Download 2026

[NorthernSoul52]

10 minutes ago, andyrhodes24 said:

Not saying they’re similar in any way but if Sleep Token and FOB can headline then 21P can.

 

One of the usually reliable sources on here said the headliners next year are more predictable than this year so I’d guess they aren’t booked.

Intriguing. In that case, probably Iron Maiden, Miron Aiden, and Bruce Dickinson's Fabulous Metal Boys.

[northernangel]

7 hours ago, OllieJ77 said:

 

Just on these points, would you feel the same way if Download booked Blink 182 instead? They aren’t a metal band they’re pretty much pure pop punk. In the same breathe I’d argue Ghost arent metal but everyone is saying they will headline download. 
 

I think we’ve seen Download want to branch out across different genres in recent years. If they booked strong metal second stage headliner on the day they booked TOP it would be fine. 
 

Stems from the issue that there really aren’t many “metal” bands big enough to headline festivals now. And when people do suggest new metal headliners the old guard say they aren’t big enough to headline. 

 

Blink are a pop punk/punk rock band, that's very clear. They also fit Download especially now WAY better than TOP do. Ghost are infinitely a rock band with heavy metal influences.

 

The heaviest thing about TOP is the sound of their go karts hitting the floor.

5 hours ago, foolee said:

Depends whether Maiden are touring or not. If they are they’ll play Download but if they aren’t touring I can see a world where TOP headline, defo sell a lot of tickets and are an alternative rock act, I feel like they’d play RAR etc. so don’t see why we can’t have festivals that are more diverse in the UK, not exactly like they're a pop band. 
 

Ghost

Volbeat

Ice Nine Kills

 

Electric Callboy

 

Twenty One Pilots

Yungblud

Motionless In White

 

Architects

 

Linkin Park

A Day To Remember or Bad Omens

Neck Deep

 

Trivium

 

 

 

Can't see any chance ever at all Download book that trio. 

4 hours ago, Siddey1994 said:

21P are definitely considered alternative lol

 

4 hours ago, OllieJ77 said:

Strongly disagree. TOP are alternative they have pop and rock influences. Also Bad Omens into TOP works perfectly not sure what your on about, they have very similar fan base.

 

They can be called alternative but they are a pop band more than anything. It's alternative in the absolute lightest mould of it. Bad Omens into TOP flops bad, that too two at Download really bores.

4 hours ago, NorthernSoul52 said:

Wasn't somebody saying Bad Omens were going to headline next time they play on here?

 Yeah Andre, but then Deftones were also going to headline netx year. Foos were going to headline by now and so on and so on. Basically pinch of salt rubbish.

2 hours ago, FeverDream said:

TOP definitely alternative. They're not getting airplay on Capital FM or Hits Radio, are they? Constantly played on Kerrang, Absolute, and Radio X though. They were also hugely popular with the alt, goth and emo crowds when they first emerged when I was at secondary school 10-15 years ago. Probably the one band I can remember having fans from all 3 sects. I don't think they've lost that fanbase. 

 

They aren't getting airtime anywhere though.

[Siddey1994]

So he agrees they’re alternative then, got it 😂

[NorthernSoul52]

Reckon we'll have a headliner by the end of October. Just depends if the lineup comes with it.

[OllieJ77]

43 minutes ago, andyrhodes24 said:

Not saying they’re similar in any way but if Sleep Token and FOB can headline then 21P can.

 

One of the usually reliable sources on here said the headliners next year are more predictable than this year so I’d guess they aren’t booked.

Very true on all points.

[OllieJ77]

12 minutes ago, northernangel said:

 

Blink are a pop punk/punk rock band, that's very clear. They also fit Download especially now WAY better than TOP do. Ghost are infinitely a rock band with heavy metal influences.

 

The heaviest thing about TOP is the sound of their go karts hitting the floor.

 

Can't see any chance ever at all Download book that trio. 

 

 

They can be called alternative but they are a pop band more than anything. It's alternative in the absolute lightest mould of it. Bad Omens into TOP flops bad, that too two at Download really bores.

 Yeah Andre, but then Deftones were also going to headline netx year. Foos were going to headline by now and so on and so on. Basically pinch of salt rubbish.

 

They aren't getting airtime anywhere though.

I mean they must get some airtime somewhere to have generated a fan base with 30+ million monthly listeners on Spotify 🤣 

 

With respect you said Amyl into Turnstile doesn’t work and someone else said that is the literal tour so politely I’m not going to take your opinion on what goes into what to heart. I think both bands (TOP and Bad Omens) have a core of younger generation fans as someone has said TOP are a gateway. There would defo be a high cross over of fans. You may not like it but shockingly the festival isnt booked around you. 

[andyrhodes24]

19 minutes ago, OllieJ77 said:

I mean they must get some airtime somewhere to have generated a fan base with 30+ million monthly listeners on Spotify 🤣 

 

With respect you said Amyl into Turnstile doesn’t work and someone else said that is the literal tour so politely I’m not going to take your opinion on what goes into what to heart. I think both bands (TOP and Bad Omens) have a core of younger generation fans as someone has said TOP are a gateway. There would defo be a high cross over of fans. You may not like it but shockingly the festival isnt booked around you. 

Bad Omens into 21P would suit each band perfectly and the younger audience would eat it up. Like with Sleep Token you’re going to get the ‘what happened to my metal festival’ purists moaning they’re not Iron Maiden but it’s a good pairing nonetheless. Stick a legacy metal band on the Opus and let them whinge somewhere else.

[Andre91]

Bad Omens into 21P would shift day tickets for sure. Two acts that definitely appeal to the same crowd. 
 

