Download 2026 has really knocked out of the park with the line-up this year. From classic rock and punk to alternative rock and extreme metal, there’s truly something for everyone and it’s astonishing to note just how many bands are playing this year who have graced our recent albums of the year listings.
Anyhow, with hundreds of bands from which to choose, more than a few vexatious clashes, and one of the best party atmospheres the UK festival scene has to offer, here’s a starter guide to eighteen bands which we think you should have on your must-view list at this year’s event.
See you in the pit!
Friday
P.O.D.: Apex, 14:00 – 14:30
P.O.D. have been on something of a roll of late. Their two most recent albums – Circles and Veritas – boast great hooks, powerful lyrics, and some seriously chunky riffs, with the latter album in particular showcasing a band unafraid to keep pushing their own boundaries. Just check out the likes of Drop (the original featuring Randy Blythe), and I Won’t Lay Down, to see what the band have in store for you when they hit the stage.
An incredible live act, known for their hot, sweaty, and intense live performances, P.O.D.’s return to Download is long overdue. Expect a mini-earthquake as the band hit the Apex stage as they deliver their inimitable mix of hard-hitting nu-metal anthems, sun-kissed So-Cal moments, and mosh-pit wide singalongs. Miss P.O.D. at your peril, they have never sounded better than they currently do.
Cypress Hill: Apex, 19:00 – 20:10
Even before Cypress Hill incorporated members of Fear Factory into their live band for the nu-metal-tinged Skull And Bones, they had crossed over into the rock world with their memorable tunes and tales of skunk-powered shenanigans. With Black Sunday basically the ultimate hip hop album for many rockers, Cypress Hill have continued to reinvent themselves over the years, with Elephants On Acid and Back In Black proving to be sonically adventurous efforts that have only built on their established legacy.
Expect classic cuts, addictive rhymes, Dusty Springfield samples, and the occasional frazzled riff all, in all probability, leading up to Rock Superstar which, at their recent Albert Hall performance, took on the immense gravitas of a modern-day Kashmir.
Cypress Hill fucking rock, now get your arse to the Apex Stage on Friday evening.
Feeder: Avalanche, 19:55 – 20:55
Fresh from touring the anniversary of Comfort In Sound, Feeder are ready to hit Download with their mix of emotionally charged anthems, cracking singalong singles and, if we’re really lucky, the occasional burst of metallic fury (Descend is probably too much to hope for, but we can dream).
With a huge back catalogue comprising twelve studio albums, Feeder will be able to cherry pick the perfect set for their return to Donnington and you can expect to see the mosh pit bouncing enthusiastically from giddy start to the final crashing power chord. Catch them headlining the Avalanche Stage on Friday evening.
Corrosion Of Conformity: Dogtooth, 20:45 – 21:20
The return of Corrosion of Conformity to Donnington is guaranteed to cause waves of excitement for anyone who likes their metal to come with a patchouli-scented groove, not least because recent album Good God / Bad Maan is quite simply one of the albums of the year. It is such an exciting album and even now, several months after its release, it’s never far from the stereo.
With a forty-plus year legacy, the band have a hell of a catalogue from which to draw and you can guaran-damn-tee that Woody Weatherman and Pepper Keenan, joined by relative newcomers Bobby Ladgraf and Nick Shabatura will hit the stage with all the force of a skunk-infused hurricane.
Find them on the Dogtooth stage on Friday evening but expect to have to fight your way into the tent.
Limp Bizkit: Apex, 20:50 – 22:30
As anyone who caught Limp Bizkit’s support slot two years ago will know, they ruled the day, comprehensively blowing Avenged Sevenfold offstage. Now they’re back, baby, and this time in the top slot.
It’s not been an easy ride for the band, who have endured countless rifts, occasional derision, and numerous bouts of self-sabotage. And yet, for a brief period, they absolutely ruled the early 00s and few who knew back them have forgotten the energy of the shows or, it seems, the words to the songs.
With plenty of hits from which to choose, Limp Bizkit will take the Apex Stage by storm, and we’re looking forward to a sea of baggy trousered creatures screaming the lyrics back to Fred word for word.
It is going to be glorious… alright baby, let’s keep on rollin’
Saturday June 13th
The Wildhearts: Opus, 11:00 – 11:30
Few can deny the impact of the Wildhearts on the UK rock scene. Even fewer, amongst those who know, would deny the impact of Ginger’s recent cancer diagnosis. Yet, with Ginger issuing a plea to fans to allow him to go out on his own terms, there is something life affirming about his decision to keep doing that which, over the years, has brought meaning and joy to a tumultuous life.
