🎸 Download Festival 2026: The Ultimate Riff Report Stage-by-Stage Guide 🤘🔥

Donington Park is once again preparing to become the spiritual home of rock, metal, punk, alternative madness and questionable campsite decisions as Download Festival 2026 storms into the Midlands from 12th–14th June.

This year’s line-up is absolutely stacked. From nu-metal legends and metalcore titans to punk heroes, electronic chaos merchants and rising stars, there’s something for every Downloader.

So grab a warm cider, dust the mud off your boots and let’s take a wander through every stage and every day. 🤘

🔥 FRIDAY 12 JUNE – THE PARTY STARTS

🎤 Apex Stage

Limp Bizkit

The kings of rap-metal return to Download in headline form. Fred Durst and company proved once again that their catalogue is packed with absolute bangers. Expect huge singalongs, giant crowds and enough nostalgia to power Donington for another decade.

Cypress Hill

Hip-hop royalty with a rock festival reputation that keeps getting stronger. Their live shows are a massive party full of classics and infectious energy.

Electric Callboy

Germany’s masters of chaos. Metalcore meets Eurodance, ridiculous outfits and some of the biggest festival anthems of the modern era.

Pendulum

Drum & bass legends who always feel right at home at Download. Massive beats, huge production and enough energy to wake up everyone still asleep in the campsite.

Hollywood Undead

Rap-rock veterans delivering a set packed with hooks and crowd participation.

P.O.D.

The Californian rockers continue to prove why they’ve remained favourites for over two decades.

Scene Queen

Pink, loud, unapologetic and bringing a fresh dose of attitude to Download.

🔥 Opus Stage

Halestorm

Lzzy Hale remains one of rock’s greatest frontwomen. Expect massive vocals, huge riffs and a set full of fire.

Daughtry

One of the most recognisable voices in modern rock brings plenty of singalong moments.

Periphery

Progressive metal brilliance featuring some of the most technically gifted musicians on the bill.

Creeper

Goth-punk horror rock from Southampton. One of the UK’s best live bands.

Paleface Swiss

Absolutely savage modern deathcore that could level buildings.

Silent Planet

Thoughtful, emotional metalcore with enormous live intensity.

Caskets

Melodic post-hardcore packed with emotion and soaring choruses.

⚡ Avalanche Stage

Feeder

Welsh legends and absolute Download favourites. Grant Nicholas and the gang continue delivering anthem after anthem more than 30 years into their career.

Story Of The Year

Post-hardcore heroes with enough energy to make everyone feel 18 again.

Sleep Theory

One of the fastest-rising modern rock bands around.

Rain City Drive

Melodic rock brilliance with huge vocal hooks.

DRAIN

California crossover thrash chaos. Expect circle pits everywhere.

Lakeview

Country rock meets modern hard rock.

Hollywood Hate

Bringing fresh alternative energy to Donington.

Silly Goose

One of the most talked-about underground bands in America.

Native James

UK alternative star blending rap, metal and pure passion.

💀 Dogtooth Stage

Gaerea

Atmospheric black metal that feels both haunting and beautiful.

Chaos AD

Thrash-inspired aggression that perfectly suits Download.

Corrosion of Conformity

Southern metal legends with decades of history.

Band-Maid

Japanese rock sensations combining incredible musicianship with huge stage presence.

Static Dress

One of Britain’s most exciting alternative bands.

Nasty

Hardcore brutality at its finest.

Hanabie.

Japanese metalcore madness with infectious energy.

James And The Cold Gun

Welsh rock representing proudly at Donington.

Slay Squad

Heavy, aggressive and ready to cause carnage.

Health

Industrial electronic darkness for the late afternoon crowd.

🔥 SATURDAY 13 JUNE – DONINGTON TURNS UP THE HEAT

🎤 Apex Stage

Guns N’ Roses

Rock royalty. Axl, Slash and Duff return to Donington to remind everyone why they’re one of the biggest bands in music history.

Trivium

Florida metal heroes celebrating over two decades of crushing riffs.

Babymetal

The Japanese phenomenon continues its global domination.

Black Veil Brides

Huge choruses, massive production and a loyal fanbase ready to sing every word.

LANDMVRKS

French metalcore excellence.

South Arcade

One of the hottest rising UK alternative acts.

Thornhill

Australian heavyweights blending atmosphere and brutality.

🔥 Opus Stage

Architects

Modern metalcore giants and one of Britain’s most successful heavy bands.

Behemoth

Poland’s blackened death metal legends bring darkness to Download.

Bush

90s rock icons led by Gavin Rossdale.

Set It Off

Pop-punk and alternative rock fun.

The Same Damn Crows

Welsh rock pride flying high.

We Came As Romans

Metalcore veterans delivering emotional anthems.

Drowning Pool

Yes, everybody will be waiting for Bodies.

Snot

Cult nu-metal heroes making a welcome return.

