Download 2026

[OllieJ77]

So someone has posted on the Reddit group the rumoured headliners are Limp Bizkit Guns N Roses and Linkin Park. Has anyone heard this rumour or is it just someone throwing names out?

 

Personally don’t think Limp Bizkit makes sense given they subbed 2024 and then uk tour then R&L sub so it makes little sense from a draw perspective.

 

GnR, I honestly don’t want to see them Axl’ voice has gone.

 

Linkin Park think we all expect it and no issues with me. 
 

Thoughts?

[foolee]

40 minutes ago, OllieJ77 said:

So someone has posted on the Reddit group the rumoured headliners are Limp Bizkit Guns N Roses and Linkin Park. Has anyone heard this rumour or is it just someone throwing names out?

 

Personally don’t think Limp Bizkit makes sense given they subbed 2024 and then uk tour then R&L sub so it makes little sense from a draw perspective.

 

GnR, I honestly don’t want to see them Axl’ voice has gone.

 

Linkin Park think we all expect it and no issues with me. 
 

Thoughts?

Maybe some credit to it, Limp Bizkit just released a new song. Sooner than I expected so LB could be in for a headline spot next year. Yungblud subbing maybe. 

[Spiral_Low]

9 hours ago, andyrhodes24 said:

It’s gatekeeping again, Download should be welcoming headliners like 21P into the fray. We all know the likes of Kiss, Maiden, Metallica won’t be around forever so it’s best to ease bands like 21P, Ghost into the headline slot now alongside someone like Linkin Park who’ll appeal to all. Book metal bands in sub slots or on the Opus so there’s the breadth of genres there but there’s no doubting 21P are big enough to headline. LP - 21P - Ghost is at least as strong as Green Day - Sleep Token - Korn.

There aren't many spaces in the UK for metal and alternative, whereas 21P have a whole bunch of festivals they can play. Hence the frustration with them being touted as a headliner.

 

But tbh I'm probably done with Download given how commercial it's gotten*, the smaller fests are so much nicer, so ironically it might help to have someone like 21P headline as it will increase likelihood of metal bands going off and doing other stuff.

 

*they'd have to do something really special to get me back I think. 

[andyrhodes24]

7 minutes ago, Spiral_Low said:

There aren't many spaces in the UK for metal and alternative, whereas 21P have a whole bunch of festivals they can play. Hence the frustration with them being touted as a headliner.

 

But tbh I'm probably done with Download given how commercial it's gotten*, the smaller fests are so much nicer, so ironically it might help to have someone like 21P headline as it will increase likelihood of metal bands going off and doing other stuff.

 

*they'd have to do something really special to get me back I think. 

I get it, I’ve been the same at R&L as that’s changed over the last 10 years. I agree about the smaller festivals, I went to Slam Dunk for the first time since it moved to Temple Newsam this summer and it felt like I’d gone back in time to 2014

 

At the same time, I don’t like R&L as a multi-genre festival but Download pre-lockdown had too much legacy metal for me. Download since then has been right up my street. 21P could headline but it would ruffle feathers.

[craigcharles420]

1 hour ago, OllieJ77 said:

So someone has posted on the Reddit group the rumoured headliners are Limp Bizkit Guns N Roses and Linkin Park. Has anyone heard this rumour or is it just someone throwing names out?

 

Personally don’t think Limp Bizkit makes sense given they subbed 2024 and then uk tour then R&L sub so it makes little sense from a draw perspective.

 

GnR, I honestly don’t want to see them Axl’ voice has gone.

 

Linkin Park think we all expect it and no issues with me. 
 

Thoughts?

I think it makes sense. Limp Bizkit have been a big live draw lately, LP are at this point a huge legacy act and GNR is GNR

[OllieJ77]

1 minute ago, craigcharles420 said:

I think it makes sense. Limp Bizkit have been a big live draw lately, LP are at this point a huge legacy act and GNR is GNR

I don’t disagree Limp Bizkit are deserving of headlining spot I just think it’s too soon for them to play again. Wait another year or two. 

[h12101]

10 hours ago, andyrhodes24 said:

It’s gatekeeping again, Download should be welcoming headliners like 21P into the fray. We all know the likes of Kiss, Maiden, Metallica won’t be around forever so it’s best to ease bands like 21P, Ghost into the headline slot now alongside someone like Linkin Park who’ll appeal to all. Book metal bands in sub slots or on the Opus so there’s the breadth of genres there but there’s no doubting 21P are big enough to headline. LP - 21P - Ghost is at least as strong as Green Day - Sleep Token - Korn.

I do wonder how many of the moaning gatekeepers actually go anymore. I don't think any of my (late thirties) Download social group have been since about 2015 (many quit due to cost), but still complain every year about how it "isn't the same anymore". Festivals move on, and they've been replaced by a younger bunch, just like we replaced the double-denim brigade in the mid-late 2000s.

[Mstuart2499]

42 minutes ago, Spiral_Low said:

There aren't many spaces in the UK for metal and alternative, whereas 21P have a whole bunch of festivals they can play. Hence the frustration with them being touted as a headliner.

 

But tbh I'm probably done with Download given how commercial it's gotten*, the smaller fests are so much nicer, so ironically it might help to have someone like 21P headline as it will increase likelihood of metal bands going off and doing other stuff.

 

*they'd have to do something really special to get me back I think. 

