The countdown to Download Festival 2026 has officially begun, sort of. The UK’s flagship heavy music festival has hinted at when fans can expect their first line-up reveal for next summer.
In its latest Download Family newsletter, organisers told subscribers they’ll announce the date and time of the first line-up drop in October 2025. It’s essentially an announcement about an announcement, but for diehards eager to start planning, even a small clue is enough to fuel speculation.
“The Family will find out first about the announcement time and date for DLXXIII here next month,” the email reads. “Make sure you keep an eye on your inbox and tell your mates to join the Family if they haven’t already!”
Looking back at past years gives a pretty good idea of what might come next. In 2024, the 2025 lineup was unveiled on November 14, with over 90 bands revealed in one go, including three first time headliners. The year before, Download rolled out its 2024 line-up on November 7. If that pattern holds, fans can probably expect the first big announcement for DLXXIII to land in mid November, with October serving as the teaser window.
For U.S. fans, the news is less about booking flights just yet and more about watching the heavy calendar lock into place. Download has long served as Europe’s barometer for the summer season, and its line-ups often overlap with major U.S. festivals like Welcome to Rockville and Sonic Temple. Once the Download cards are on the table, it can give a pretty clear picture of who might be crossing the Atlantic in 2026.
Until then, it’s a waiting game. But with Download’s history of pulling together metal icons and scene leaders across punk, hardcore, and rock, anticipation for the 2026 edition is already starting to build.
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