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?

[northernangel]

15 hours ago, Andre91 said:

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

 

There is potential here but MCR could just do stadium shows, I don't think them and LP play. I think Rob Zombie is likely there on the second year round. I'd firstly see no reason to book Evanescence in that spot, switch with Architects.

15 hours ago, FloopFiller said:

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. 

 

Likely this.

14 hours ago, callum97 said:

Linkin park 

 

MCR 

 

Blink 182

 

 

 

 

I think there's absolutely no chance you're getting that.

13 hours ago, LJR200 said:

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.

 

I don't think you'll get A7X again soon and SOAD I think is unlikely. I think there was a prime option for them to come over this year with festivals doing anniversary shows they have played before and theg haven't. Slipknot once more is likely too.

 

11 hours ago, Andre91 said:

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. 

 

Download 2.0 means nothing really. But none of those bands you mention there should be in massive slots. Bullet last headlined 2000 trees and that's 3rd down Download at max. Skindred played it too and they get 3rd down off of name. Soft Play headlined Trees. Don Broco who have did bigger tours than Bullet without needing one of those big 'co-headline' things. In my opinion, a big crowd at a festival isn't the only relative point to where they should be...some people are actually holding off on tours actively expecting a band at a festival and Download is kinda predictable. 

 

5 hours ago, GoodbyeLulu said:

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?

 

I was out last night at a pub gig and they covered year 3000, my first thought was how do this sound anything like McFly?! I personally think they are a dreadful booking. They covered Wheatus too. Busted and McFly are mates, that's as close as it comes to being relative. 

[andyrhodes24]

12 hours ago, Andre91 said:

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. 

Someone said it right the other day, people have cried out for Download 2.0 but when it comes it’s not good enough.

 

It probably says a lot that this is the first download I’ll be getting a ticket for, it appeals to me as a rock fan and not a traditional metal fan.

[foolee]

7 hours ago, GoodbyeLulu said:

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?

They’re honesty the exact same thing. If you dive deeper into McFly they actually have heavier stuff than Busted (see Corrupted - cool live video of Rou Reynolds playing this live with them at Ally Pally). Plus they’re better live.
 

They’ll also get a massive crowd and they’re the same thing in the sense that’s where a lot of younger alternative folk started their music journey into heavy music, a gateway band as a lot describe Busted. I feel like this view on McFly seems to be the one from people that grew up listening to Busted therefore people want them to be heavier or something to kind of justify their liking for Busted. They’re both bands that write their own songs and play pop music, end of. Thunderbirds are go and year 3000 have absolutely no ‘edge’ to them. 
 

Steven Battelle from Lost Alone produced their most recent album which is worth a listen and Jason Perry from A also produced Radio Active which is worth a listen. 

 

Fair enough if you don’t like them or didn’t grow up with them but people did, love them and will have a blast. It’s a win for McFly who love rock/alternative music themselves and for the fans who grew up listening to them. 

Edited 52 minutes ago by foolee

[northernangel]

53 minutes ago, andyrhodes24 said:

Someone said it right the other day, people have cried out for Download 2.0 but when it comes it’s not good enough.

 

It probably says a lot that this is the first download I’ll be getting a ticket for, it appeals to me as a rock fan and not a traditional metal fan.

 

To be honest though there is a lot of metal in there. That first big section alone with two of the headliners has 10 metal bands vs 6 just about rock bands. There is a hell of a lot of metal throughout the lineup. If the festival went to traditional rock suddenly it would lose a lot of people. When Andy says they have to move with the times he means headliners because he's run out if options, there is plenty of undercard options about. I didn't expect such a reaction to ST in general but I don't really know them. I just know they were subbing FR at Reading and subbing Avalanche in the past few years and now suddenly headlining.

[northernangel]

2 minutes ago, foolee said:

They’re honesty the exact same thing. If you dive deeper into McFly they actually have heavier stuff than Busted (see Corrupted - cool live video of Rou Reynolds playing this live with them at Ally Pally). Plus they’re better live.
 

They’ll also get a massive crowd and they’re the same thing in the sense that’s where a lot of younger alternative folk started their music journey into heavy music, a gateway band as a lot describe Busted. I feel like this view on McFly seems to be the one from people that grew up listening to Busted so people want them to be heavier or something they’re not to kind of justify there liking for Busted. They’re both bands that write their own songs and play pop music end of. Thunderbirds are go and year 3000 have absolutely no ‘edge’ to them. 
 

Steven Battelle from Lost Alone produced their most recent album which is worth a listen and Jason Perry from A also produced Radio Active which is worth a listen. 

 

Fair enough if you don’t like them or didn’t grow up with them but people did, love them and will have a blast. It’s a win for McFly who love rock/alternative music themselves and for the fans who grew up listening to them. 

I have to heavily disagree here, I grew up with Busted on my screen all the time and they were not a gateway at all to the alternative or heavier seen at all. I grew up at a time when Linkin Park, Blink 182 and SOAD were on my tv, I didn't need a pop band to get me into these, I listened to these.

 

They are pop bands that are guilty pleasures for people who at the time were in phase of being too cool to like them or see them as more than just a passing by fun band. Busted I might pass by at a festivals, McFly no.