Dont agree with that, the only festivals i can realistically see them playing is r+l and download. Even if glasto wasnt on a fallow i dont think they’d suit that and then they’re too big for the rest of the festivals

[andyrhodes24]

5 minutes ago, h12101 said:

I do wonder how many of the moaning gatekeepers actually go anymore. I don't think any of my (late thirties) Download social group have been since about 2015 (many quit due to cost), but still complain every year about how it "isn't the same anymore". Festivals move on, and they've been replaced by a younger bunch, just like we replaced the double-denim brigade in the mid-late 2000s.

I agree, the keyboard warrior gatekeepers aren’t the reality of the actual festival. Sleep Token last year was a prime example in that people were far from sold online but they drew a decent crowd. Our R&L group is in the minority of gatekeeper who still go, and still moan. My mate walked off in protest while watching Chappell Roan 😂

[Spiral_Low]

16 minutes ago, Mstuart2499 said:

Dont agree with that, the only festivals i can realistically see them playing is r+l and download. Even if glasto wasnt on a fallow i dont think they’d suit that and then they’re too big for the rest of the festivals

Boardmasters and TRNSMT are 2 very obvious other festivals that they could play, without looking too much into others.

[foolee]

9 minutes ago, Spiral_Low said:

Boardmasters and TRNSMT are 2 very obvious other festivals that they could play, without looking too much into others.

They suit DL/R&L so much more than those 2 though. Plus neither are in June when they’re touring. 

[SweetJesus]

Someone posted on festivals united dashboard that GNR are headlining Nova Rock, same weekend as Download.

Edited September 12, 2025 by SweetJesus

[OllieJ77]

1 minute ago, SweetJesus said:

Someone posted on festivals united dashboard that GNR are headlining Nova Rock, same weekend as Download.

Errrrr depending on what day could mean they are at Download unfortunately 

[Judas Yeast]

It's weird, the only places I've seen the GNR, LP & LB list is from people saying "I've heard that..." or "it's rumoured that..." but never any sort of name or location attached to it. Not saying it's right or wrong, just not sure what the actual start of the rumour was.

[andyrhodes24]

20 minutes ago, Judas Yeast said:

It's weird, the only places I've seen the GNR, LP & LB list is from people saying "I've heard that..." or "it's rumoured that..." but never any sort of name or location attached to it. Not saying it's right or wrong, just not sure what the actual start of the rumour was.

Was it you who said the 2026 headliners are more predictable than this year’s from what you’d heard? I know someone reputable said it on here but can’t remember who!

[Judas Yeast]

20 minutes ago, andyrhodes24 said:

Was it you who said the 2026 headliners are more predictable than this year’s from what you’d heard? I know someone reputable said it on here but can’t remember who!

 

As far as I'm aware, they're much more predictable this year, yes. What I've heard could easily be right or wrong, everything should be taken with a pinch of salt no matter where it comes from! That's why I'm surprised to see those 3 talked about everywhere whilst noone seems to have any clue where it originated

[foolee]

I feel like we need a RAR/RIP and Nova Rock announcement to give us some more ideas. If Limp Bizkit and Guns N Roses or Iron Maiden & Ghost start popping up we will have a better idea with festival maths. 

[OllieJ77]

1 hour ago, Judas Yeast said:

 

As far as I'm aware, they're much more predictable this year, yes. What I've heard could easily be right or wrong, everything should be taken with a pinch of salt no matter where it comes from! That's why I'm surprised to see those 3 talked about everywhere whilst noone seems to have any clue where it originated

Are you able to say what you’ve heard, like have they said any bands? Think all rumours have to be taken with a pinch of salt. And yeah agreed on what you said about the “I’ve heard this” etc.

[OllieJ77]

44 minutes ago, foolee said:

I feel like we need a RAR/RIP and Nova Rock announcement to give us some more ideas. If Limp Bizkit and Guns N Roses or Iron Maiden & Ghost start popping up we will have a better idea with festival maths. 

This is true. When is RAR/RIP announcement usually?

[Jos92]

22 minutes ago, OllieJ77 said:

This is true. When is RAR/RIP announcement usually?

They have teased on the forums that's it coming soon, I'm going to guess next week, give you two clear weeks from hurricanes announcement, and I'd guess whoever they have to wait on to announce, will open the floodgates for everyone else to announce and we'll probably be able to rule in/out alot of options

[Andre91]

GNR would be dog shite. Horrible booking in 2025. 
 

Just listened to that new Bizkit song. What a banger! 

[Marka23]

4 hours ago, OllieJ77 said:

So someone has posted on the Reddit group the rumoured headliners are Limp Bizkit Guns N Roses and Linkin Park. Has anyone heard this rumour or is it just someone throwing names out?

 

Personally don’t think Limp Bizkit makes sense given they subbed 2024 and then uk tour then R&L sub so it makes little sense from a draw perspective.

 

GnR, I honestly don’t want to see them Axl’ voice has gone.

 

Linkin Park think we all expect it and no issues with me. 
 

Thoughts?

It's an odd one really. Linkin Park have been heavily rumoured for a while because there's a Download sized gap in their touring schedule and Ghost have also been rumoured because the Download booking team was seen at their shows in April with the band. Guns n Roses have also previously been mentioned by an apparent insider.

 

No real clue where Limp Bizkit has come from and it definitely seems too soon for them to headline as they only played in '24.

 

Ghost/Guns n Roses/Linkin Park makes a lot more sense. 

[Cammers]

Agreed, love that new LB song! Also gave a listen to the TOP Breach album and is brill.

[Jos92]

What were the big rumours for 24? The infamous "asked 21 bands and got this lot" was there just no rumours or was everyone wildly off the mark?

[foolee]

Can we get Limp Bizkit, Twenty One Pilots & Guns N Roses for purely selfish reasons.