All the bands you need to see at Download Festival 2026

Download festival is one of the biggest festivals in the UK and the largest gathering of metalheads you might ever see, so we want to help you navigate its 900-acre grounds. This list contains our top 10 bands you won't want to miss from the top end of the bill (The main Apex and Opus stages). This list isn't just the headliners but the performances that we truly think you shouldn't miss, whether it's a band that has travelled from far or bands that rarely visit the UK, the acts on this list should be your priority for the weekend! 

BABY METAL

The online world has fandoms barking about the superior music genres, rock, metal, and even K-pop. Somewhere in between lies the world of Japanese Kawaii Metal, and the absolute queens of this genre are, of course, BABY METAL. The three of them are widely regarded across the world as some of the best performers Japan has to offer, gathering fans of over 55,000 multiple nights in a row in their own capital of Tokyo all the way back in 2016. They are known for putting on a show full of rage, terror and cuteness; their set will be utterly unique in the Download line-up, so you’d be stupid to skip it. (AS)

SILLY GOOSE

Kicking things off are SILLY GOOSE.  Straight out of Atlanta, Georgia, they channel the wild spirit of 90s nu-metal with crunching riffs, rapid-fire beats, and pure attitude. Landing on the same day as LIMP BIZKIT feels deliberate — the perfect warm-up to a nostalgia-fuelled headline slot. (DW)

THE PLOT IN YOU

Having joined the stage with artists like UNDEROATH, THE AMITY AFFLICTION, LIKE MOTHS TO FLAMES, SUM 41, and THE PLOT IN YOU, they are more than experienced with stages like Download. Their performances are said to be better than their recorded music, and they have been consistently improving, now being on their 5th studio album. All their music is a story of the band's transformation and the path they've trodden to be where they are now. Their most well-known track, ‘Forgotten’, is always one that wipes out the audience live; their set is definitely one to catch if you're looking to support the artist that doesn't get as much hype over this side of the globe. (AS)

AS EVERYTHING UNFOLDS

AS EVERYTHING UNFOLDS are a British band that has been rising through the metal scene for the last decade. They are forging their own chaotic identity with skull-crushing riffs and the ability to switch vocals across a vast range. They are definitely worth a listen. (DW)

BLOODYWOOD

If you came to this page looking for something different, something unique in the lineup but still brings that intense metal embodiment, BLOODYWOOD might be exactly what you’re looking for. The band have brilliantly merged Indian folk metal with nu-metal and metalcore, they're famous for their metal covers of pop songs throughout the 2010’s, and you will probably have heard them come across your feed before. Their particular popular cover of ‘Tunak Tunak Tun’ garnered the band millions of views, which they have now used to create their own music. We can expect them to perform bangers like Gadaar, Dana Dan and Nu Delhi during their slot at the mainstage on Sunday. (AS)

THE PRETTY WILD

THE PRETTY WILD are sisters from Las Vegas who broke into the metal scene via TikTok with their “mosh cough” feature on their viral anthem Sleepwalker. Blending metalcore, nu-metal, and country into what they call “Y’allternative,” they bring a unique energy that will keep the Donington crowd moving. Viral fame might have introduced them, but their genre-blending punch proves they’re far more than a social-media novelty — and overdue for wider acclaim. (DW)

THORNHILL

To add some post-hardcore madness to your weekend, you should try out the energy-filled THORNHILL. Coming all the way from Australia, the band brings chaos to any stage they conquer. Opening the APEX stage on Saturday will be no different. Going since 2015 and opening for names like PARKWAY DRIVE, OCEAN GROVE and even SLEEP TOKEN last year, the band have become a somewhat familiar name for most metal heads. The set is bound to shake you awake and guaranteed to get the whole crowd bouncing along with them. We can expect them to play bangers like Nerv, Obsession and Silver Swarm that should all definitely be going in your pre-fest playlist! (AS)

ANNISOKAY

ANNISOKAY are a German metalcore outfit that has spent the last decade building a strong reputation across Europe as one of the genre’s most exciting acts, consistently pushing boundaries while maintaining a close connection with their growing fanbase. (DW)

MAGNOLIA PARK

The Florida quartet saw their early touring plans halted during the pandemic, but quickly gained momentum through social media. With previous UK appearances including SLAM DUNK FESTIVAL and support slots with BOWLING FOR SOUP, their fusion of punk, hip-hop, metalcore, and rock creates a gripping, high-energy live experience driven by strong storytelling and infectious melodies. (DW)

