Download Festival Announce First Wave Of Bands For 2026 Including A History Making Headliner

It’s the one of the biggest weekends of the festival circuit and the excitement has fully kicked in for Download Festival 2026. The first wave of acts including 3 mammoth headliners and a huge collection of the very best in the alternative scene making this possibly one of the most diverse bills the team at Castle Donnington have unleashed.

This years headliners will see three very fitting names to top the bill. After their insane set in 2023, Limp Bizkit will close off the famous main stage bringing their well known chaos with them. Download royalty Guns n’ Roses will return to the hallowed grounds in what is set to be a night filled with deafening sing-alongs. We also have some amazing history being made as Linkin Park become the first female fronted band to headline Download - 8 years on from their last appearance with Chester at Donnington, this will be an emotional night for both band and fans alike.

Across the bill there are just so many names to digest and enjoy, I mean come on look how stacked it is and there is still more to come! Bad Omens make their big return following on from their sad departure from the line-up in 2023, with new music flooding out, this slot will surely be a big one. If you’re after a party feel then look no further than the likes of Electric Callboy, Pendulum and Cypress Hill who you just know will set the place off. Fresh off their biggest headline tour were in for a treat with Architects coming home as well as big sets inbound from Ice Nine Kills & Black Veil Brides.

I could sit here talking about just how good this bill is for an endless amount of time, every time you look it just gets better and better. Further down the bills we have the likes of South Arcade, Lake Malice, As Everything Unfolds and Scene Queen among the female powerhouses who will appear over the weekend. An insanely strong hardcore element with the likes of Kublai Khan TX, Nasty & Paleface Swiss all looking to leave their own mark. Like I said, the list goes on and on.

With even more bands set to come as well as the iconic District X, as far as variety goes, this is certainly heading to be one of the best Download’s yet.

Tickets are on sale now and will surely be flying out the door. The countdown to Donnington is well and truly on.