Download 2026

[TWY2911]

1 minute ago, losing43 said:

GNR just can’t be one of the headliners next year - every performance recently has been highly criticised, as well as they last time they played DL. They would cost a huge amount, and will be underwhelming I have no doubt.

 

Am I crazy for keeping hope for MCR? Only a few bands that could sell more tickets for DL next year, even with the two shows announced. When I got tickets (after it had officially sold out), there was still 60,000 people trying to buy tickets.

 

Download really need to swallow their pride and bin off this exclusive headliners rule 

 

Bands like MCR and SOAD would still sell out their days no issue even with their shows 

[andyrhodes24]

1 minute ago, TWY2911 said:

 

Download really need to swallow their pride and bin off this exclusive headliners rule 

 

Bands like MCR and SOAD would still sell out their days no issue even with their shows 

100% agree, if MCR were announced for Download I’d sell my Wembley ticket, it’d be a positive for the festival in my mind. See if this rumoured northern date comes to fruition.

[Larosterna]

If the "debut album before 1991" hint is true how many headliner-level bands could that actually be?

 

• AC/DC (Seems a bit farfetched with all their "requirements")
• Alice in Chains (More of a dream than anything, would more likely sub)
• The Cure (another more out there one but I guess it could happen? More likely for R+L though)
• Guns N' Roses (the one everyone is talking about, headlined before and obviously are massive)
• Nine Inch Nails (Maybe a boost from the new Tron soundtrack lol? They'd go down really well though)

I can't see either Slayer or Megadeth headlining Apex but for Opus sure why not. Anyone I'm missing?

Edited September 19, 2025 by Larosterna

[losing43]

2 minutes ago, Larosterna said:

If the "debut album before 1991" hint is true how many headliner-level bands could that actually be?

 

• AC/DC (Seems a bit farfetched with all their "requirements"
• Alice in Chains (More of a dream than anything, would more likely sub)
• The Cure (another more out there one but I guess it could happen? More likely for R+L though)
• Guns N' Roses (the one everyone is talking about, headlined before and obviously are massive)
• Nine Inch Nails (Maybe a boost from the new Tron soundtrack lol? They'd go down really well though)

I can't see either Slayer or Megadeth headlining Apex but for Opus sure why not. Anyone I'm missing?

Pearl Jam released Ten in 1991, I think they’re most likely if the rumour is to be believed - especially where it was stated ‘finally’ in the rumour - which I believe relates to them being previously booked but pulled out!

[RedJosh]

4 hours ago, northernangel said:

Which year was this?

This year.

[losing43]

MCR headlining Welcome to Rockville, Louder than Life and Sonic Temple next year. Not always the most crossovers between DL and those, but usually some. 

[RedJosh]

1 hour ago, andyrhodes24 said:

I’ve always found their choice of openers weird but Can You Feel My Heart at Leeds 2022 was the best for me, Darkside also good. Agree on the others going, sack Teardrops off too, it’s only there for the final drop.

Amen! was an even better opener at Download in 2023, but agree that Can You Feel My Heart works really well too. Think that song is going to end up stuck as an encore opener or closer now though.

 

1 hour ago, Andre91 said:

Bin off MANTRA. 
Bin off Follow You. 
Bin off Darkside. 
Bin off Antivist. 
Bin off Wonderwall (1000 times) 

Bin off Lost (the song I like most out of all of these) 
 

Bin off most of the set tbh. Seen it one too many times now. 

Agree with all of these. Wish Antivist was dropped permanently, as there are so many better songs from Sempiternal. I'd basically pick every song ahead of it and getting a fan on stage makes it even worse. Even think Go To Hell, For Heavens Sake is due a comeback as they haven't played it for 7 years.

 

The fact that since they played Crucify Me at The O2 in 2016, they have only played one song from There is a Hell... - It Never Ends - (discounting the throw back Malta set) and have they have only played it 13 times (one in Malta) is absolutely wild.

 

Don't imagine it will ever be a regular, but hope Limousine gets in the setlist next time they play the UK.

[RedJosh]

1 hour ago, TWY2911 said:

 

Download really need to swallow their pride and bin off this exclusive headliners rule 

 

Bands like MCR and SOAD would still sell out their days no issue even with their shows 

Yeah, but Live Nation are gonna get them selling stadiums first, then get them at festivals the following year. 

[Judas Yeast]

Pearl Jam can be on an official poster which leaks and still be unlikely! 

