Download Festival 2026 returns to Donington Park, Leicestershire, UK from June 12 to 14, 2026 for its 23rd edition with a lineup that reads like a hall of fame of rock and metal. Headlined by Limp Bizkit on Friday, Guns N’ Roses on Saturday, and Linkin Park on Sunday, Download XXIII delivers one of the strongest top-to-bottom bills in the festival’s history.
Across four stages, the festival spans every corner of heavy music, from nu-metal nostalgia and classic rock royalty to modern metalcore, progressive metal, and punk. With over 100 acts across the Apex, Opus, Avalanche, and Dogtooth stages, this is three days of unrelenting heaviness in the spiritual home of British rock festivals.
Essential Details for Download Festival 2026
- Dates: June 12–14, 2026
- Location: Donington Park, Leicestershire, UK
- Tickets: Available at downloadfestival.co.uk
- Camping: On-site camping available (opens Wednesday June 10)
- Airport: East Midlands Airport (EMA), approximately 5 miles away
Download Festival 2026 Lineup: Headliners and Highlights
Apex Stage
Friday, June 12
Limp Bizkit – Fred Durst and company bring the nu-metal chaos to Donington. After their massive comeback wave, Limp Bizkit have proven they are far more than a nostalgia act. Their explosive live shows turn entire festival fields into one giant mosh pit, and their Friday headline slot is the perfect way to kick off the weekend.
Cypress Hill – Hip-hop legends who have always had a natural home on rock festival bills. Their fusion of rap and rock, from “Insane in the Brain” to their collaborations with metal acts, makes them a perfect Download booking.
Electric Callboy – The German party-metalcore phenomenon whose combination of crushing breakdowns, eurobeat synths, and absurd humor has made them one of the most entertaining live acts in modern heavy music.
Pendulum – The drum and bass turned live rock act whose explosive performances blur the line between electronic and rock. Their Download sets have become legendary for their sheer intensity.
Hollywood Undead, P.O.D., and Scene Queen round out Friday’s Apex bill.
Saturday, June 13
Guns N’ Roses – One of the greatest rock bands of all time. Axl Rose, Slash, and Duff McKagan bring decades of iconic anthems, from “Sweet Child O’ Mine” to “November Rain,” to Donington’s hallowed ground. Their marathon sets are the stuff of festival legend, and Saturday night at Download is the perfect stage for rock’s most dangerous band.
Trivium – One of modern metal’s most technically proficient and consistently excellent bands. Matt Heafy and company have earned their place near the top of any heavy bill through two decades of relentless touring and album after album of crushing metal.
Babymetal – The Japanese kawaii-metal phenomenon whose unique fusion of J-pop vocals and face-melting metal has won over skeptics worldwide. Their choreographed, high-production shows are unlike anything else at Download.
Black Veil Brides – The theatrical rock act whose devoted fanbase and arena-ready anthems have made them a staple of the modern rock scene.
Landmvrks, South Arcade, and Thornhill add modern metalcore firepower to Saturday’s Apex lineup.
Sunday, June 14
Linkin Park – The band that defined a generation of rock fans. With Emily Armstrong now fronting alongside Mike Shinoda, Linkin Park’s return has been one of the biggest stories in modern rock. Their catalogue, from “Hybrid Theory” to “From Zero,” spans nu-metal, alternative rock, and electronic experimentation, and their Sunday headline slot at Download is guaranteed to be an emotional, cathartic experience for hundreds of thousands of fans.
Bad Omens – The metalcore band who have exploded into one of the genre’s biggest acts. Their blend of heavy riffs, atmospheric electronics, and massive hooks has earned them a devoted following and a well-deserved high billing.
Ice Nine Kills – The horror-themed metalcore band whose elaborate, cinematic live shows based on classic horror films have made them one of the most unique acts in heavy music.
The Pretty Reckless – Taylor Momsen’s hard rock outfit delivers raw, bluesy riffs and powerful vocals that command attention on any stage.
Bloodywood, RØRY, Kublai Khan TX, and Unpeople complete Sunday’s Apex bill.
Opus Stage
Halestorm (Friday) – Lzzy Hale is one of rock’s most powerful vocalists, and Halestorm’s high-energy, riff-driven sets are a masterclass in arena rock.
Architects (Saturday) – The Brighton metalcore titans whose evolution from underground heavyweights to arena headliners has been one of British metal’s greatest success stories.
A Day to Remember (Sunday) – The band that perfected the pop-punk meets metalcore formula. Their sets are equal parts singalong and circle pit.
Daughtry (Friday), Behemoth (Saturday), and Mastodon (Sunday) anchor the Opus stage’s sub-headline slots, each bringing their own brand of heavy mastery.
Tom Morello – The Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave guitar legend brings his revolutionary riffs and politically charged energy as a solo act.