LANDMVRKS

Also playing the APEX stage on Saturday are French metalcore band LANMVRKS. The band have truly built a name for themselves playing shows with PAPA ROACH, A DAY TO REMEMBER and ARCHITECTS, making it hard not to have heard of them. The band very much fit into that metalcore niche, so if you're going to see bands like BAD OMENS and LINKIN PARK, LANDMVRKS are definitely for you. They built themselves from the ground up and have worked their way to Downloads Main APEX Stage, with over a decade of live performances across the world under their belt, they are sure to put on a hell of a set. (AS)

THE PRETTY RECKLESS 

To sprinkle in some rock with a touch of nostalgia to your weekend, you'll need to catch THE PRETTY RECKLESS on Sunday. Their hits like You Make Me Wanna Die and Heaven Knows from the early 2010s will be getting the crowd singing along as TAYLOR MOMSON herself flaunts her raw power. The band have been going since 2009 and having been in the limelight so early in their career, know how to put on a show. They're noted as one of the earliest female-fronted bands to really break into the alternative scene, having won many awards throughout their years; their set isn't one to pass up! (AS)

AS IT IS

Returning after a two-year hiatus, they will be playing DOWNLOAD for the first time. A familiar name at Slam Dunk Festival, the Brighton band has undergone several lineup changes and evolved from hook-laden pop punk toward a darker experimental sound. With a recent return to their earlier style, they are an act to watch closely. (DW)

SOUTH ARCADE

SOUTH ARCADE have been reaching further and further heights with their popularity taking them from headlining smaller venues like Camden Assembly to supporting giants like 5 SECONDS OF SUMMER and playing the mainstage for Reading and Leeds festival in less than 3 years, and now Download's very own mainstage. The Oxford quartet bring a brand new freshness to the punk rock scene with addictive riffs and a style that calls right back to the 2000’s - jorts, baggy tees and all. The band also have an incredibly supportive fanbase and has been making waves with many LGBTQIA+ fans, their gigs becoming a safe space of acceptance and letting loose for many. (AS)

BAD OMENS

BAD OMENS are a band that have been massively on the rise in the metalcore scene, just last year playing their biggest headliner show ever at Manchester's very own Co-Op arena, a sold-out show with 17,000 attendees. Their music crosses lines between what metal is and what it can be, with frontman Noah Sebastian's voice being something that really sets them apart. He switches from sweet siren-like symphonies to demonic screams and growls. Specifically, the last song in their set, Dethrone, is famously their most impressive live; it's always saved for the end of their set and is the absolute pinnacle. If you want to really see what all the fuss is about, this is the song to experience. (AS)

FEEDER

With over 7 million records sold, worldwide tours, and more than three decades of anthemic rock behind them, they remain one of the most oddly overlooked bands on the bill. They may be headlining the Avalanche Stage, but a band of their stature deserves a truly packed tent — especially for era-defining anthems like BUCK ROGERS, Just the Way I’m Feeling, and Just a Day, which still hit as hard now as they did on release. (DW)

LIMP BIZKIT

LIMP BIZKIT have been doing rounds in recent years with many performances across the world, so why should you go to this set? Well, despite playing Download Festival multiple times, 2026 will mark their first-ever Headline slot at the legendary festival. The band are of course, mega stars in the scene and are famous for getting a crowd going. This is bound to be one of the most lively sets of the weekend, so if you’re looking for an opportunity to mosh your rage out, this is it. As well as playing their hits, they will be playing their newer bangers like Dad Vibes and Making Love to Morgan Wallen, so even if you’re a seasoned metal head that's seen them before, they will make your return worth it. (AS)

SLEEP THEORY

SLEEP THEORY enter the frame. Blending heavy metal and R&B, they exploded in popularity last year and already hold a strong slot on the Avalanche stage. With just under three million monthly listeners on Spotify, which doesn’t scream underrated at first glance, but just like FEEDER,  their trajectory suggests they deserve a bigger stage or at least a higher billing.  Nevertheless, powerhouse vocalist Cullen Moore is set to tear the roof off the tent with emotional ballads and future festival anthems. They may arrive as a discovery for many, but they should warrant a main stage appearance - watch this space. (DW)

LINKIN PARK

It’s been over a decade since the nu-metal pioneers LINKIN PARK returned to Download Festival, and they are finally back with their brand new frontwoman, Emily Armstrong. Their songs are those that even those outside of the metal scene know the words to, we can expect the band to play a mixture of their biggest hits, What I’ve Done, In The End, and Bleed It Out, as well as new bangers like The Emptiness Machine and Heavy is the Crown. With a headlining slot, we can expect the band to bring their full tour production and a fully fledged setlist with it. You will not want to miss their iconic return to Download Festival this year. (AS)

Words: Amy Smyth and David Waites