With just under a month to go, the UK’s biggest rock and metal event Download Festival returns to Donington Park in Leicestershire, with the main music days running 12th-14th June (camping opens from the 10th).
This year’s edition is shaping up to be truly landmark, headlined by Limp Bizkit, Guns N’ Roses and Linkin Park, whose closing set will make Emily Armstrong the first woman ever to headline the festival in its 23-year history.
Spread across the Apex, Opus, Avalanche and Dogtooth stages (and the ever-chaotic District X), the weekend is packed wall-to-wall with genre legends alongside a wealth of must-see rising acts.
Whether you’re a seasoned Donington veteran or making the pilgrimage for the first time, the sheer scale of the line-up can be overwhelming, so we’ve put together this day-by-day, stage-by-stage guide to help you make the most of every moment.
Camping tickets have now sold out entirely, but if you’re yet to secure your spot, Saturday day tickets are still available.
Apex Stage (Friday)
Limp Bizkit
Nu-metal icons Limp Bizkit headline Friday night on the Apex Stage in their first-ever Download headline slot, something the Download family has waited a long time for. As their only UK show of 2026, this is a genuinely unmissable moment. Regardless of where you stand on the nu-metal debate, you know the hits: ‘Rollin”, ‘Break Stuff’, ‘Nookie’ and ‘Take a Look Around’ are all setlist staples, and Fred Durst remains one of the most entertainingly unhinged frontmen in the game. Their festival form in recent years has been nothing short of riotous, with Wes Borland’s wild stage presence only adding to the chaos. If you’re not in that pit on Friday night, what are you doing?
Cypress Hill
Proving that Download isn’t strictly a rock and metal affair, Cypress Hill bring West Coast hip-hop to Donington. Despite being a departure from the heavier end of the weekend’s line-up, their catalogue is undeniable. ‘Insane in the Brain’, ‘How I Could Just Kill a Man’ and ‘Hits from the Bong’ are guaranteed to go off in an outdoor festival setting.
Electric Callboy
If the internet had a house band, it would probably be German electronicore outfit Electric Callboy. Their irresistibly chaotic blend of metalcore breakdowns and euphoric synth-pop has made hits like ‘Hypa Hypa’, ‘We Got The Moves’ and their viral collaboration with BABYMETAL, ‘RATATATA’, completely inescapable.
Pendulum
Few acts in existence can claim to have made moshing and raving feel like the same thing, but Australian drum and bass titans Pendulum are one of them. With a back catalogue boasting ‘Witchcraft’, ‘Propane Nightmares’ and ‘Watercolour’, their set is guaranteed to get even the most reluctant bodies moving.
Hollywood Undead
Hollywood Undead are a rap-rock outfit from Los Angeles, who made their name on MySpace and never really left (in the best possible way). Their genre-blending mix of hip-hop, metal and pop-punk has produced anthems like ‘Everywhere I Go’, ‘Undead’ and ‘Comin’ In Hot’ that hit just as hard now as they did when you first heard them.
P.O.D.
San Diego nu-metal veterans P.O.D. need very little introduction, having been at this for over thirty years and showing absolutely no signs of slowing down. ‘Alive’, ‘Boom’ and ‘Youth of the Nation’ are the tunes that remind you exactly why the genre has never gone out of style, especially for festivals.
Scene Queen
Equal parts Barbie and breakdown, one-woman ‘bimbocore’ pioneer Scene Queen is unlike anything else on the Friday main stage line-up, and delightfully so. Her unapologetically hyper-feminine take on metalcore with tracks like ‘Barbie & Ken’, ‘Pink Rover’ and ’18+’ proves the future scene and Download are in very good hands.
Apex Stage (Saturday)
Guns N’ Roses
Rock royalty Guns N’ Roses close out Saturday night on the Apex Stage, and few bands on the planet are more at home in a headline slot of this magnitude. With the classic line-up fully intact and an ongoing world tour, expect a set of over three hours long, packed with some of the most iconic songs in the history of rock: ‘Welcome to the Jungle’, ‘Sweet Child O’ Mine’, ‘November Rain’ and ‘Paradise City’ amongst them. Whether you grew up with the band or inherited them from a parent who did, there’s something undeniably universal about a Guns N’ Roses set, and Donington is the perfect, familiar stage for it. Some things never get old, and a Guns N’ Roses headline set at Donington is absolutely one of them.
Trivium
Download Festival holds a special place in Trivium‘s story, as it was a legendary 2005 set at Donington that frontman Matt Heafy credits with launching the band onto the world stage. Two decades on, the Florida metal titans are still one of the most electrifying live acts in the game, with a back catalogue containing bangers like ‘The Heart From Your Hate’, ‘In Waves’ and ‘Until The World Goes Cold’.
