We’re just over 100 days from Download Festival 2026, and an already stacked lineup is being filled out nicely by its newest announcement. Again, the onus seems to be on representing every area of the rock and alternative spectrum, be that through old stalwarts, impressive upstarts, and the names that everyone knows and loves. A Day To Remember fall squarely in the camp, where even if their recorded output has left a lot to be desired lately, they’re always a home-run booking live. As revealed by the stage splits accompanying this announcement, they’ll be headlining the Opus Stage, a fitting place for a band of this magnitude. After all, they were among the first to go all in on the pop-punk / mosh fusion that so many would co-opt, and very few would master. Whether A Day To Remember themselves are mastering it these days is another question, but the back catalogue is undeniable, all the same.
Also taking to the Opus Stage are Daughtry, a band who always feel like strange infiltrators when placed among such hallowed rock company. There was a time when an act moulded from talent show clay would be derided to no end, but clearly that time isn’t now. And even though Chris Daughtry’s post-grunge bears the hallmarks of the American Idol machine from which is was birthed, you can’t deny the primal, human appeal of a Friday night soundtracked by What About Now or It’s Not Over (especially when you’re a few bevvies deep). Besides, there’s no shortage of ‘real’ metal for you, if you’re too good for the basest of fun. No slight at Conjurer with that, though, who remain one of the most visceral, arresting post-metal acts we have today. Nor is it to Decessus, arriving from Chile to no doubt become a significant name in progressive death-metal in the weeks and months to come.
The biggest bunch of names, however, comes in the form of UK rock names for whom ‘going from strength to strength’ doesn’t quite do them justice. Like, you can barely even quantify Creeper and Hot Milk at this point. They play everywhere; they always smash it when they do; and they’ve both amassed significant catalogues from which to draw and, in all likelihood, conquer again. More interestingly, though, is the continued return of Marmozets. Their crusade to revive the reputation of early-2010s alt-rock firecrackers has been cutting a swathe through 2026 so far, and looks unlikely to be stopping any time soon. By the time they step on the Avalanche Stage, CO.WAR.DICE will be out, their first album in eight years looking to crystallise how much of a force Marmozets are in 2026. Will they succeed? Only time will tell, but it’ll be interesting to watch nonetheless.
As for the rest, it’s the variety you’d expect from modern-day Download bills, with surprisingly (and pleasingly) little crossover. For some, it’s inevitable; Frozemode’s cocktail of indie-rock, hip-hop and streetwise demeanour doesn’t have any clear likenesses in the current scene. Elsewhere, there’s just a lot thoroughness around where’s been drawn from. Stampin’ Ground are a solid pick for classic British metallic hardcore; Silly Goose are making serious waves in the realms of 2000s rap-metal revivalism; Annisokay are among the top dogs in skyscraping European metalcore; and Private School—one of the most up-and-coming acts of this new crop—have a Californicated ‘90s alt-punk sound that’ll really pique some interest. Finally, there’s some ever-appreciated out-there-ness from (where else?) Japan, courtesy of BAND-MAID’s own flavour of idol-metal, and The Primals, the band of Masayoshi Soken whose M.O. is playing heavied-up versions of songs from Final Fantasy XIV. So there’s also that.
Oh, and just for completion’s sake because we missed it last time, techno legends Scooter are headlining the Avalanche Stage on Sunday night. Absolutely insane booking; we’re all for it.
Download Festival takes place at Donington Park, Derby from 10th-14th June 2026. For more information, visit downloadfestival.co.uk.
Words by Luke Nuttall
