The festival returns to Donington Park, Leicestershire from June 10 to 14 next year
The rock and metal festival is returning to Donington Park in Leicestershire from June 10 to 14 next year for its 23rd edition, and they have confirmed that all three of their huge headline acts will be playing their only UK shows of 2026 at the festival. the spiritual home of rock in Donington Park, Leicestershire. Tickets onsale now at www.downloadfestival.co.uk.
Download XXIII 2026: A Legendary Line-Up Set to Rock Donington
Get ready, rock fans — Download Festival XXIII is shaping up to be an unforgettable spectacle in 2026. Leading the charge is a trio of headline acts that define the past, present, and future of rock: nu-metal pioneers Limp Bizkit, headlining Download for the very first time on Friday; hard rock legends Guns N’ Roses on Saturday; and the reborn Linkin Park, returning to Download for the first time since 2024 with powerhouse vocalist Emily Armstrong, on Sunday. This holy trinity of headliners promises an electric weekend of music, nostalgia, and sheer spectacle, cementing Download’s status as a festival that honours its roots while constantly evolving for fans of all generations.
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. The undercard is stacked with an explosive mix of UK and international talent, including
Bad Omens, Cypress Hill, Trivium, Halestorm, Electric Callboy, Pendulum, The All-American Rejects, Mastodon, BABYMETAL, Architects, Ice Nine Kills, Tom Morello, Black Veil Brides, Drowning Pool, Bush, Feeder, Periphery, Ash, The Pretty Reckless, letlive., Static-X, Spineshank, RØRY, Dinosaur Pile-Up, Magnolia Park, TX2, AS IT IS, Story Of The Year, Sleep Theory, Melrose Avenue, Those Damn Crows, P.O.D, Hollywood Undead, Scene Queen, Dogstar, We Came As Romans, Mammoth, and Kublai Khan TX
And that’s only scratching the surface. No matter your taste in heavy music, Download XXIII has something to set your adrenaline soaring.
Friday Night: Limp Bizkit – Chaos, Hits, and Nu-Metal Mayhem
Friday night belongs to Limp Bizkit, whose career-spanning catalogue has defined nu-metal for more than three decades. After setting Donington ablaze with their incendiary 2024 performance, the band returns as true Download headliners, ready to deliver fan-favourite anthems like Rollin’ (Air Raid Vehicle), Break Stuff, and My Generation. Expect pure rock ’n’ roll mayhem, chaos, and energy in spades — Limp Bizkit are set to kick off the festival weekend with a bang, raising the bar for what promises to be one of Download’s most iconic line-ups ever.
Saturday Night: Guns N’ Roses – Rock Royalty Returns
If there’s one band that embodies the spirit of rock itself, it’s Guns N’ Roses. With a debut album like Appetite For Destruction (1987) that went on to become the best-selling U.S. debut album ever, and a career packed with monumental hits, the band needs no introduction. Saturday marks their first return to Download since 2018, 20 years after their first headline set in 2006 — and fans can expect nothing short of legendary.
Guns N’ Roses are the living definition of American rock: Axl Rose’s unforgettable vocals, Slash’s iconic guitar licks, Duff McKagan’s driving bass, and a rhythm section that has powered hits for decades. Their catalogue includes Use Your Illusion I & II, G N’ R Lies, The Spaghetti Incident?, Greatest Hits, and Chinese Democracy, boasting a staggering 100 million album sales worldwide. With millions streaming them every month on platforms like Spotify, Guns N’ Roses continue to dominate stages worldwide. Expect a show packed with timeless classics, electrifying solos, and rock ’n’ roll theatrics that will leave Donington in awe.
Sunday Night: Linkin Park – A Poignant and Powerful Finale
Closing out Download XXIII will be the mighty Linkin Park. Having headlined the festival four times between 2004 and 2014 with their original line-up, this year marks the band’s first headline set with new lead singer Emily Armstrong following their 2024 reformation. With Mike Shinoda by her side, this promises to be a set filled with both nostalgia and a thrilling new energy, perfectly capping a weekend of rock, metal, and pure adrenaline.
A Launch Event Like No Other
The DLXXIII line-up was revealed at a spectacular launch at London’s Barbican, where fantasy, legend, and rock collided in a dazzling spectacle. Attendees were treated to a specially created short film introducing The Apex Rings, designed for the headliners in collaboration with The Great Frog, alongside string quartets, fortune tellers, and immersive theatrical elements — offering a tantalizing glimpse of what’s to come at Download XXIII.
Download XXIII isn’t just a festival; it’s a celebration of everything rock and metal. Whether you’re a lifelong fan or discovering the scene for the first time, Donington 2026 promises unforgettable performances, monumental sing-alongs, and memories that will last a lifetime.
This is only the beginning for DLXXIII, with many more acts and surprises yet to be announced. Book tickets now: www.downloadfestival.co.uk.
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