BABYMETAL
Defying every expectation the metal world has ever set, Japanese kawaii metal trio BABYMETAL are one of the most genuinely unique acts on this bill. A collision of J-pop idol theatrics and full-throttle metal, singles ‘Gimme Chocolate!!’ and ‘Megitsune’ showcase their fresh, unique sound, alongside collaborations with huge names like Bring Me The Horizon, Poppy and Electric Callboy.
Black Veil Brides
Glam metal theatrics meet modern hard rock in Ohio outfit Black Veil Brides, an undeniable staple of the alternative scene since 2006. With anthems like ‘In the End’, ‘Knives and Pens’ and more recent releases like ‘Revengers’ (featuring Machine Head), their set is tailor-made for a festival crowd singing at the top of their lungs.
LANDMVRKS
Marseille metalcore group LANDMVRKS prove that France’s contribution to heavy music extends well beyond Gojira. Their blend of crushing riffs and soaring melodies has made them a firm festival favourite across the UK and EU, with Donington up next to experience tunes like ‘Self-Made Black Hole’, ‘Lost in a Wave’ and ‘Sulfur’.
South Arcade
South Arcade are known for fusing nu-metal riffs with their signature Y2K pop-punk energy, with hooks that stick in your head for days. Tracks like ‘Danger’, ‘Nepo Baby’ and ‘Stone Cold Summer’ are the perfect light-hearted break in your Download schedule amongst the heavier acts.
Thornhill
Melbourne’s Thornhill are one of the most exciting bands in heavy music, full stop. Progressive, atmospheric, and emotionally devastating in equal measure, their 2025 album Bodies is one of the best and most unique records the metalcore genre has produced in years. Catch them bright and early at Download to hear bangers like ‘Silver Swarm’, ‘Mercia’ and ‘TONGUES’.
Apex Stage (Sunday)
Linkin Park
Closing out the weekend on Sunday night, Linkin Park make their long-awaited return to Donington for the first time since 2017. This will be their first appearance at Download with Emily Armstrong and Mike Shinoda sharing the helm together. In doing so, Armstrong becomes the first woman ever to headline Download Festival in its 23-year history, a milestone forever immortalised on one of rock and metal’s most iconic stages. With a catalogue spanning ‘In the End’, ‘Numb’, ‘Crawling’ and plenty of tunes from last year’s From Zero, Sunday night on the Apex Stage is set to be every bit as emotional as it is euphoric.
Bad Omens
Modern metalcore legends Bad Omens were supposed to make their Download debut in 2024, set to play iconic tracks like ‘Just Pretend’, ‘Dethrone’ and ‘ARTIFICIAL SUICIDE’ before a cancellation left the Download Family with unfinished business. They’ve since become one of the most talked-about bands in heavy music, with their 2022 album The Death Of Peace Of Mind arguably one of the most iconic within the scene.
Ice Nine Kills
Halloween comes early to Donington this summer, with horror-metalcore outfit Ice Nine Kills. The Boston group have spent the past two decades building one of the most chaotically theatrical live shows within the genre, reimagining horror films into tunes like ‘A Work Of Art’, ‘The American Nightmare’ and ‘A Grave Mistake’.
The Pretty Reckless
You might know Taylor Momsen as Cindy Lou Who, or from Gossip Girl, but she left all of that behind to become one of the most formidable rock vocalists of her generation. The Pretty Reckless hold the record for the most number one rock singles by any female-fronted act in history, with tracks like ‘Make Me Wanna Die’, ‘Heaven Knows’ and ‘Death by Rock and Roll’ in their arsenal.
Bloodywood
New Delhi folk-metal trio Bloodywood bring something genuinely special to Donington, blending nu-metal riffs with traditional Indian instrumentation and lyrics delivered across Hindi, Punjabi and English. India’s first metal act to chart on Billboard, tracks like ‘Ari Ari’, ‘Dana-Dan’ and ‘Machi Bhasad’ are as euphoric as they are ferocious.
RØRY
Southampton singer-songwriter RØRY has built one of the most devoted fanbases in UK rock entirely independently. Her Top 10 debut album RESTORATION proves exactly why, with brutally honest, hook-laden tracks like ‘BLOSSOM’, ‘Hold On’ and ‘SORRY I’M LATE’. Catch her before the stages get much bigger.
