Download 2026

[NorthernSoul52]

9 minutes ago, Andre91 said:

Own shows 2026 and DL 2027. 
 

John also said, in the same interview I mentioned earlier, that they’ve got 2026 and 2027 pretty much locked in and are onto planning shows for 2028. 

I'd be staggered if it was more than twenty shows per year worldwide, must admit.

[RedJosh]

46 minutes ago, NorthernSoul52 said:

I'd be staggered if it was more than twenty shows per year worldwide, must admit.

They'll just do 10 EU dates next year and a handful in another market and the same again in 2027. Easily less than 20 shows.

[NorthernSoul52]

Exactly. They won't overcook it.

[SweetJesus]

1 hour ago, Andre91 said:

John did an interview and said they’re coming to Europe to play sports grounds and specifically mentioned they’re playing in Sweden as Daron’s wife is from there. 
 

I keep saying but I think they’ll do a date at Wembley Stadium and it’ll sell out no problem. 

 

They will do some festivals for sure. Hellfest boss will not miss a chance to book them for a very first time

[NorthernSoul52]

Have they not done Hellfest before?

[SweetJesus]

Nope, first time was supposed to be in 2020

[northernangel]

3 hours ago, SweetJesus said:

 

They will do some festivals for sure. Hellfest boss will not miss a chance to book them for a very first time

Indeed, and likewise, Hell Fest were one of the festivals that got LP. Every chance of being able to fit it in next year. I dont think though just because they have got 26 and 27 booked that it means they'll do Europe two years running.

[NorthernSoul52]

Reckon we'll start seeing some of the pieces slotting into place in the public eye across Europe this month. Should make for some fun speculation, at least.

[OllieJ77]

On 30/08/2025 at 08:59, OllieJ77 said:

So seems like we need to all pray for no Def Leppard this year 

Got what I (we) wished for with that tour announcement ruling them out of headlining Download!!

[OllieJ77]

On 31/08/2025 at 16:23, Andre91 said:

They would headline for sure. They absolutely should be going for them, too. So many bangers. It would be a great headline set. The forced Nickelback hate seems to have been left in the last decade, too, so they’d go down a storm if they were to play, I’m certain. 

Give me Nickelback headliners all day!!

[OllieJ77]

I think the issue is more budget with Download. Like I don’t think I see them booking both LP and SOAD two bands who can do Wembley stadium. Think they’re leaning now into having one massive band and then 2 smaller arena level headliners. Other than maybe booking Maiden given they said they’d book Maiden any chsnce they get. If they were to book LP Ghost Maiden as headliners I think that’s a very solid headliner trio. If it isn’t Maiden no clue as I don’t see them going for a SOAD think that’s too expensive sadly! Though would be excellent. 

[Audiorocker]

Awaiting the teaser over the next few weeks regarding a headliner... last year was the Green Day prompt. 

Off to see Nova Twins tomorrow - hope they play this year's download 🤞

[andyrhodes24]

Got round to listening to Dinosaur Pile-Up’s new album, outstanding. Hope they’re booked to play the Avalanche.

[Huwey]

All the people saying soad can do Wembley stadium, no , Wembley arena yes, system have always been a nearly band , cult band maybe,  but they haven't ever had the mainstream pull. Wembley stadium is 80000 plus , maybe in America,  not uk

[Spiral_Low]

1 hour ago, OllieJ77 said:

I think the issue is more budget with Download.

They could afford it if they wanted to. But livenation want to make as much profit as possible. I mean just look at Graspop, Hellfest etc to see what those festivals serve up. Livenation just doesn't care enough about the fans to sacrifice any profit margin.

 

30 minutes ago, Huwey said:

All the people saying soad can do Wembley stadium, no , Wembley arena yes, system have always been a nearly band , cult band maybe,  but they haven't ever had the mainstream pull. Wembley stadium is 80000 plus , maybe in America,  not uk

Of course SOAD could do a stadium. One of the biggest bands around full stop, let alone in rock/metal. Cult band? Come off it. Take it you are unfamiliar with the UK rock/metal club scene? SOAD always one of the biggest crowds singing along anywhere they are played. 

[Audiorocker]

System of a down would sell out Wembley stadium with no other uk shows that year. 

I hope they play DL though.