And, it should be noted, that this latest iteration of The Wildhearts is operating at a career peak. Latest album The Satanic Rites Of… is an absolutely monumental statement of intent that more than stands shoulder to shoulder with the likes of Earth Vs. and P.H.U.Q.; while the band, as Ginger noted, are more than capable of playing pretty much anything from across the band’s storied history.
Expect huge riffs, classic melodies, and earworms that will attempt to steal your soul – Wildhearts are just that sort of band.
Snot: Opus, 11:55 – 12:20
The sporadically reunited Snot, who initially disbanded in 1998 after the tragic death of singer Lynn Strait, have been engaged in considerable touring activity this year, having teased a new album last year. The revised line up, which includes original members Mikey Doling, John “Tumor” Fahnestock, and Jamie Miller, alongside new singer Andy Knapp will bring Snot’s unique mix of nu-metal, punk, and funk to Download on the Saturday – make sure you haul yourself out of your pit early to catch them.
Bush: Opus, 17:00 – 17:40
Bush have been undergoing something of a renaissance of late, with recent album I Beat Lonliness proving to be a particularly strong entry in their cannon. A fearsome live act who spent years in the wilderness having been unfairly targeted by the UK music press (primarily for committing the unforgivable crime of having made it in the US without their permission), Bush will be looking for blood at Donnington.
And they’ve got the tunes… Expect a mix of classic tracks from the likes of Sixteen Stone and its powerful follow up, Razorblade Suitcase, as well as stunning moments from their latest effort (our hopes are pinned on electrifying album opener Scars and splenetic rocker LOVE Me Til The Pain Fades).
Join them at the Opus Stage on Saturday and give them a firm incentive to return to the UK for a headline tour.
Behemoth: Opus, 18:10 – 19:00
The Polish death metallers just keep getting better, with recent album The Shit Ov God an absolute masterclass in blackened death metal. With frontman Adam “Nergal” Darski fiercely committed to all things Behemoth, you can expect him to hit the Opus Stage with all guns blazing and, as those of you who have previously attended a Behemoth show will know, this is no small thing.
While a daylight show may not be the band’s chosen environment, expect fire, dark ritual, and corpse paint aplenty as they summon the darkness through force of will alone. A band who, like previous touring partners Slipknot, have that rare ability to craft anthems that are both ruthlessly heavy and yet strangely catchy; see: Slaves Shall Serve Bartzabel, and Blow Your Trumpets Gabriel for examples of their potent craft; Behemoth have future headliner status written all over them.
Decapitated: Dogtooth 19:25 – 20:00
Polish death metal masters Decapitated are a brutally precise outfit who never disappoint in the live environment. Pivotal in reigniting a struggling genre in the early 00s, Decapitated have overcome a series of obstacles and personal tragedies that would have broken a less determined band but, under the steady hand of Wacław “Vogg” Kiełtyka, they have remained one of the most consistent extreme metal bands currently treading the boards.
With the long-awaited follow up to Cancer Culture hinted at, potentially for release this year, expect a take-no-prisoners set from a band who helped to redefine death metal for a whole new audience.
Guns ‘N’ Roses: Apex, 19:35 – 22:55
It feels difficult now to explain to younger festival goers just the impact that Guns ‘n’ Roses had on the music scene, or the palpable sense of excitement that went hand in hand with the announcement that the bulk of the classic line up (no Izzy and no Steven Addler) had reformed for the insanely popular Not In This Lifetime tour. Indeed, why bother when we can simply show them?
With the band once more a tightly honed unit, recent G’N’R shows have seen Axl, Slash, and Duff tearing through the vast majority of their back catalogue, mixing the big hitters (Paradise City, Night Train, Welcome To The Jungle, November Rain) with deep cuts that typically have fans in raptures (Coma, Dead Horses) and even a slew of covers, ranging from material aired on The Spaghetti Incident? to touching tributes to Chris Cornell and Scott Weiland.
A little calmer than in years gone by and infinitely less likely to cause a riot, Guns ‘n’ Roses remain the quintessential rock band. Get ready to answer one of the most well-known questions in rock, “do you know where you are?”
Blood Incantation: Dogtooth, 20:30 – 21:30
One of a number of unfortunate clashes on the Saturday, Blood Incantation’s set is slap bang in the middle of Guns ‘n’ Roses’ marathon headline slot. That said, given the passionate following the band whipped up across the UK in the wake of 2024’s Absolute Elsewhere (and the relative paucity of live shows), this is a must-see set for progressive metal fans, and it’s likely that the tent will be rammed to breaking point.
Expect lengthy, spacey explorations of metal’s sonic hinterland (recent shows have seen them playing the two-track Absolute Elsewhere in full), and make sure you get there early if you want to bag a spot.