Kublai Khan TX
Kublai Khan TX bring a punishing, no-frills brand of heavy music to Donington, built on brutal breakdowns and raw aggression. With their blend of hardcore roots and modern metalcore, tracks like ‘Theory of Mind’, ‘Antpile’ and ‘Darwinism’ hit hard, and their live show is every bit as intense as the recordings.
unpeople
If you take one recommendation from this entire guide from the Apex Stage, make it unpeople. Having torn through festival stages across the UK and Europe, they’ve built a reputation as one of the most electrifying live acts around right now. The London four-piece have been producing some of the most excitingly visceral heavy music in the UK, with ‘smother’, ‘the garden’ and latest single ‘clouds’ being all the proof you need.
Opus Stage (Friday)
Halestorm
Pennsylvania hard rock powerhouse Halestorm headline Opus on Friday, and Lzzy Hale remains one of the most commanding vocalists in modern rock, full stop. Tracks like ‘Freak Like Me’, ‘I Miss the Misery’ and ‘I Get Off’ are tailor-made for a Donington crowd at full volume. A genuine arena-level performance happening on the second stage.
Daughtry
Whatever your stance on the more accessible end of post-grunge, Daughtry have shifted millions of records and built a back catalogue that absolutely lands in a festival field. ‘It’s Not Over’ and ‘Home’ are the mass-singalong moments Download crowds reliably show up for.
Creeper
Southampton gothic-rock theatricals Creeper bring everything you want from a Friday Opus set: drama, hooks, and a frontman in Will Gould who knows exactly how to work a festival tent. They’re also pulling double duty across the weekend (DJ set on Friday night in District X, plus a Dogtooth Sunday slot), but the Opus appearance is where you’ll get the full theatrical Creeper experience.
Periphery
Periphery are arguably the most influential prog-metal band of the last fifteen years, and very few acts can match Misha Mansoor’s compositional ambition. Anyone who appreciates technical heavy music owes themselves a slot in this tent.
Paleface Swiss / Silent Planet / Caskets
A trio of modern heavy acts well worth catching: Swiss deathcore brutalists Paleface Swiss bring genuinely punishing pit fuel, Californian post-hardcore outfit Silent Planet mix lyrical depth with crushing dynamics, and Leeds metalcore upstarts Caskets open the entire Opus Stage on Friday with one of the most assured up-and-coming UK acts on the bill.
Opus Stage (Saturday)
Architects
Brighton’s Architects headline Opus on Saturday, and at this point they’re as essential to modern UK metalcore as any band on the bill. ‘Doomsday’, ‘Animals’ and ‘Hereafter’ are the cathartic, full-tent singalong moments Sam Carter has spent years perfecting. If you’re at Download, you’re seeing Architects.
Behemoth
Polish blackened death metal titans Behemoth bring the kind of theatrical menace that makes Donington feel like a black mass. Nergal’s stagecraft remains second to none in the extreme metal world, and a Behemoth set on a big stage is genuinely something to experience.
Bush
London post-grunge legends Bush bring three decades of melodic alt-rock to Opus Saturday, and Gavin Rossdale remains one of the more reliable festival frontmen out there. ‘Glycerine’, ‘Comedown’ and ‘Machinehead’ are very much still 90s alt-rock royalty in a big tent.
Set It Off
Floridian pop-punk crew Set It Off have spent over a decade refining the kind of theatrical, hook-loaded pop-punk that lands brilliantly in a festival setting. A reliably high-energy mid-afternoon slot.
Those Damn Crows
South Wales hard rockers Those Damn Crows have steadily become one of the most genuinely beloved bands on the UK rock circuit, and their Opus appearance feels long overdue. Big riffs, bigger choruses, and one of the more honest live shows in the country right now.
Drowning Pool
Yes, the Drowning Pool ‘Bodies’ are at Download, because of course they are. The Dallas nu-metal lifers have been at this for 25 years, and the inevitability of that one song hitting a Donington Saturday afternoon is enough on its own.
Snot
Californian nu-metal pioneers Snot bring some genuine late-90s heritage to Donington. For anyone who lived through the original Ozzfest era, this is properly nostalgic territory.
The Wildhearts
Newcastle’s The Wildhearts are one of the most criminally underrated bands the UK has ever produced, blending punk, glam and power-pop into one of the most distinctive sounds in British rock. Ginger Wildheart is a national treasure, full stop.
Opus Stage (Sunday)
A Day To Remember
A Day To Remember headline the Opus Stage on Sunday night, and yes, this is the clash of the weekend against Linkin Park. The Florida pop-punk-meets-metalcore lifers have been Download mainstays for years, and ‘The Downfall of Us All’, ‘All I Want’ and ‘2nd Sucks’ are a near-perfect Donington Sunday singalong. Plan your schedule carefully.
Mastodon
Atlanta progressive metal heavyweights Mastodon remain one of the most respected acts in the genre, and a Mastodon set on the Opus Stage is the kind of riff-heavy religious experience Download was made for.