[Andre91]

Patiently waiting for @northernangel to reply to @andyrhodes24, @NorthernSoul52 and @RedJosh with the same vim and vigor for also agreeing that they’d like to see BMTH bin off a fair chunk of their current set. But of course, that won’t happen. I could say the sky is blue and there’d be some sardonic reply 😂

Few things re: BMTH I agree with: 

 

- Amen! Was such a great opener for DL 2023
- Every other song on Sempiternal is better than Antivist which is a naff song

- There Is A Hell… material never getting an airing is criminal but it’s because Matt the drummer doesn’t like playing stuff from it in case he messes it up 

- Limousine should be a live staple 

 

Anyhow… GNR would be such a naff booking. They’d play unopposed too apart from maybe the Dogtooth stage for a bit so I wouldn’t even be fussed who headlined the stage, I would be there regardless until they finish and it’d be an early night back at the campsite. 
 

Dogtooth headliner predictions: 

 

Blood Incantation, Static-X & Cavalera doing their Chaos AD set. 

[northernangel]

8 hours ago, partypirate said:

Wasn’t it said that the headliners were booked quite early this time? Would be odd to book either LB or BMTH in that case if they were about to do R&L (if it was that early). They surely must have had Iron Maiden as potential until they decided on their own show (still a Download shaped hole in their itinerary). I’m still thinking Blink/NIN or Tool/LP but part of me is expecting something surprising like AC/DC or even Pearl Jam.
 

 

 

If Maiden don't play I'd say it's clear someone will get bumped up who shouldn't due to pulling out.

8 hours ago, Andre91 said:

Because that headline set was two years ago. I’ve since seen that same set another 2-3 times since then. 

 I guess there is an element of they could change it up but if you've seen them 1, twice at a stretch after that and it's been the same it's pretty obvious. 

7 hours ago, TWY2911 said:

 

Download really need to swallow their pride and bin off this exclusive headliners rule 

 

Bands like MCR and SOAD would still sell out their days no issue even with their shows 

 

This adds to why it's a very poorly run and unorganised event. 

7 hours ago, andyrhodes24 said:

100% agree, if MCR were announced for Download I’d sell my Wembley ticket, it’d be a positive for the festival in my mind. See if this rumoured northern date comes to fruition.

 Exactly and people who dont want to go to a festival for it for example would buy it.

7 hours ago, RedJosh said:

This year.

Ah. Yeah Friday was for me. Saturday had a couple, Sunday definitely no. The more than came the worse it got. 2023 for me was the belter, I nearly went but money issues.

6 hours ago, RedJosh said:

Yeah, but Live Nation are gonna get them selling stadiums first, then get them at festivals the following year. 

 

If SOAD don't Download next year I'll hold my hands up. I think Serj wants to get on stage and head back for other things. Nothing to even say they'll still put up with each other by 27

7 minutes ago, Andre91 said:

Patiently waiting for @northernangel to reply to @andyrhodes24, @NorthernSoul52 and @RedJosh with the same vim and vigor for also agreeing that they’d like to see BMTH bin off a fair chunk of their current set. But of course, that won’t happen. I could say the sky is blue and there’d be some sardonic reply 😂

Few things re: BMTH I agree with: 

 

- Amen! Was such a great opener for DL 2023
- Every other song on Sempiternal is better than Antivist which is a naff song

 

- There Is A Hell… material never getting an airing is criminal but it’s because Matt the drummer doesn’t like playing stuff from it in case he messes it up 

- Limousine should be a live staple 

 

Anyhow… GNR would be such a naff booking. They’d play unopposed too apart from maybe the Dogtooth stage for a bit so I wouldn’t even be fussed who headlined the stage, I would be there regardless until they finish and it’d be an early night back at the campsite. 
 

Dogtooth headliner predictions: 

 

Blood Incantation, Static-X & Cavalera doing their Chaos AD set. 

I went to bed Andre, I get up at 7am to do parkrun every Saturday and run to and back so I want at least 8 hours in bed at least.

 

But by agreeing to one person that said that of course you agree to everyone. I'm sure that's a bad thing though. Your post was the first to say it, the others came when I had gone to bed. Chill.

[Andre91]

11 minutes ago, northernangel said:

 

If Maiden don't play I'd say it's clear someone will get bumped up who shouldn't due to pulling out.

 I guess there is an element of they could change it up but if you've seen them 1, twice at a stretch after that and it's been the same it's pretty obvious. 

 

This adds to why it's a very poorly run and unorganised event. 

 Exactly and people who dont want to go to a festival for it for example would buy it.

Ah. Yeah Friday was for me. Saturday had a couple, Sunday definitely no. The more than came the worse it got. 2023 for me was the belter, I nearly went but money issues.

 

If SOAD don't Download next year I'll hold my hands up. I think Serj wants to get on stage and head back for other things. Nothing to even say they'll still put up with each other by 27

I went to bed Andre, I get up at 7am to do parkrun every Saturday and run to and back so I want at least 8 hours in bed at least.

 

But by agreeing to one person that said that of course you agree to everyone. I'm sure that's a bad thing though. Your post was the first to say it, the others came when I had gone to bed. Chill.

Running at 7am on a Saturday!? Dedication! Respect that. 

[northernangel]

8 minutes ago, Andre91 said:

Running at 7am on a Saturday!? Dedication! Respect that. 

