t It Fun and Hard Times have been played so people at the festival are fans of their poppier material. It’s just whether DL manage to get them before R&L, who will also go after them for sure. 

[northernangel]

40 minutes ago, TWY2911 said:

 

Paramore are another one that are headliner size and would fit with that target audience, whether they would be a popular booking would be a different story as there new stuff is definitely more pop but that didn't stop them booking FOB who also lead more to the pop side 

 

I could just about see it. I think Download get them before Reading for the simple fact, Reading haven't bothered about them for 11 years now since they co-headlined and they had the most perfect opportunity after supporting Taylor. They literally had to hang around for a very short while to have been Reading exclusive festival headliners and given their support slots weren't that long it would have been their only shows in the year with full length sets and is still didnt happen. Then you look at others the festival have tried to bring back. It's also looking unlikely for 2026 given Hayley is working on her solo stuff so probably make that 12 years, that's quite telling.

[losing43]

Always said it, but Paramore / Turnstile / Amyl & the Sniffers would be a fantastic top 3 - especially where Turnstile have got some big slots in the US festivals

 

Limp Bizkit headlining should be kept for a year with one huge and expensive artist on the line of ACDC

[northernangel]

2 minutes ago, losing43 said:

Always said it, but Paramore / Turnstile / Amyl & the Sniffers would be a fantastic top 3 - especially where Turnstile have got some big slots in the US festivals

 

Limp Bizkit headlining should be kept for a year with one huge and expensive artist on the line of ACDC

That top 3 wouldn't fit at all, Turnstile would play 3rd and playing under Paramore makes no sense at all, they are a hardcore punk band. They might not even sit well after Amyl.

 

LB also should not ever headliner, sub yes but they are a fun gimmicky band with an hours material and tape recording material that works before it gets stale.

[Andre91]

Turnstile into Paramore is the dream. 
 

It fits very well. They’ve collaborated with each other. Calling Turnstile a hardcore punk band is reductive, just like calling Paramore a pop punk band is. 
 

Paramore with Turnstile under them would sell gang busters. 
 

 

[losing43]

12 minutes ago, northernangel said:

That top 3 wouldn't fit at all, Turnstile would play 3rd and playing under Paramore makes no sense at all, they are a hardcore punk band. They might not even sit well after Amyl.

 

LB also should not ever headliner, sub yes but they are a fun gimmicky band with an hours material and tape recording material that works before it gets stale.

Turnstile are touring the US with Amyl & the Sniffers as a support, as well as Speed. Paramore have always been into Turnstile, with Hayley Williams joining them on stage this year. 

[TWY2911]

I would book a Paramore Day like this 

 

Paramore / Avril / Papa Roach / Good Charlotte / NFG 

[northernangel]

37 minutes ago, TWY2911 said:

I would book a Paramore Day like this 

 

Paramore / Avril / Papa Roach / Good Charlotte / NFG 

 

So would I, not with Turnstile who friends of mine like because of them being the premier hardcore band around, absolutely the complete opposite to Paramore whether hayley likes them or not. Good Charlotte would have to be 3rd down though, they would play bigger venues than 4th down acts. Good Charlotte on second stage though between Avril and Paramore. Doesn't even have to be Paramore, just put Blink but with that lineup and it's better.

 

1 hour ago, losing43 said:

Turnstile are touring the US with Amyl & the Sniffers as a support, as well as Speed. Paramore have always been into Turnstile, with Hayley Williams joining them on stage this year. 

 

Disturbed are doing a tour with Megadeth as support which doesn't make sense, so just because they are supporting doesn't mean much. 

 

Amyl supported Liam Gallagher at Knebworth, does that mean Oasis are going to get Turnstile in next year?

 

Hayley coming on with them as a fan doesn't mean the broader scale would be a good match. Turnstile into Paramore would be terrible, I mean you can't even get Download to book them over Glastonbury. We can all like different types of bands but Papa Roach for example aren't going to play under Dua Lipa directly just because I like them both.