Tom Morello
Tom Morello needs no introduction. The Rage Against The Machine and Audioslave guitar legend brings his solo set to Donington, and the man’s mere presence on a UK festival bill in 2026 is reason enough to be in that tent.
Social Distortion
California punk lifers Social Distortion bring forty years of working-class American rock ‘n’ roll to Opus Sunday. Mike Ness remains a masterclass in storytelling, and ‘Story of My Life’ and ‘Ball and Chain’ are absolute punk-rock gospel.
The Plot In You / Thrown
Two modern metalcore essentials: Ohio’s The Plot In You continue to be one of the more emotionally devastating bands in the scene, and Swedish nu-metalcore upstarts Thrown are arguably one of the most exciting newer acts on the entire 2026 bill.
Dogstar
Yes, that Dogstar – Keanu Reeves on bass. Their alt-rock has aged surprisingly well, and there’s enough novelty value alone to justify the slot. We’ll be there.
Mammoth / Catch Your Breath / Ego Kill Talent
Three early-day picks for Opus Sunday: Mammoth (Wolfgang Van Halen’s hard rock project), Texas metalcore outfit Catch Your Breath, and Brazilian alt-metal four-piece Ego Kill Talent round out a deep undercard.
Avalanche Stage (Friday) – Hosted by Kerrang! Radio
Feeder
Welsh alt-rock veterans Feeder headline Avalanche on Friday, and Grant Nicholas has spent three decades writing the melodic rock songs that just work in a big tent. ‘Buck Rogers’, ‘Just a Day’ and ‘Just the Way I’m Feeling’ remain absolute crowd-pleasers.
Story Of The Year
St. Louis post-hardcore mainstays Story Of The Year bring proper mid-2000s emo-tinged singalong fuel, with ‘Until the Day I Die’ an absolute Avalanche tent guarantee.
Sleep Theory
Memphis post-grunge revivalists Sleep Theory have had one of the fastest rises in modern rock, and their hook-heavy, radio-ready sound is going to land big in the Avalanche tent. Catch them now before they’re significantly higher up the bill next year.
Rain City Drive / Drain
Two strong modern picks: Rain City Drive (formerly Slaves) bring atmospheric post-hardcore at its most emotionally weighty, and Santa Cruz hardcore outfit Drain are one of the most exciting bands in the modern hardcore scene, full stop.
Lakeview / Holywatr / Silly Goose / Native James
Four rising acts well worth a punt: Native James opens the entire stage on Friday, Silly Goose channel proper 2000s rap-metal revivalism, Bristol’s Holywatr are quickly making a name in the UK alt-rock space, and Tennessee’s Lakeview bring country-tinged hard rock to round out a strong early-day run.
Avalanche Stage (Saturday)
The All-American Rejects
Pop-punk royalty The All-American Rejects headline Avalanche on Saturday night, and ‘Swing, Swing’, ‘Dirty Little Secret’ and ‘Gives You Hell’ are going to be a generational mass singalong moment. They’re also doing a late-night acoustic set in District X on Saturday, so genuinely no excuse not to catch them somewhere.
Hot Milk
Manchester’s Hot Milk have spent the last few years quietly becoming one of the most reliably fun live bands in UK alt-rock. Sharp, melodic and a little chaotic, exactly the energy you want filling out the Avalanche tent on a Saturday afternoon.
Marmozets
Math-rock chaos merchants Marmozets return to Donington after eight years away, promoting new album CO.WAR.DICE, their first in nearly a decade. Becca Macintyre remains one of the most distinctive vocalists the UK has produced, and this is a genuinely overdue homecoming moment.
As It Is
Brighton pop-punk-turned-emo outfit As It Is bring everything you want from a UK alternative act on the rise: cathartic hooks, sharp visuals, and a fanbase that lives for it.
Die Spitz
Austin’s Die Spitz are one of the most exciting newer female-fronted acts in heavy music, blending riot-grrrl energy with grunge bite. If you only catch one new band on Avalanche Saturday, make it them.
Frozemode
London punk-rap trio Frozemode are at the forefront of the rock-meets-rap movement, channelling the chaos of The Prodigy and Rage Against The Machine through a lens of grime, hip-hop and venomous bar-spitting. Tracks like ‘Simon Says’, ‘Vermin’ and ‘The Motive’ are the perfect introduction, and they’re also playing District X across the weekend.
Melrose Avenue / Mouth Culture / Nevertel / Passionflower
Four more well-deserved early slots: London alt-rock outfit Melrose Avenue, Bristol’s Mouth Culture, Florida modern rock crew Nevertel, and rising UK alt-pop project Passionflower all earn their place on a stacked Saturday.