[Andre91]

8 hours ago, Huwey said:

All the people saying soad can do Wembley stadium, no , Wembley arena yes, system have always been a nearly band , cult band maybe,  but they haven't ever had the mainstream pull. Wembley stadium is 80000 plus , maybe in America,  not uk

And yet they’ve headlined Download 3 times. 

[Andre91]

9 hours ago, andyrhodes24 said:

Got round to listening to Dinosaur Pile-Up’s new album, outstanding. Hope they’re booked to play the Avalanche.

It’s SO good, isn’t it? 

[Frankly Mr Shankly]

9 hours ago, Huwey said:

All the people saying soad can do Wembley stadium, no , Wembley arena yes, system have always been a nearly band , cult band maybe,  but they haven't ever had the mainstream pull. Wembley stadium is 80000 plus , maybe in America,  not uk

Wrong.

[northernangel]

11 hours ago, OllieJ77 said:

Give me Nickelback headliners all day!!

 

I don't think they've got enough songs to carry a headline set but they wouldn't play below. I would go if they were there based on the other two being solid.

10 hours ago, OllieJ77 said:

I think the issue is more budget with Download. Like I don’t think I see them booking both LP and SOAD two bands who can do Wembley stadium. Think they’re leaning now into having one massive band and then 2 smaller arena level headliners. Other than maybe booking Maiden given they said they’d book Maiden any chsnce they get. If they were to book LP Ghost Maiden as headliners I think that’s a very solid headliner trio. If it isn’t Maiden no clue as I don’t see them going for a SOAD think that’s too expensive sadly! Though would be excellent. 

 

9 hours ago, Spiral_Low said:

They could afford it if they wanted to. But livenation want to make as much profit as possible. I mean just look at Graspop, Hellfest etc to see what those festivals serve up. Livenation just doesn't care enough about the fans to sacrifice any profit margin.

 

Of course SOAD could do a stadium. One of the biggest bands around full stop, let alone in rock/metal. Cult band? Come off it. Take it you are unfamiliar with the UK rock/metal club scene? SOAD always one of the biggest crowds singing along anywhere they are played. 

 

A lot of the issue is how much bands can charger now. For example, £100 a ticket factoring in the average of lower and higher is about £8.5m a time, that's a lot to shell out. It's also why the band cash in on that and take the lower price the following year.

9 hours ago, Audiorocker said:

System of a down would sell out Wembley stadium with no other uk shows that year. 

I hope they play DL though.

 

They might do but if the Manchester talks are right, I struggle to see how they do Wembley and then Wythenshawe which is 30k. It would make Emirates, West Ham or Spurs more likely by doing that Manchester date. 

[andyrhodes24]

3 hours ago, Andre91 said:

It’s SO good, isn’t it? 

So many big live songs on that album, sprinkle in some of the older stuff and it’d be a belting set in the tent.

[NorthernSoul52]

11 hours ago, Spiral_Low said:

They could afford it if they wanted to. But livenation want to make as much profit as possible. I mean just look at Graspop, Hellfest etc to see what those festivals serve up. Livenation just doesn't care enough about the fans to sacrifice any profit margin.

 

Of course SOAD could do a stadium. One of the biggest bands around full stop, let alone in rock/metal. Cult band? Come off it. Take it you are unfamiliar with the UK rock/metal club scene? SOAD always one of the biggest crowds singing along anywhere they are played. 

My counter-argument would be that Teenage Dirtbag is always the biggest singalong.

[NorthernSoul52]

1 hour ago, northernangel said:

They might do but if the Manchester talks are right, I struggle to see how they do Wembley and then Wythenshawe which is 30k. It would make Emirates, West Ham or Spurs more likely by doing that Manchester date. 

That Manchester news remains so utterly mad in my head.

[northernangel]

25 minutes ago, NorthernSoul52 said:

That Manchester news remains so utterly mad in my head.

It woukd be strange...but then they had Korn headline doing a 20/25k capacity venue in London and then 6k and 7/8 elsewhere so it's not out of the realms. Its not the first venue though that I'd see then doing for sure. It's the kinda sized venue bands would do that can also headline Download to stay around the 75k cap point and thats without selling out recently, definitely not pushing on to the higher points.

[NorthernSoul52]

I mean, what else is there? 50,000 at OTCG, a similar number at the revamped Etihad Stadium. 75,000 at Heaton (?). 

 

It just feels the right size but the wrong vibe in my head.