Download 2026

[OllieJ77]

Whilst they asked is it Limp Bizkit GnR Linkin Park they just said no but didn’t say it isnt 2 or 1 of those 3 bands if that makes sense. They were told it is Linkin Park as everyone has guessed it.

[andyrhodes24]

2 minutes ago, OllieJ77 said:

Only clue they’ve been given is it’s Linkin Park, a band who has played Reading and Leeds in last 4 years, and finally a band who has been around since before 1991.

Ooh, played or headlined R&L? If headliners were looking at Blink, BMTH or Biffy. Unless Imagine Dragons think they’re rock enough to do it 😂

[Marka23]

1 minute ago, OllieJ77 said:

Only clue they’ve been given is it’s Linkin Park, a band who has played Reading and Leeds in last 4 years, and finally a band who has been around since before 1991.

So from that I would say Bring Me The Horizon for the Reading and Leeds clue although Limp Bizkit also fits into that and for the been around since before 1991 Guns n Roses does fit into that clue, can't think who else really from before 1991 could be an option except Metallica and they already have their own tour.

 

Muse formed in 1994, Biffy Clyro formed in 1995 and Foo Fighters in 1994 so they're ruled out. 

[morgo321]

Surely they can't book Bring Me the Horizon that soon again

[Marka23]

2 minutes ago, OllieJ77 said:

Whilst they asked is it Limp Bizkit GnR Linkin Park they just said no but didn’t say it isnt 2 or 1 of those 3 bands if that makes sense. They were told it is Linkin Park as everyone has guessed it.

Linkin Park is the only obvious one because of their tour dates and Limp Bizkit does fit the played Leeds and Reading clue although can't see them having two bands of the same genre which to me rules Limp Bizkit out 

[King101]

7 minutes ago, OllieJ77 said:

Only clue they’ve been given is it’s Linkin Park, a band who has played Reading and Leeds in last 4 years, and finally a band who has been around since before 1991.

If we take the last 4 years to mean the last 4 festivals (22-25), then the realistic possibilities are BMTH, Blink 182, Limp Bizkit or The Prodigy.

 

If it’s last 4 calendar years and so includes 2021 it would also include Biffy.

[Marka23]

2 minutes ago, morgo321 said:

Surely they can't book Bring Me the Horizon that soon again

Longer gap than some headliners have had 

[thenewliamS]

11 minutes ago, OllieJ77 said:

Only clue they’ve been given is it’s Linkin Park, a band who has played Reading and Leeds in last 4 years, and finally a band who has been around since before 1991.

If thats the case its could be LP blink (reading 2024 headliners) and gnr for before 91

[TWY2911]

Limp Bizkit, Tool, Linkin Park 

 

LB fall into the RandL category 

 

Tool were formed in 1990 but there first album didn't come out until 92 so I don't know if that counts 

[NorthernSoul52]

Gutted if it isn't Ghost, have to say.

[Marka23]

Just now, King101 said:

If we take the last 4 years to mean the last 4 festivals (22-25), then the realistic possibilities are BMTH, Blink 182, Limp Bizkit or The Prodigy.

 

If it’s last 4 calendar years and so includes 2021 it would also include Biffy.

Prodigy has their own tour so are ruled out and Blink 182 haven't shown any signs of being active next year. Most likely either BMTH or Limp Bizkit. 

 

Can't see them going for Biffy again after the crowds they got. 

 

There's also the possibility of Tool since Good Things Festival for the last few years the headliner of it has then gone onto headline Download the following year and this year they have Tool. 

[OllieJ77]

4 minutes ago, andyrhodes24 said:

Ooh, played or headlined R&L? If headliners were looking at Blink, BMTH or Biffy. Unless Imagine Dragons think they’re rock enough to do it 😂

Wouldn’t say if it means headlined or played. Either way looking at it could be the following bands:

- BMTH

- Limp Bizkit

- Biffy Clyro 

- Blink 182

- QOTSA (think they played 2021 or 2022)

- Yungblud (don’t think he’s a headliner mind)

 

The pre 1991 band could be:

- GnR

- NIN

Assuming Maiden rumour is true it ain’t them and not gonna be Metallica. 