Avalanche Stage (Sunday)
Scooter
Yes, Scooter, as in ‘The Logical Song’ Scooter. The German happy-hardcore icons closing the Avalanche Stage on Sunday night is the beautifully unhinged booking only Download could pull off, and it’s going to be absolutely glorious. Bring back the rave.
letlive.
The reunited letlive. bring one of the most genuinely incendiary live shows in post-hardcore history. Jason Aalon Butler is a force of nature on stage, and their return to a major UK festival is properly overdue.
Ash
Northern Irish alt-rock veterans Ash bring three decades of indie-rock perfection to Avalanche Sunday. ‘Girl From Mars’, ‘Shining Light’ and ‘Burn Baby Burn’ are the kind of melodic guitar-pop hits that defined a UK generation.
Dinosaur Pile-Up
Leeds alt-rock trio Dinosaur Pile-Up are one of the most underrated bands in the UK heavy rock space. Properly grungy, properly fun, and the kind of band that absolutely belongs on a Sunday Avalanche slot.
Magnolia Park
Orlando’s Magnolia Park bring genre-bending pop-punk with hip-hop edges, and have been quietly building one of the most diverse fanbases in modern alt-rock. A genuine bright spot on the Sunday undercard.
TX2 / The Pretty Wild / Iuri / Zero 9:36 / Mould
Rounding out a strong Sunday: Fort Collins, Colorado emo/alt-rock project TX2, LA alt-rock four-piece The Pretty Wild, Argentinian alt-rock outfit Iuri, emo-rap project Zero 9:36, and UK newcomers Mould all earn slots on a deep undercard.
Dogtooth Stage (Friday)
Cavalera
Cavalera – Max and Iggor Cavalera revisiting the early Sepultura material that built the foundation for modern extreme metal – headline Dogtooth on Friday with the seminal 1993 album Chaos A.D. played in full. This is genuinely the historic Dogtooth moment that makes that tent legendary.
Corrosion Of Conformity
North Carolina sludge-metal lifers Corrosion Of Conformity bring forty years of riff worship to Dogtooth on Friday. A band that’s influenced basically every doom and stoner-rock act on the bill, and one of the genuine elder statesmen of American heavy music.
BAND-MAID
Tokyo’s BAND-MAID bring their immaculately tight, hard-rock-meets-maid-cafe live show to Donington, and if you’ve never seen the kind of musicianship this band casually pulls off, do not skip this. Genuinely one of the most fun live acts on the entire bill.
Stampin’ Ground
Cheltenham hardcore legends Stampin’ Ground return, and for anyone with even a passing investment in UK heavy music history, this is essential. One of the most influential acts to ever come out of the British hardcore scene, finally back where they belong.
THE PRIMALS
Final Fantasy XIV’s official band THE PRIMALS perform outside Asia for the first time ever. Whether you’re a Final Fantasy lifer or just curious about what video game music looks like through a full live metal band, this is genuinely one of the most unique slots on the entire 2026 bill.
Lake Malice
Brighton’s Lake Malice are taking UK metalcore somewhere genuinely new, blending electronic textures with crushing dynamics. Alice Guala is one of the most exciting newer vocalists in the scene, and this is essential UK viewing.
Nasty / Vianova / James and the Cold Gun / Slay Squad / Headwreck
Rounding out Friday: Belgian hardcore heavyweights Nasty, French metalcore outfit Vianova, London rockers James and the Cold Gun, rising UK crew Slay Squad, and Sheffield’s Headwreck opening the entire stage.
Dogtooth Stage (Saturday)
Blood Incantation
Denver’s Blood Incantation headline Dogtooth on Saturday, and their cosmic, ambient-tinged death metal has made them one of the most critically lauded extreme bands of the decade. The fact that they’re scheduled late enough to potentially avoid the Guns N’ Roses clash is a small miracle.
Decapitated
Polish technical death metal pioneers Decapitated bring three decades of brutal precision to Dogtooth Saturday, and remain one of the most consistently devastating extreme metal acts on the planet.
Conjurer
Rugby’s Conjurer bring some of the heaviest, most genuinely punishing sludge-metal in the country. Essential UK viewing, and one of the absolute highlights of the entire Dogtooth weekend.
Elder / Sweet Savage
Two strong heritage picks: Massachusetts heavy psych outfit Elder bring some of the most expansive, riff-heavy compositions in modern progressive metal, and Belfast’s Sweet Savage – genuinely a piece of NWOBHM history – return to a UK festival stage that owes them everything.
As Everything Unfolds
High Wycombe’s As Everything Unfolds are one of the most exciting bands in UK metalcore right now. Charlie Rolfe is a powerhouse, and their atmospheric, emotionally-charged sound has been earning them genuine fanbase loyalty for years.