[losing43]

1 hour ago, northernangel said:

 

So would I, not with Turnstile who friends of mine like because of them being the premier hardcore band around, absolutely the complete opposite to Paramore whether hayley likes them or not. Good Charlotte would have to be 3rd down though, they would play bigger venues than 4th down acts. Good Charlotte on second stage though between Avril and Paramore. Doesn't even have to be Paramore, just put Blink but with that lineup and it's better.

 

 

Disturbed are doing a tour with Megadeth as support which doesn't make sense, so just because they are supporting doesn't mean much. 

 

Amyl supported Liam Gallagher at Knebworth, does that mean Oasis are going to get Turnstile in next year?

 

Hayley coming on with them as a fan doesn't mean the broader scale would be a good match. Turnstile into Paramore would be terrible, I mean you can't even get Download to book them over Glastonbury. We can all like different types of bands but Papa Roach for example aren't going to play under Dua Lipa directly just because I like them both.

I mentioned Amyl supporting Turnstile because you said they wouldn’t go well before Turnstile, I was just proving that they absolutely would do. 

 

I don’t even understand your point in regards to Oasis.

 

They would be a great match, following Turnstiles newest album which is on the ‘lighter’ side of hardcore. Again, your point about Papa Roach is irrelevant to what I was saying. I just think Paramore / Turnstile / Amyl would be a great trio at DL, I’m not saying any of them would be booked soon.

 

Is this what life is like here after DL forums closing…

[losing43]

Also worth stating Turnstile into Paramore works way better than say Shinedown into Sleep Token, or Korn into Biffy..

 

Whether they are subs or not is another conversation 

[Andre91]

I don’t really understand how someone could hear Turnstile’s newest album and not hear how songs like Seein’ Stars, I Care and Time Is Happening fit with what Paramore did on This Is Why. Hayley is even on Seein’ Stars on the album. 
 

They very much move in similar circles now. ‘Cool’ bands who are very mainstream and get a lot of love from both rock fans and non-rock fans alike. You don’t get to the size that both bands are with the mainstream love they’ve got without appealing to multiple different types of listeners.
 

I don’t think either are likely for Download in any way in 2026, though, so it’s not that relevant. Now, a couple of Paramore stadium shows with Turnstile as main support whenever Paramore are ready with a new album would be sublime. 

[NorthernSoul52]

Feel I've missed a bit as I've gone along though. Who is now out of the equation so to speak, MCR aside?

[NorthernSoul52]

[LazyDavid]

5 minutes ago, NorthernSoul52 said:

Oh no what a shame that'll rule them out...

[Rusty Spoon]

1 hour ago, NorthernSoul52 said:

Feel I've missed a bit as I've gone along though. Who is now out of the equation so to speak, MCR aside?

Alter Bridge, Def Leppard, Metallica and MCR are likely all out due to their own shows/tours.

 

For smaller bands, you can likely say that every logo band at Bloodstock is out.

[NorthernSoul52]

The plot must thicken!

[Andre91]

2 hours ago, NorthernSoul52 said:

Feel I've missed a bit as I've gone along though. Who is now out of the equation so to speak, MCR aside?

SOAD. 

[Frankly Mr Shankly]

5 minutes ago, Andre91 said:

SOAD. 

Do we know that for sure? 

[craigcharles420]

35 minutes ago, Frankly Mr Shankly said:

Do we know that for sure? 

We know they are or at least were planning a big outdoor European tour for next summer. I think it makes sense they just do Download rather than a football stadium in the UK

[DomDom1984]

They've said they're doing their own shows, have they not?

Edited September 1, 2025 by DomDom1984

[NorthernSoul52]

I've heard nothing, but we're assuming they're doing a big London show and that be it then.

[craigcharles420]

Maybe Download offer them enough money for them to just do that instead of their own show