The mud has (mostly) been washed off the wellies, the tents have finally been unpacked, and thousands of Downloaders are already asking the biggest question of them all…

Who’s playing Download Festival 2027?

After another unforgettable weekend at the legendary Donington Park, thoughts have already turned towards next summer. While the official line-up is still under wraps, that hasn’t stopped fans from filling social media with wish lists, rumours and dream headliners.

At the time of writing, Download Festival has not announced any artists for 2027. No headliners, no logo bands and no support acts have been confirmed.

So, until the official announcements arrive, here’s our completely unofficial Riff Report guide to who could be taking over the UK’s biggest rock and metal festival in 2027.

🏰 Download Festival – The Home of Rock

There are festivals…

And then there’s Download.

Built on the legendary legacy of the old Monsters of Rock festivals, Download has become one of the world’s premier rock and metal events.

Every June, over 100,000 rock fans descend on Donington Park for four days of huge riffs, unforgettable performances, late-night campsite chaos and enough black T-shirts to block out the sun.

Whether you’re there for classic rock, death metal, pop punk, metalcore, hardcore or something in between, Download has become one giant celebration of alternative music.

🎸 Who Could Headline Download Festival 2027?

These are our predictions—not leaks, not rumours, just educated guesses based on touring schedules, previous appearances and who fans would love to see.

⚡ Metallica

Let’s get the obvious one out of the way.

Metallica always feels like a possibility.

Few bands can headline Download quite like the Four Horsemen, and every return feels like a historic event.

With one of the biggest live productions in rock, they’d instantly become one of the hottest tickets of the year.

👹 Ghost

Ghost have spent the last decade evolving from cult favourites into genuine arena headliners.

Their theatrical production, unforgettable songs and ever-growing fanbase make them one of the strongest contenders for a future Download headline slot.

Papa and the Nameless Ghouls would absolutely own Donington.

🐍 Bring Me The Horizon

Love them or hate them, Bring Me The Horizon continue to redefine modern rock.

Sheffield’s finest already have a special relationship with Download, and another headline appearance feels inevitable.

Expect pyro, surprises and absolute mayhem.

🔥 Rammstein

The dream booking.

If schedules ever line up again, Rammstein would turn Donington into the loudest place in Britain.

Flames.

Fireworks.

Explosions.

More flames.

Enough said.

⚔️ Iron Maiden

Download and Iron Maiden simply belong together.

Bruce Dickinson leading thousands through classics like The Trooper, Fear of the Dark and Run to the Hills never gets old.

If Maiden announce another major UK run, Download would surely be on the list.

🖤 Slipknot

Slipknot remain one of the defining Download bands.

Every appearance feels like controlled chaos, and Corey Taylor always seems to bring something special to Donington.

Never rule them out.

🎤 Foo Fighters

Should Foo Fighters return to UK festivals, Download would be an incredible fit.

Dave Grohl has always had a special connection with British audiences, and the singalongs would echo around Donington long after the final encore.

🤘 Modern Bands Ready to Take the Next Step

Download has never been afraid to push newer acts higher up the bill.

Bands we’d love to see include:

  • Sleep Token
  • Spiritbox
  • Electric Callboy
  • Bad Omens
  • Lorna Shore
  • Motionless In White
  • Falling In Reverse
  • Architects
  • Knocked Loose
  • Turnstile

Several of these bands have exploded in popularity over the past few years and could become major attractions in 2027.

🇬🇧 British Bands That Could Shine

Download has always supported home-grown talent.

We’d love to see:

  • Those Damn Crows
  • Skindred
  • Bury Tomorrow
  • While She Sleeps
  • Holding Absence
  • Malevolence
  • Twin Atlantic
  • The Virginmarys
  • Massive Wagons
  • Florence Black
  • Cardinal Black
  • King Kraken
  • Häxan

British rock and metal has never been stronger, and Download is the perfect stage to showcase it.

🌍 International Acts We’d Love to See

The festival has always mixed UK talent with huge international names.

Our dream additions include:

  • Volbeat
  • Alter Bridge
  • Halestorm
  • Trivium
  • Parkway Drive
  • Gojira
  • Lamb of God
  • Avenged Sevenfold
  • Sabaton
  • Black Stone Cherry
  • In Flames
  • Killswitch Engage
  • The Hu

Every one of these bands knows how to put on a festival show.

🎪 What Else Makes Download Special?

Download isn’t just about the bands.

It’s the village.

It’s the Doghouse.

It’s wandering around at 2am looking for food while someone in a dinosaur costume is arguing with a Viking.

It’s inflatable sofas.

It’s campsite DJs.

It’s bumping into mates you only ever see once a year.

It’s the random conversations while queueing for coffee.

It’s discovering your new favourite band at lunchtime before they become tomorrow’s headliner.

Download isn’t simply a festival.

It’s a community.

🎟️ When Will the Download Festival 2027 Line-Up Be Announced?

Historically, Download begins revealing artists many months before the festival, usually starting with the headliners before gradually filling out the rest of the bill.

Until then, the rumours will continue.

Fans will analyse every band’s touring schedule.

Someone will convince themselves that a mysterious social media post confirms Metallica.

Someone else will insist AC/DC are definitely playing because they spotted a black lorry near Derby.

It’s Download season.

The speculation is part of the fun.

🎸 Our Dream Download Festival 2027

Friday

  • Malevolence
  • Lorna Shore
  • Architects
  • Ghost

Saturday

  • Spiritbox
  • Parkway Drive
  • Sleep Token
  • Metallica

Sunday

  • Skindred
  • Halestorm
  • Bring Me The Horizon
  • Iron Maiden

Would it happen?

Probably not exactly.

Would we be standing in the front pit from the first band until the last?

Absolutely.

🤘 Who Do You Want to See at Download Festival 2027?

Right now, no bands have officially been announced for Download Festival 2027, but that won’t stop the speculation.

Whether you’re hoping for returning legends, modern metal giants or the next breakthrough act, one thing is certain—Donington will once again become the centre of the rock and metal universe.

As soon as Download reveals the first official artists, The Riff Report will bring you all the latest news, line-up announcements, camping guides, ticket updates, stage times, reviews and everything else you’ll need before heading back to Donington.

Until then, the debates can rage on.

Who’s your dream headliner?

Who deserves another shot at the main stage?

And which rising band is ready to become Download’s next big success story?

Let us know in the comments, and we’ll see you in the pit.

Proudly Welsh. Proudly Loud. 🤘