The build-up to Download Festival 2026 has already begun in earnest with over 90 names being dropped, including three UK-exclusive headliners of significant importance. Linkin Park top the bill in for the first time since 2013, now as the festival’s first ever female-fronted headliner (apologies for that awful phrase but it’s been deemed the most applicable, apparently). Elsewhere, Guns N’ Roses make their long-awaited return, with the solidified classic core of Axl Rose, Slash and Duff McKagan to brook one of the most iconic hard rock bands of all time. Finally, making the jump to the top after far too long, Limp Bizkit bounce back after the tragic loss of bassist Sam Rivers to maintain their status as longstanding nu-metal legends.
Elsewhere, there’s an impressive crop of names here, encompassing both dyed-in-the-wool Download fare and the broader alternative focus of recent years. For the former, Trivium’s relationship to the hallowed grounds has been well-documented, while Halestorm, Mastodon, The Pretty Reckless, Black Veil Brides and Mammoth are all similarly versed in hard rock and metal built for these huge stages in particular. You can say the same about the nu-metal quotient sprinkled around, as Static-X, P.O.D., Drowning Pool and Spineshank all carry the torch for the late ‘90s and early 2000s, and tap into a vein of nostalgia that Download has always embraced so well. Might as well toss Cypress Hill among them, too, as one of the hip-hop names that even the oldest of oldheads are fine with keeping among their rock and metal. What’s more, even the heaviest corners of ‘true’ metal have been thrown a bone, with an always-welcome appearance from Behemoth, Cavalera seeing Max and Iggor teaming up to celebrate Sepultura’s classic Chaos A.D., and Blood Incantation for one of the most acclaimed progressive death metal bands around.
For the newer, wider-reaching stuff, however, there has been not a single expense spared here. Between Bad Omens, Architects, Babymetal, Electric Callboy and Ice Nine Kills, you’ve essentially got the cross-section of modern metal’s brightest and most influential. Just a step below them, there’s Periphery, LANDMVRKS, Imminence, Thornhill, thrown and Paleface Swiss, another crop glowing with metalcore’s most immediate zeitgeist. Add in the distinct flavours of Bloodywood and Scene Queen; well-loved long-runners like We Came As Romans, The Plot In You and Kublai Khan TX; and a bit of legendary spice from one Tom Morello, and there’s a lot to be excited about from Download’s metal spread. There’s also letlive., prime dominators of the live stage who, empowered by a reunion that’s worked like gangbusters for them, remain one of the most electrifying bands in the world.
As far as some of the more alternative picks go, they, too, read like a who’s who of perpetual momentum enjoyers in current rock. Sleep Theory will be one of the rock bands to dominate 2026, and in that alternative radio-rock mould, they’re bringing Nevertel, Rain City Drive and Melrose Avenue with them. In alternative and pop-rock circles, the twin hitters of RØRY and South Arcade have been nailed on winners all throughout 2025, which looks set to continue all the more in the new year. (You can also add Lake Malice as a heavier but no less auspicious third pillar.) There’s also a further breadth of British talent to peruse, spanning As It Is, As Everything Unfolds, Mouth Culture, James And The Cold Gun and Naked James.
And even with that, there’s still a metric ton more of varied stuff to rattle off in this first announcement alone. So, we’ve got *deep breath* Feeder, Pendulum, The All-American Rejects, Ash, Bush, Hollywood Undead, Set It Off, Social Distortion, Dogstar (featuring some fella called Keanu Reeves; dunno if you’ve heard of him), Story Of The Year, Those Damn Crows, Corrosion Of Conformity, Boundaries, Catch Your Breath, Drain, Silent Planet, Sweet Pill, Magnolia Park, Nasty, Gatecreeper, Decapitated, TX2, unpeople, Snot, Die Spitz, Lowen, vianova, The Pretty Wild, Tropic Gold, Zero 9:36, Ego Kill Talent, Elder, Sweet Savage, Last Train, Ankor, ivri, Spitting Glass (who allegedly have something to do with Sleep Token, FYI), Lakeview, Headwreck, Self Deception, Slay Squad, Holywatr, Return To Dust, Pussyliquor, Tailgunner and Wayside. Pretty good, eh?
Download Festival takes place at Donington Park, Derby from 10th-14th June 2026. For more information, visit downloadfestival.co.uk.
Words by Luke Nuttall