Sunday
Dogstar 13:40 – 14:10
Having reunited in 2020 and only returned to the stage in 2023, Dogstar have, over the years, been somewhat overshadowed by the identity of their bassist, which is unfortunate because they have a cracking line in great melodies, sparkling riffs, and taught, alternative rock groove, as evidenced by recent single All In Now from the album (released tomorrow, May 29) of the same name.
With four albums to draw from, expect a mix of old favourites and recent singles as the band bring their airy, atmospheric anthems on the Opus Stage.
Bloodywood: Apex, 14:25 – 15:10
While attention may be firmly placed on the old-school nu-metal crowd, you’d be a fool to sleep on Bloodywood. With recent album Nu Delhi doing the rounds, the band have honed their glorious culture clash of nu-metal and traditional Indian folk melodies into a monstrous wedge of sound that will set Donnington alight.
Want to know where to start? Simply dial up Dhadak from the new album, dime the volume, and you’ll find your body moving whether you want it to or not. More than capable of kicking it with the likes of P.O.D. and Limp Bizkit, Bloodywood are a whole heap of fun and have earned their slot on the Apex Stage.
Expect to dance ‘til you drop as these innovative rockers add another few thousand fans to their ever-growing base.
Dinosaur Pile Up: Dogtooth, 16:50 – 17:30
Dinosaur Pile Up returned after a period of inactivity with the absurdly entertaining I’ve Felt Better and then proceeded to raise the roof on venues up and down the country with the ensuing live shows. An album so good it could easily be a Best Of…, I’ve felt Better is one of those cracking albums that packs in crunchy metal riffs, slacker anthems, and even a touch of hip hop, just to keep things fresh.
The band head to the Avalanche Stage on Sunday, be sure to get there to catch tracks like ‘Bout To Lose It, I’ve Felt Better, My Way, and Big Dogs delivered in the environment for which they were custom crafted. For fans, it will be a victory lap, for the uninitiated, it will be the start of a life-long love affair – hell, we put the album on while writing this piece, and it’s been on repeat for about three hours. It’s one of those.
Expect… to bounce. A lot.
Social Distortion: Opus, 16:25 – 17:05
Riding high on back of excellent new album Born To Kill – their first in fifteen years – Social Distortion bring a touch of punk rock class to Donnington. Established in 1978, the band can hardly be accused of being prolific and yet, over the course of eight albums, their sound can be heard as a direct influence on the likes of Offspring, Pearl Jam, Pennywise, Rancid, Thrice, and many more.
Playing the Opus Stage on Sunday, the band will bring their raw authenticity to Download, airing new material and classic cuts in equal measure. We’re particularly looking forward to the title track from the new album, as well as (we hope) No Way Out), both highlights from the latest effort.
Ash: Dogtooth, 18:00 – 18:40
Ash are pretty much the perfect festival band. Great energy and stage presence, cracking anthems that get the audience moving, and let’s not forget that it’s the 30th anniversary of the era-defining 1977, all of which make for a set guaranteed to captivate old fans and newcomers alike.
Let’s count off those amazing singles, shall we? Goldfinger, Angel Interceptor, Kung Fu, Girl From Mars and, of course, not a dry eye in the house for the nostalgia-evoking Oh Yeah. And that’s to say nothing of the hulking great riffs that power the likes of Lose Control, Darkside Lightside, Clones, and Burn Baby Burn. Let’s face it, if they only played a handful of those, the mosh pit would likely bounce its way to the earth’s core.
At any event, Ash have been touring like demons of late, so expect them to be ferociously on point. They can be found on the Avalanche Stage on Sunday – we’ll see you at the front, yeah?
Mastodon: Opus, 18:45 – 19:30
Mastodon may have endured tragedy recently, with the passing of Brent Hinds, but the band have soldiered on, delivering some of their best shows in years at both the Slayer all-day event and at Bloodstock.
Always a cracking festival band, Mastadon have a wealth of great material at hand, ranging from the surreally heavy to the blisteringly concise, and it will be a pleasure to see them take their place on the Opus Stage, playing direct support to A Day To Remember.
Expect a riotous run through the band’s storied history, with tracks like Crystal Skull, Mother Puncher, and Black Tongue all having featured heavily in recent outings. The band have also been working on new material and, while it may be too soon to hope for a preview, there’s no doubting that the band are currently playing with fire.