Periphery, Bush, Social Distortion, We Came as Romans, Drowning Pool, Creeper, The Plot in You, Set It Off, Paleface Swiss, Silent Planet, Snot, Those Damn Crows, Thrown, Dogstar, Mammoth, Catch Your Breath, and Ego Kill Talent fill out an Opus lineup that could headline smaller festivals on its own.
Avalanche Stage (Hosted by Kerrang! Radio)
Feeder (Friday) – The Welsh rock veterans whose melodic alt-rock anthems have soundtracked British summers for decades.
The All-American Rejects (Saturday) – Pop-punk royalty. “Move Along,” “Dirty Little Secret,” and “Gives You Hell” are generational anthems that will have the Avalanche tent singing every word.
Scooter (Sunday) – The German techno-rave act whose presence on a rock festival bill might raise eyebrows, but whose chaotic, high-energy performances are guaranteed to create the biggest party of the weekend.
Story of the Year, Sleep Theory, Hot Milk, Marmozets, Letlive., Ash, Dinosaur Pile-Up, As It Is, Rain City Drive, Die Spitz, and more bring a diverse mix of punk, emo, and alternative to the Kerrang!-hosted stage.
Dogtooth Stage
Cavalera (Friday) – The Cavalera brothers reunite for a celebration of Sepultura’s legendary catalogue, bringing Brazilian thrash metal to Donington.
Blood Incantation (Saturday) – The death metal visionaries whose cosmic, progressive approach to extreme music has earned them universal critical acclaim.
Static-X (Sunday) – The industrial metal act continues the legacy of Wayne Static with their crushing, machine-like grooves.
Chaos AD, Corrosion of Conformity, Band-Maid, Decapitated, Spineshank, Gatecreeper, Sweet Savage, Conjurer, Boundaries, Ankor, Annisokay, and dozens more make the Dogtooth stage a paradise for fans of underground and extreme metal.
Why Download Festival 2026 Will Be Legendary
The Holy Ground of Rock Donington Park is not just a festival venue. It is the spiritual home of British rock and metal. From the Monsters of Rock era in the 1980s to the birth of Download in 2003, this patch of Leicestershire countryside has hosted more legendary rock moments than almost anywhere else on earth. Playing Download is a rite of passage for any heavy band, and headlining it is the peak.
Three Generations of Rock The 2026 lineup spans three decades of heavy music in the most satisfying way. Guns N’ Roses represent the golden age of classic rock, Limp Bizkit and Linkin Park defined the nu-metal era that shaped a generation, and acts like Bad Omens, Architects, and Ice Nine Kills carry the torch for modern metal. Every era of heavy music is represented, and every generation of fan has their headliner.
The Undercard Depth Download has always been about more than just the headliners. The Opus, Avalanche, and Dogtooth stages are where discoveries happen. From Behemoth’s black metal intensity to Blood Incantation’s cosmic death metal to Scooter’s rave chaos, the range of sounds across four stages is staggering.
The Download Community Download’s camping community is legendary. The early-bird campers who arrive on Wednesday create a festival-within-a-festival, with unofficial stages, campsite DJs, and a camaraderie that makes Download one of the friendliest festivals in the world despite being the heaviest.
Insider Tips for Download Festival
Arrive Wednesday or Thursday The campsite opens days before the music starts, and the pre-festival atmosphere is a huge part of the experience. Plus, you get the best camping spots.
Prepare for Every Weather Download at Donington is famously unpredictable. “Drownload” is a well-earned nickname. Pack wellies, a waterproof jacket, and sunscreen. You will likely need all three in the same day.
Do Not Underestimate the Dogtooth Stage The smallest stage consistently hosts some of the most intense performances of the weekend. If you want to discover your new favorite band, spend time here.
Plan Your Headliner Spot Early For Guns N’ Roses and Linkin Park especially, the Apex field will be packed. If you want to be close, stake your spot 2-3 acts before the headliner.
The Village Download’s festival village has food, merch, and entertainment beyond the stages. The signing tents offer meet-and-greet opportunities with bands throughout the weekend.
Pace Your Weekend Three days of heavy music is physically demanding. Stay hydrated, eat properly, and do not burn yourself out on Friday. Sunday’s Linkin Park set will be worth saving energy for.
Final Thoughts
Download Festival 2026 is a statement of intent from the biggest rock festival in the UK. By uniting Limp Bizkit, Guns N’ Roses, and Linkin Park as headliners, and stacking four stages with everything from Babymetal’s kawaii-metal to Blood Incantation’s cosmic death metal to Scooter’s techno-rave chaos, Download XXIII promises to be one of the defining festival weekends of 2026. Whether you are a lifelong metalhead or a first-timer drawn in by the headliners, Donington Park is calling.
Secure your Download Festival 2026 tickets at downloadfestival.co.uk and prepare for the heaviest weekend of the year.