Return To Dust / Self Deception / Lowen / Tailgunner / Tropic Gold / Pussyliquor
Deep cuts well worth catching: LA grunge revivalists Return To Dust, Swedish metalcore outfit Self Deception, London doom-metal trio Lowen, UK NWOTHM crew Tailgunner, Australian alt-metal four-piece Tropic Gold, and Brighton punk powerhouse Pussyliquor all earn slots on one of the deepest Dogtooth Saturdays in recent memory.
Dogtooth Stage (Sunday)
Creeper
Southampton gothic-rock theatricals Creeper headline Dogtooth on Sunday, capping a properly busy weekend that also sees them play Opus Friday and a District X DJ set. Will Gould and co. have spent the last decade quietly becoming one of the most distinctive bands the UK has produced, and a late Dogtooth slot is the perfect setting for their darker material.
Spineshank
LA industrial nu-metal veterans Spineshank bring proper late-90s heritage to Donington. ‘New Disease’ and ‘Smothered’ are absolute Ozzfest-era essentials that have aged surprisingly well.
Gatecreeper
Arizona death metal heavyweights Gatecreeper bring some of the most relentlessly satisfying riffs in the modern OSDM scene. A band that’s only got bigger and more essential with every album.
Boundaries
Connecticut hardcore outfit Boundaries continue their steady ascent through the modern heavy scene, with the kind of breakdown-heavy aggression that absolutely earns its Dogtooth slot.
Annisokay / Ankor / Last Train
Three European picks: German metalcore mainstays Annisokay, Spanish modern-metal outfit Ankor, and French alt-rock trio Last Train round out the European contingent on a strong Sunday Dogtooth bill.
Decessus / Private School / Wayside / Spitting Glass
Closing out the undercard: Chilean death metal outfit Decessus (fronted by Miss World Chile Ignacia Fernández), Californian alt-punks Private School, UK metalcore upstarts Wayside, and Spitting Glass opening the entire stage. A deeply international, deeply heavy Sunday.
District X
Download’s late-night playground has expanded significantly for 2026, with a packed programme of live sets, DJ sets, live podcasts, comedy and silent discos running across The Den, Ace of Spades, The Doghouse and The Outpost from Wednesday right through to Sunday night. Kyden Fire hosts proceedings in The Doghouse, holding the whole week together between acts, and there will also be a series of Secret Acoustic Sets revealed on the weekend itself – very much in keeping with the Download tradition of mystery bookings worth keeping an ear out for. There’s also Rock Kids, a dedicated kids’ programme running during the day, making District X a properly multi-generational space. The Comedy Store also presents a full programme of 25+ stand-up acts across the weekend, featuring Felicity Ward, Matt Bragg, Geoff Norcott, Thomas Green, Jordan Gray, Stephen Bailey and Sully O’Sullivan, among others.
District X (Wednesday)
The Den
She They Press Play Showcase: A DJ collective with a combined over thirty years of experience, championing women and gender minority DJs within the alternative music scene.
TokenGrass: The UK’s most unique Sleep Token tribute band, transforming their catalogue into Americana and bluegrass tunes. Trust us, somehow, it works.
Bongo’s Bingo: High-energy, fast-paced fun, expect lots of audience interaction and legendary prizes.
Ace of Spades
Panic! At The Bingo: Hosted by Danny Scott, Stood Facedown and the Dabbers crew, the UK’s most delightfully ridiculous Emo Bingo comes back to Download, with plenty of prizes up for grabs.
Chris Fleming Millennial Magician: Internationally acclaimed magician Chris Fleming brings his sold-out Edinburgh Fringe show to Download for the first time.
Sappenin’ Podcast: Sean Smith (The Blackout) and Morgan Richards (music journalist) team up to bring you a podcast full of exclusive insight and laughter, with a variety of star-studded guests.
Live Band Karaoke with Ten Years Too Late: Exactly what it says on the tin, the perfect opportunity for living out your rockstar fantasy and fronting a live band at Download.
Attitude Era VS Soundtrax: A silent disco of iconic wrestling theme tunes with a pinch of nu-metal flavourings, versus a mash-up of classic video game soundtracks.
Metalcore VS Hair Metal: Another silent disco, this time between the loudest eras in heavy music, presented by Gatekeeper.
The Doghouse
Tasmin Taylor: One half of dance music duo Hang the DJs, Tasmin Taylor blends iconic alternative anthems with Donk, DnB and Techno.
Andrew O’Neill: A History of Punk: Having acted opposite Jon Hamm and David Tennant in Good Omens, Steve Coogan in Saxondale and Tom Burke and Ellie Bamber in Alan Moore’s film The Show, Andrew O’Neill brings their cult show based on the best-selling book into District X.