Vukovi

Scottish alternative rock brilliance.

⚡ Avalanche Stage

The All-American Rejects

Pop-punk royalty with a catalogue packed full of festival favourites.

Hot Milk

Manchester’s rising stars continue their rapid ascent.

Marmozets

Technically brilliant and wonderfully unpredictable.

As It Is

Pop-punk favourites returning to Download.

Melrose Avenue

Australian newcomers creating serious buzz.

Mouth Culture

One of the UK’s most exciting modern rock bands.

Die Spitz

Raw punk energy.

Nevertel

Alternative rock packed with melody.

Frozemode

Genre-blending creativity at its finest.

Passionflower

Fresh talent ready to win new fans.

💀 Dogtooth Stage

Blood Incantation

Progressive death metal innovators.

Decapitated

Polish death metal legends.

Elder

Heavy psychedelic masters.

Sweet Savage

Classic metal pioneers.

Self Deception

Swedish hard rock with huge hooks.

As Everything Unfolds

One of Britain’s strongest modern alternative bands.

Future Palace

Atmospheric post-hardcore brilliance.

Conjurer

Crushing sludge and post-metal heaviness.

Lowen

Folk-inspired metal excellence.

Tailgunner

Traditional heavy metal flying the flag proudly.

Tropic Gold

Modern alternative energy.

Pussylíquor

Guaranteed to raise a few eyebrows and plenty of laughs.

🔥 SUNDAY 14 JUNE – GO BIG OR GO HOME

🎤 Apex Stage

Linkin Park

One of the most anticipated Download performances in years. The band enters a new era while celebrating one of the greatest catalogues in modern rock.

Bad Omens

Modern metal’s hottest property.

Ice Nine Kills

Horror-inspired metalcore packed with theatrical flair.

The Pretty Reckless

Taylor Momsen continues to lead one of rock’s finest live bands.

Bloodywood

Indian folk metal sensations who never fail to bring a party.

Rory

One of Britain’s most exciting emerging voices.

Kublai Khan TX

Heavy. Very heavy. Extremely heavy.

Unpeople

Future stars in the making.

🔥 Opus Stage

A Day To Remember

The perfect blend of pop-punk and metalcore.

Mastodon

Progressive metal masters and festival favourites.

Tom Morello

The legendary guitarist bringing political passion and incredible musicianship.

Social Distortion

Punk rock legends.

The Plot In You

Emotionally powerful modern metal.

Thrown

One of the most exciting heavy bands around.

Dogstar

Yes, that Dogstar. Featuring Keanu Reeves on bass.

Mammoth

Wolfgang Van Halen continues building his own legacy.

Catch Your Breath

Rising modern rock stars.

Ego Kill Talent

Brazilian alternative rock excellence.

⚡ Avalanche Stage

Scooter

The most Download booking ever and somehow the most Download booking imaginable. Expect chaos, nostalgia and thousands shouting “HOW MUCH IS THE FISH?!”

Letlive.

Post-hardcore legends returning to blow minds.

Ash

Northern Irish rock heroes packed with hits.

Dinosaur Pile-Up

British alternative rock favourites.

Magnolia Park

Genre-smashing modern rock brilliance.

TX2

One of alternative music’s most talked-about new names.

The Pretty Wild

Rising alternative stars.

VUKOVI

Always a crowd favourite wherever they play.

Zero 9:36

Rap-rock energy that fits Download perfectly.

Mould

Indie-punk newcomers looking to make their mark.

💀 Dogtooth Stage

Creeper

Closing out the Dogtooth with gothic grandeur and theatrical rock brilliance.

Spineshank

Nu-metal veterans returning for another round.

Gatecreeper

Death metal devastation.

Boundaries

Modern hardcore aggression.

Annisokay

German post-hardcore favourites.

Last Train

French rock excellence.

Wayside

Alternative newcomers on the rise.

Deceased

Old-school death metal pedigree.

Private School

Fresh talent ready to surprise.

Spitting Glass

Heavy, loud and hungry.

🤘 The Riff Report Verdict

Download Festival 2026 might just be one of the most varied Download line-ups we’ve seen in years.

You’ve got:

• Limp Bizkit bringing the nostalgia 🧢
• Guns N’ Roses bringing the legends 🎸
• Linkin Park bringing the emotion 🔥
• Electric Callboy bringing the madness 🤣
• Scooter bringing whatever the hell Scooter brings 💃
• Feeder flying the Welsh flag proudly 🏴
• Creeper bringing the theatrical horror 🎭
• Architects, Trivium, Halestorm, Pendulum, Babymetal and Bad Omens all ready to level Donington 💥

Whether you’re here for metal, punk, hardcore, alternative rock, electronic chaos or simply the annual tradition of getting lost on the way back to camp, Download 2026 looks absolutely stacked.

See you in the pit, butt. 🍻🤘

Proudly Welsh. Proudly Loud. 🎸🔥🤘