More than 75,000 fans descended on Donington Park this week for an abundance of unforgettable moments at the most anticipated Download Festival ever. SonicAbuse were, of course, on hand to review the shenanigans, and you can read our thoughts here. Across five sun-drenched days, the site was alive with energy as the Download community came together once again to celebrate the best in rock, metal and alternative music.
This year’s festival marked a new chapter, with all three headliners – Green Day, Sleep Tokenand Korn – taking the top slot for the first time. From chart-topping legends to fast-rising newcomers, the line-up reflected the ever-evolving sound of the scene and the diverse tastes of today’s audience. With packed crowds, electric atmospheres and standout performances across all stages, Download 2025 delivered a week to remember.
The Humans of Download returned to Donington to soak up a packed programme of music and entertainment across the Arena and District X. Green Day headlined on Friday with a high-octane, hit-filled set. Sleep Token followed on Saturday, delivering a spellbinding and theatrical headline performance. Korn brought the weekend to a powerful close on Sunday with a thunderous run of nu metal anthems.
DLXXII also included noteworthy performances from Weezer, Bullet For My Valentine, Jimmy Eat World, McFly, Sex Pistols featuring Frank Carter, The Darkness, Within Temptation, Don Broco, Steel Panther and a secret set from Malevolence. With so many memorable moments, this year’s edition will go down as one of the most iconic yet.
District X offered non-stop entertainment for campers, from morning workouts and meditations to late-night DJ sets and heavy metal sports. Highlights included a euphoric set from Vengaboys, a magical acoustic set from Funeral For A Friend, late-night DJ sets from Dougie Poynter (McFly), Dani Filth (Cradle of Filth) and Modestep, and surprise appearances from Mallory Knox, Boston Manor and Me First and the Gimme Gimmes. Comedy, live podcastsand immersive experiences added even more to the festival’s unique offering.
Once again, Download Festival brought together its wonderful community to enjoy an incredible five days of the best in alternative music. New additions this year included a SÉANCE experience, skate ramps, axe throwing and more. The Download Megastore was bigger and better than ever, complete with the Download Dog fountain, air hockey, table football and exclusive merchandise collaborations with Mary Wyatt, Punk Haus, P&Co and others.
In 2026, Download Festival will return to Donington from Wednesday 10 June – Sunday 14th June. Limited Early Bird tickets are on sale at 12 noon on Monday 16 June from www.downloadfestival.co.uk.