Nic Cage Against The Machine: Yes, you read that correctly. The four members of the band shine by delving through a repertoire of iconic Cage movie characters, whilst simultaneously channelling the music of Rage Against The Machine.
STVW: German DJ/producer and songwriter STVW combines his energetic dance sound with elements from pop-punk and rock, called ‘PUNK RAVE’.
Savannah: London-based multi-genre DJ and host Savannah will be closing the night, also known as the co-founder of @girls.o.o.o (Girls Out Of Office), helping underrepresented multi-genre DJs to have a platform.
District X (Thursday)
The Den
RuMac: Download is the place to be for unique acts, as clearly evidenced by RuMac, a Scottish accordion player who will be bestowing a mix of traditional Gaelic tunes and heavy metal upon District X.
Kerrang! Radio’s ‘The Download’: Join Alex Baker for The Download, at Download itself. For the second year in a row, Kerrang! Radio return to District X to host a live radio show, all about Download Festival. Expect special guests and be ready to be a part of the live ‘studio audience’.
Dune Rats: Brisbane garage punk trio Dune Rats are the band that make everything feel like a house party. Chaotic, unpretentious, and an absolute blast from start to finish, with anthems like ‘Scott Green’, ‘Bullshit’ and ‘Braindead’ in their arsenal. Their District X set promises to be one of the most purely fun things you’ll do all weekend.
Ace of Spades
The Metal Roundup Podcast: Your weekly fix for everything modern metal. Hosted by Steve O’G, METALBIRB, and Drew Fortune, the trio discuss the latest news and releases in the modern metal scene and find the nuances through it all. No gatekeeping or elitism, just pure, good vibes all around.
RØRY’s ADHD Love Podcast: Apex Stage Sunday artist RØRY brings her hugely popular ADHD Love podcast to District X for a live recording. Honest, funny, and genuinely valuable conversation around neurodivergence in the music industry.
Never Mind The Download Pub Quiz: Once again, exactly what it says on the tin, prove your alt, rock and metal knowledge at District X, and get ready for massive prizes.
Ace of Slays: A high-voltage showcase featuring some of the UK’s best alternative drag artists, performing to your favourite heavy hits. Loud, unapologetic, and bound to be the Thursday night boost of fun you need before the Friday acts.
The Doghouse
Heavy Metal Sports: The nostalgia of Primary School Sports Day, repackaged into a huge, rock ‘n’ roll, family-fun event to prove your athleticism in.
James B. Partridge’s Primary School Bangers: TikTok sensation James B. Partridge brings school assembly nostalgia into District X for a feel-good, unmissable sing-a-long.
Electric Six: Detroit’s Electric Six bring two decades of gloriously absurd disco-rock chaos to District X. ‘Gay Bar’ and ‘Danger! High Voltage’ are the sort of mid-2000s anthems that work as well in 2026 as they did the day they dropped. Genuinely one of the most fun bookings on the weekend.
Famous First Words: A fun, frenzied live singing gameshow, hilarious whether you’re watching or playing. A song gets played, and if you know the lyrics? Then simply step up to grab the mic and the winnings.
Bat Sabbath: Canadian whiskey metal punk band Cancer Bats channel their love for the godfathers of metal as their now-infamous cover act Bat Sabbath, and the carnage is not to be missed. Expect floor-shaking renditions of ‘Iron Man’, ‘War Pigs’ and ‘Paranoid’ delivered with the unhinged energy only Cancer Bats could bring.
Five: Following in the footsteps of last year’s Vengaboys, 90s boyband icons Five make their Download debut in District X. With three UK number ones and an arena comeback tour already under their belts, ‘Slam Dunk (Da Funk)’, ‘Keep On Movin” and ‘We Will Rock You’ are going to hit very differently at midnight on a Thursday.
Heavy Metal Time Machine / NickelBrat: Closing out Thursday night: Heavy Metal Time Machine takes you through the decades of heavy music, before Birmingham UPRAWR alumni NickelBrat prove that ‘Brat Summer’ and nu-metal were never really that different to begin with.
The Outpost
LSFF will be presenting A Brief History of Skateboard Videos, a specially curated 90-minute programme embodying the spirit of DIY early filmmaking and contemporary short films.
District X (Friday)
The Den
Fat Lip: Bristol DJs Chadders and Remy Melee bring their alternative club night to District X.
Face Down: Pop punk, metalcore and nu metal tunes alongside remixes, all the songs you know every word to, back-to-back non-stop. There’s also a Face Down Remix Challenge across the weekend, where DJs and producers go head-to-head reworking alternative anthems for the District X crowd.