Put Alice In Chains against 21P. Sorted. 

[northernangel]

54 minutes ago, OllieJ77 said:

I mean they must get some airtime somewhere to have generated a fan base with 30+ million monthly listeners on Spotify 🤣 

 

With respect you said Amyl into Turnstile doesn’t work and someone else said that is the literal tour so politely I’m not going to take your opinion on what goes into what to heart. I think both bands (TOP and Bad Omens) have a core of younger generation fans as someone has said TOP are a gateway. There would defo be a high cross over of fans. You may not like it but shockingly the festival isnt booked around you. 

 

With respect, I also pointed out how multiple have here on a specific tour and that many tours have tours with supports that dont make sense so you pointing out about them both on the same your means nothing.

 

TOP at Reading co-headlined with Post Malone, are we now saying that those two fit together?

 

Amyl and the Sniffers as said before supported Liam Gallagher on tour, literally nothing like each other, one is a punk rock and one certainly is not, but shall we suddenly make out that they do because it fits the view?

 

It may not be booked around but me but 'shockingly', and unsurprisingly, Download isn't booked to the kids either of they want to sell tickets well and far so I'm not sure how that point helps you either.

Edited September 5, 2025 by northernangel

[Siddey1994]

It isn’t literal “kids” who make up 21Ps fanbase, what an oddly reductive viewpoint 🤨
 

People ages 18-30 (who, funnily enough, are the key target audience for festivals) listen to Twenty One Pilots a lot. Your opinion is not reality.

[NorthernSoul52]

Liam Gallagher's sneer basically is as influential on twenty-first century punk as the actual predecessor genre, to be fair.

[NorthernSoul52]

34 minutes ago, Andre91 said:

Bad Omens into 21P would shift day tickets for sure. Two acts that definitely appeal to the same crowd. 
 

Put Alice In Chains against 21P. Sorted. 

Yeah, that's not a bad shout actually. Faith No More aren't seemingly a thing right now, or I'd have suggested them.

[craigcharles420]

Any reason to think AIC are here? One of the bands I wanna catch the most

[Spiral_Low]

36 minutes ago, Siddey1994 said:

It isn’t literal “kids” who make up 21Ps fanbase, what an oddly reductive viewpoint 🤨
 

People ages 18-30 (who, funnily enough, are the key target audience for festivals) listen to Twenty One Pilots a lot. Your opinion is not reality.

If you think 18-30 are the only key target for Rock and Metal festivals in the UK then you are wrong. 30 - 50 are just as much of a target audience if not more. 

[Spiral_Low]

4 hours ago, Siddey1994 said:

They’re labelled as such pretty much anywhere you look, and incredibly popular within the young alt crowd. They’re basically the biggest post-emo band in the world rn.

Enjoy the music dude, I don't care that much. 

Edited September 5, 2025 by Spiral_Low

[andyrhodes24]

3 minutes ago, Spiral_Low said:

If you think 18-30 are the only key target for Rock and Metal festivals in the UK then you are wrong. 30 - 50 are just as much of a target audience if not more. 

I’d second this, the crowds I saw this year were weighted more towards the 30-50 side, although I did go back to the tent when Sleep Token were on so didn’t see what was probably a younger crowd there. Slam Dunk seems like a 20-35 average.

 

I would say though having seen the power of day tickets at Leeds this year that young or old will buy them depending on that day’s lineup.

[Siddey1994]

5 minutes ago, Spiral_Low said:

Enjoy the music dude, I don't care that much. 

I shall, thank you 🙂

[Andre91]

20 minutes ago, craigcharles420 said:

Any reason to think AIC are here? One of the bands I wanna catch the most

It’s more hope than anything. Jerry’s set at this year’s festival was great. There’s nobody else I would like to see on the lineup more than AIC. 

[northernangel]

Also, if the first thought on the idea of two top bands on the main stage is they they will shift day tickets at a weekend festival that sells 3 day and 5 day tickets and that would be their primary focus then something isn't right and it is not a great idea. The said festival has also reduced down to 75k max without actually selling out the last two years including with booking a headliner massively bigger than TOP.

 

The only time day tickets for a weekend festival should be the thought of prime focus is if they are selling by the cart load of top of an almost, if not sell out weekend festival. Otherwise, you are booking a festival without enough crossover appeal to people shelling out for weekend tickets and you end up in no bands land like Reading did.

[FeverDream]

3 hours ago, northernangel said:

They aren't getting airtime anywhere though.

They 100% get airtime on the 3 stations I mentioned. I flick between them regularly. It's not something I would lie about given, all things granted, I'm not even that huge a TOP fan 🤣

Edited September 5, 2025 by FeverDream

[Audiorocker]

Any chance of Slipknot this year? 👀

[NorthernSoul52]

33 minutes ago, Audiorocker said:

Any chance of Slipknot this year? 👀

I mean, I'd be surprised but also not surprised, because... well, it's Slipknot.

[Andre91]

Day tickets bad! 🤣

[foolee]

8 hours ago, NorthernSoul52 said:

Wasn't somebody saying Bad Omens were going to headline next time they play on here?

I think we expected the tour to be bigger and sell out quick like a headliner. 

[Andre91]

14 minutes ago, foolee said:

I think we expected the tour to be bigger and sell out quick like a headliner. 

Yeah, for sure. I genuinely expected a Sleep Token situation. They’re firmly sub sized if they play next year, which I think they will to make up for cancelling in 2024 (along with the other Euro fests they dropped out of). They could even headline second like they were originally supposed to so they can have their full, quite impressive stage show with them. 

Edited September 5, 2025 by Andre91