Download 2025

[northernangel]

2 hours ago, Spiral_Low said:

I don't think we will see Iron Maiden at Download again. They've realised they can book cheaper headliners and still sell tickets.

 

Ghost, Blink 182, Parkway Drive

I think you'll see Maiden one last time. They've realised they can book a capped festival at 80k instead of 110k too. But I guess that depends where by if the cheaper headliners are cheap enough they only need to sell that many tickets. I can't see Download though getting mass undercards without bands taking slots higher up than expected without getting big hitters still and the cost isn't going to come down.

[Andre91]

2026: 

 

APEX: My Chemical Romance / A Day To Remember / Turnstile 

 

OPUS: Killswitch Engage 

 

 

APEX: Linkin Park / Architects / Lamb of God

 

OPUS: Good Charlotte 

 

 

APEX: Ghost / Evanescence / Gojira

 

OPUS: Rob Zombie

[FloopFiller]

5 hours ago, Spiral_Low said:

I don't think we will see Iron Maiden at Download again. They've realised they can book cheaper headliners and still sell tickets.

 

Ghost, Blink 182, Parkway Drive

Nah I think they’ll always aim big initially and only resort to smaller bookings if they struggle to lock down the mega headliners like they did this year and seemingly again next.
 

Reckon ‘26 will be one new headliner (Ghost) and then two of your standard bigger headliners if they’ve already got stuff in place and aren’t scrambling for options. 

[callum97]

Linkin park 

 

MCR 

 

Blink 182

 

 

 

[LJR200]

4 hours ago, northernangel said:

I think you'll see Maiden one last time. They've realised they can book a capped festival at 80k instead of 110k too. But I guess that depends where by if the cheaper headliners are cheap enough they only need to sell that many tickets. I can't see Download though getting mass undercards without bands taking slots higher up than expected without getting big hitters still and the cost isn't going to come down.

I agree with this personally. Could definitely see Iron Maiden one last time at Download. I think this whole Download 2.0 thing for me personally is about bringing through the new acts, whilst still giving fans the chance to see the legendary acts like Metallica or Maiden. As a guess I also think we will get Metallica, Slipknot, Linkin Park, System, and Avenged again within the next ten years.

[Andre91]

Download 2.0 is a bit of a misnomer. People talk about it like they’re fully focused on young hands when two of the headliners this year have been around for 30+ years. Download is still booking bands like BFMV, The Darkness and Steel Panther in massive slots so it hasn’t changed totally. 

[GoodbyeLulu]

I like the new direction, and it's clear that it's actually necessary for the festival to survive, but don't see why McFly should be taking up a slot/budget here.

 

Didn't feel strongly about Busted because you could make the argument that their music has some kind of 'edge' to it, but McFly don't even come close to the 'alternative' arena.

 

I'm sure loads of people will go see them, but is that the only criteria bookers should have?