Ace of Spades
OCT (On Company Time): A musical comedy trio, blending sharp satire with catchy, hook-laden bangers. Known for viral hits like ‘Don’t Touch My Clogs’ and ‘Half Horse, Half Man’, they combine unique storytelling with absurdist humour in their music.
Download Family Feud: The classic American gameshow gets a rock and metal makeover, with audience teams going head-to-head for prizes and pure festival silliness.
The Doghouse
Dave Hill: American comedian, musician and writer Dave Hill brings his rock-and-roll-meets-stand-up brand of comedy to the Doghouse. Hill’s combination of guitar-slinging musicianship and properly dry wit is exactly the sort of leftfield booking District X does well.
Black Parade: Emo and pop-punk anthems all night, opening the Doghouse Friday night programme.
Chop Suey: Nu-metal Anthems DJs and special guest sets from 11.30pm-3am.
Dick & Dom DJ Set: Childhood TV legends Dick & Dom have spent years proving their unique raves are just as chaotic and beloved as their CBBC days. Catching them at midnight in the Doghouse on Friday night is the experience that exists purely at Download.
Creeper DJ Set: Gothic rock outfit Creeper are no strangers to Donington and have a properly packed weekend, including their Opus Friday slot and Dogtooth Sunday headline. This time, they’re swapping the setlist for the decks. If their taste in music is anything like their own theatrical, horror-tinged back catalogue, Friday night in the Doghouse is going to be a very good time.
District X (Saturday)
The Den
NEXT GEN: DJs Stokes and Kalssi present NEXT GEN, the modern alternative club night. Expect to hear the newest releases from all your favourite metal, punk and rock artists.
Ace of Spades
Master of Pop Hits: Exactly what it says on the tin. Wall-to-wall pop bangers reimagined for a Download crowd – chaotic, ridiculous, and the kind of palate cleanser you need on a Saturday night.
Silent discos all night long, featuring System Of A Down VS Slipknot for nu-metal fun, Metallica VS AC/DC for the thrash metal enthusiasts, Avril VS Blink to get your daily pop-punk kick, and My Chem VS The Used.
The Doghouse
Gemma Edwards: Opening and bridging the Doghouse Saturday programme, multi-genre DJ Gemma Edwards keeps the energy locked in between sets.
Lucas Woodland DJ Set: Welsh vocalist Lucas Woodland has become one of the most beloved figures in the alternative scene, fronting Holding Absence while also stepping up as the live voice of Funeral for a Friend. His District X DJ set is the perfect chance to catch him in a different setting, and something tells us his taste in music is going to make for a very good night.
The All-American Rejects (Acoustic): Pop-punk icons The All-American Rejects are stripping things back for an intimate acoustic set in the Doghouse, on top of their Avalanche Saturday headline slot. ‘Swing, Swing’, ‘Dirty Little Secret’ and ‘Gives You Hell’ are going to hit just as hard without the full band behind them. If you’ve ever wanted to sing your heart out to the soundtrack of your early 2000s bedroom, this is the one.
MODESTEP DJ Set: Bass-driven powerhouse MODESTEP close out Saturday night in the Doghouse with their signature fusion of dubstep, drum and bass, and heavy guitar music. Genuinely the perfect way to bridge from Guns N’ Roses winding down to 3am chaos.
District X (Sunday)
The Den
Sophie K: The voice of the breakfast show on Kerrang Radio, the face of celebrity interviews, and the face of the beloved Scuzz TV (RIP) takes to the decks to bring us a night of the biggest rock anthems.
Ace of Spades
Football Anthems VS Power Anthems: Another silent disco with a twist. Channel 1 sees multi-genre DJ powerhouse David Roman spinning football anthems, while Channel 2 has emo rock royalty Yasmine Summan delivering wall-to-wall power ballads and TikTok metal bangers.
Goodbye Download: Best of the Weekend: The perfect send-off to close out your Download 2026, a final silent disco pitting the best pre-Y2K tracks of the weekend against the best post-Y2K, with UPRAWR on Channel 1 and multi-genre DJ Lais MW on Channel 2.
The Doghouse
DJ Liam Cormier of Cancer Bats: Cancer Bats frontman Liam Cormier brings a heavy-hitting DJ set to the Doghouse, also pulling double duty as part of Bat Sabbath earlier in the weekend.
Kickstart My Heart: Classic rock and hair metal club night Kickstart My Heart is bringing the Sunset Strip of LA to the Doghouse for a wall-to-wall night of 80s excess. Expect classics from Mötley Crüe, Kiss, Guns N’ Roses, Bon Jovi, Def Leppard and more.End of the World Party: The ultimate finale of Download 2026. Running until 3am in the Doghouse, this is your permission to leave absolutely everything on the dancefloor. No holding back, no regrets. Dance until you explode.