Download Stage Times
Friday June 12th
Apex
13:00 – 13:30 Scene Queen
14:00 – 14:30 P.O.D
15:00 – 15:40 Hollywood Undead
16:10 – 17:00 Pendulum
17:30 – 18:30 Electric Callboy
19:00 – 20:10 Cypress Hill
20:50 – 22:30 Limp Bizkit
Opus
13:00 – 13:25 Caskets
13:50 – 14:30 Silent Planet
14:55 – 15:25 Paleface Swiss
15:50 – 16:30 Creeper
17:00 – 17:45 Periphery
18:15 – 19:05 Daughtry
19:35 – 20:50 Halestorm
Avalanche
13:00 – 13:25 Native James
13:50 – 14:15 Silly Goose
14:40 – 15:05 Holywatr
15:30 – 15:55 Lakeview
16:20 – 16:45 Drain
17:10 – 17:35 Rain City Drive
18:00 – 18:30 Sleep Theory
18:55 – 19:25 Story of the Year
19:55 – 20:55 Feeder
Dogtooth
13:00 – 13:20 Headwreck
13:45 – 14:05 Slay Squad
14:30 – 14:55 James and the Cold Gun
15:20 – 15:45 Vianova
16:10 – 16:35 Nasty
17:00 – 17:25 Lake Malice
17:50 – 18:20 The Primals
18:45 – 19:15 Stampin’ Ground
19:40 – 20:15 Band-Maid
20:45 – 21:20 Corrosion of Conformity
21:50 – 22:50 Cavalera Chaos AD
Saturday June 13th
Apex
11:00 – 11:35 Thornhill
12:05 – 12:45 South Arcade
13:15 – 14:00 Landmvrks
14:30 – 15:20 Black Veil Brides
15:50 – 16:45 Babymetal
17:20 – 18:30 Trivium
19:35 – 22:55 Guns N’ Roses
Opus
11:00 – 11:30 The Wildhearts
11:55 – 12:20 Snot
12:45 – 13:15 Drowning Pool
13:40 – 14:15 We Came As Romans
14:45 – 15:25 Those Damn Crows
15:50 – 16:30 Set It Off
17:00 – 17:40 Bush
18:10 – 19:00 Behemoth
19:35 – 20:50 Architects
Avalanche
11:00 – 11:25 Passionflower
11:50 – 12:20 Frozemode
12:45 – 13:15 Nevertel
13:40 – 14:10 Die Spitz
14:35 – 15:05 Mouth Culture
15:30 – 16:00 Melrose Avenue
16:25 – 16:55 As It Is
17:20 – 18:00 Marmozets
18:30 – 19:10 Hot Milk
19:40 – 20:40 The All American Rejects
Dogtooth
11:00 – 11:20 Pussyliquor
11:45 – 12:05 Tropic Gold
12:30 – 12:55 Tailgunner
13:20 – 13:45 Lowen
14:10 – 14:35 Conjurer
15:00 – 15:25 Return To Dust
15:50 – 16:15 As Everything Unfolds
16:40 – 17:05 Self Deception
17:30 – 18:00 Sweet Savage
18:25 – 19:00 Elder
19:25 – 20:00 Decapitated
20:30 – 21:30 Blood Incantation
Sunday June 14th
Apex
11:00 – 11:30 Unpeople
12:00 – 12:40 Kublai Khan TX
13:10 – 13:55 Røry
14:25 – 15:10 Bloodywood
15:40 – 16:30 The Pretty Reckless
17:05 – 18:05 Ice Nine Kills
19:00 – 20:10 Bad Omens
21:25 – 22:55 Linkin Park
Opus
11:00 – 11:25 Ego Kill Talent
11:50 – 12:15 Catch Your Breath
12:40 – 13:15 Mammoth
13:40 – 14:10 Dogstar
14:35 – 15:05 Thrown
15:30 – 16:00 The Plot In You
16:25 – 17:05 Social Distortion
17:35 – 18:15 Tom Morello
18:45 – 19:30 Mastodon
20:10 – 21:20 A Day To Remember
Avalanche
11:00 – 11:25 Mould
11:50 – 12:20 Zero 9:36
12:50 – 13:20 Ivri
13:50 – 14:20 The Pretty Wild
14:50 – 15:20 TX2
15:50 – 16:20 Magnolia Park
16:50 – 17:30 Dinosaur Pile Up
18:00 – 18:40 Ash
19:10 – 19:50 Letlive.
20:20 – 21:20 Scooter
Dogtooth
11:00 – 11:20 Spitting Glass
11:45 – 12:05 Private School
12:30 – 12:55 Wayside
13:20 – 13:45 Decessus
14:10 – 14:35 Last Train
15:00 – 15:25 Annisokay
16:40 – 17:05 Ankor
17:30 – 18:00 Boundaries
18:25 – 18:55 Gatecreeper
19:25 – 20:00 Spineshank
20:30 – 21:30 Creeper