I get up at 7am to fuel for just under 7 miles. 1.75 to park run, parkrun then 1.75 back but I try to up it to a round miles. Gotta get my jam bagel in, do some morning routine. I usually get up by 7:30/8 on a Sunday for a long run too. Last week 10 miles.

[Spiral_Low]

2 hours ago, Andre91 said:

Dogtooth headliner predictions: 

 

Blood Incantation, Static-X & Cavalera doing their Chaos AD set. 

I know Blood Incantation are in Europe next June but if they are doing the whole summer then Arctangent will definitely have offered them a high up slot, booker is a fan. Guess it depends on what works best for them. 

[NorthernSoul52]

Another day closer. Work should tick the hours down at least.

[johnl]

Don’t normally post on this forum and can see it’s been widely predicted but I’ve been told from what I consider a very reliable source that Linkin Park are playing this Festival in 2026.

[Andre91]

I wanted to put Cavalera as a Dogtooth headliner but their logo wasn’t on the poster generator so I went for Perturbator instead seeing how he’s got a new album coming out and he went down well last time he headlined that stage in 2023. 

[Andre91]

2 minutes ago, johnl said:

Don’t normally post on this forum and can see it’s been widely predicted but I’ve been told from what I consider a very reliable source that Linkin Park are playing this Festival in 2026.

Thanks for sharing. The evidence is certainly growing. 

[northernangel]

48 minutes ago, johnl said:

Don’t normally post on this forum and can see it’s been widely predicted but I’ve been told from what I consider a very reliable source that Linkin Park are playing this Festival in 2026.

Nice. To be honest I think it was obvious as soon as they announced the Wembley show and didn't announced a second one. They were also always going to play RAR next year before it with Nova taking exclusivity rank last year.

[Jrose]

very harsh from lots on GnR. yes axl can no longer sing anywhere close to what he used to, but they'll still be the biggest ticket seller of every band on the rumoured list. and at the end of the day thats all that matters to the festival. plus LP and GnR allows the festival to blood a new headliner or an up and comer. which they have to really if they want to be pushing 80-100k sales, you can't be going limp bizkit ghost 21p and expecting anything above 60/65k tickets which isnt sustainable for such a big festival. 

Edited September 20, 2025 by Jrose

[Spiral_Low]

18 minutes ago, Jrose said:

very harsh from lots on GnR. yes axl can no longer sing anywhere close to what he used to, but they'll still be the biggest ticket seller of every band on the rumoured list. and at the end of the day thats all that matters to the festival. plus LP and GnR allows the festival to blood a new headliner or an up and comer. which they have to really if they want to be pushing 80-100k sales, you can't be going limp bizkit ghost 21p and expecting anything above 60/65k tickets which isnt sustainable for such a big festival. 

Agreed, and after 2 years of 75K  versus the 80k+ they used to do pre-covid, Download will be desperate for a big year. 

[foolee]

Nothing to suggest booking a LP and 2 arena headliners & selling less tickets is more or less profitable than a LP/GNR + an arena seller. Like I can imagine GNR costing millions whereas they could probably get Limp Bizkit and Ghost plus some of the sub/other headliners for the same price. And would GNR sell enough tickets to justify the big spend on them? They could but none of us know really unless someone works in the live nation accounts department. 

[northernangel]

1 hour ago, Jrose said:

very harsh from lots on GnR. yes axl can no longer sing anywhere close to what he used to, but they'll still be the biggest ticket seller of every band on the rumoured list. and at the end of the day thats all that matters to the festival. plus LP and GnR allows the festival to blood a new headliner or an up and comer. which they have to really if they want to be pushing 80-100k sales, you can't be going limp bizkit ghost 21p and expecting anything above 60/65k tickets which isnt sustainable for such a big festival. 

I think LP will outsell GNR personally at this point.

10 minutes ago, foolee said:

Nothing to suggest booking a LP and 2 arena headliners & selling less tickets is more or less profitable than a LP/GNR + an arena seller. Like I can imagine GNR costing millions whereas they could probably get Limp Bizkit and Ghost plus some of the sub/other headliners for the same price. And would GNR sell enough tickets to justify the big spend on them? They could but none of us know really unless someone works in the live nation accounts department. 

There isn't bit one of the arena headliners we're talking about did AO, Wembley Arena, PB Pulse and Glasgow Hydro, it's a small arena tour, it's not like several dates even.

[kaip]

On 19/09/2025 at 11:50, partypirate said:

Believe similar seen in Birmingham too. My guess is a show at Knebworth.

Seen this mentioned several times but no one's posted a picture of it 

 

The picture from Cardiff is on the way into the city centre BUT it's not on any of the main routes into town, in fact I'd say it's in one of the most awkward ways into town and one I'd always try to avoid 

[andyrhodes24]

MCR advertising at Anfield today