[OllieJ77]

Or it could be a load of rubbish who knows but it’s all I have to go off atm. 
 

The person could have also just said no to the rumour cus they don’t want it being leaked from them and it actually is. Time will tell.

[Frankly Mr Shankly]

17 minutes ago, OllieJ77 said:

Only clue they’ve been given is it’s Linkin Park, a band who has played Reading and Leeds in last 4 years, and finally a band who has been around since before 1991.

Well if that’s true and the R&L band isn’t Limp Bizkit then it must be one of BMTH, Blink, Biffy, Yungblud or the Prodigy. Qotsa & RATM were both also booked for R&L in that time frame but both pulled out so technically never played. 
 

With the bands already ruled out, the pre 1991 band could be Guns n Roses, Tool, NIN, Pearl Jam, Deftones, Smashing Pumpkins, Slayer, Aerosmith, AC/DC, The Cure, The Prodigy. 
 

Obviously some of those are extremely unlikely, Deftones and Prodigy for example because of their tour dates. There’s also the fact that at least one of the headliners is doing it for the first time based on what the bookers said. 

Edited September 18, 2025 by Frankly Mr Shankly

[Bluewolf]

37 minutes ago, Marka23 said:

One day Festival in Knebworth with Maiden headlining, Priest subbing and there being a few other bands 

That's giving me a Semi

[Hawky]

Why would the clue be “formed before 1991” surely it’d be 1990 🤣

[Andre91]

17 minutes ago, OllieJ77 said:

Only clue they’ve been given is it’s Linkin Park, a band who has played Reading and Leeds in last 4 years, and finally a band who has been around since before 1991.

Eh? 

[Marka23]

1 minute ago, Frankly Mr Shankly said:

Well if that’s true and the R&L band isn’t Limp Bizkit then it must be one of BMTH, Blink, Biffy, Yungblud or the Prodigy. 
 

With the bands already ruled out, the pre 1991 band could be Guns n Roses, Tool, NIN, Pearl Jam, Deftones, Smashing Pumpkins, Slayer, Aerosmith, AC/DC, The Cure, The Prodigy. 
 

Obviously some of those are extremely unlikely, Deftones and Prodigy for example because of their tour dates. There’s also the fact that at least one of the headliners is doing it for the first time based on what the bookers said. 

Bring Me The Horizon, Slayer and Linkin Park for me would be fantastic.

[Hawky]

Just now, Andre91 said:

Eh? 

Hahahhaah 

[Marka23]

5 minutes ago, Hawky said:

Why would the clue be “formed before 1991” surely it’d be 1990 🤣

Because 1990 might be the year they formed. One band I know that could headline and formed in 1990 is Tool. 

 

Could end up with Bring Me The Horizon, Tool and Linkin Park 

Edited September 18, 2025 by Marka23

[RedJosh]

If that is true Blink makes most sense for a band who has played Reading and Leeds in the last 4 years

[thenewliamS]

Just now, RedJosh said:

If that is true Blink makes most sense for a band who has played Reading and Leeds in the last 4 years

it also works with them saying about a first time headliner too for this year 

[Marka23]

Just now, RedJosh said:

If that is true Blink makes most sense for a band who has played Reading and Leeds in the last 4 years

Bring Me The Horizon makes more sense. We know they're active next year and have been announced for Nova which is right before Download. 

[Frankly Mr Shankly]

Just now, Marka23 said:

Bring Me The Horizon makes more sense. We know they're active next year and have been announced for Nova which is right before Download. 

If it’s BMTH & Linkin Park and if the clue is correct, then the pre 1991 band has to be a new headliner… 

[Jos92]

10 minutes ago, Marka23 said:

Bring Me The Horizon makes more sense. We know they're active next year and have been announced for Nova which is right before Download. 

Same weekend actually, runs Thursday to Sunday