What's happened
The 2026 festival season will feature headline acts at Download, Reading, Leeds, and new multi-city metal events. Download's lineup is highly anticipated, with bands like Bring Me The Horizon, Linkin Park, Ghost, and Guns N' Roses tipped to headline. Meanwhile, Foo Fighters will tour North America, and the first-ever second city for the nu-metal festival is scheduled for April in Las Vegas and October in Fort Worth.
What's behind the headline?
The 2026 festival season signals a return to major live music events after a quieter 2025. Download Festival's lineup will likely include Bring Me The Horizon, Linkin Park, Ghost, and Guns N' Roses, all of whom have strong touring schedules or historical ties to the event. The UK’s Reading and Leeds festivals are also expected to feature top-tier acts like Twenty One Pilots and Sabrina Carpenter, filling the gap left by Glastonbury's absence. The US scene sees the Foo Fighters planning a significant stadium tour, with new singles hinting at ongoing creative momentum. The expansion of the nu-metal festival to two cities indicates a growing appetite for heavy music events, especially as 2025's cancellations have left a void. Overall, these developments suggest a robust and competitive festival landscape, driven by high-profile bands and strategic scheduling, which will likely boost attendance and media attention in 2026.
What the papers say
The Scotsman reports that Download Festival will take place from June 10-14, 2026, with rumors pointing to bands like Bring Me The Horizon, Linkin Park, Ghost, and Guns N' Roses as headliners. The NY Post highlights Foo Fighters' upcoming 'Take Cover Tour' in North America, with a focus on their recent singles and touring schedule, indicating their strong presence in 2026. Additionally, the NY Post details the expansion of the nu-metal festival to Las Vegas and Fort Worth, with lineups of around 50 acts, after cancellations in 2025. The Scotsman also notes that the Reading and Leeds festivals are booked for late August, with predictions favoring acts like Twenty One Pilots and Sabrina Carpenter, filling the UK’s festival void. These sources collectively underscore a busy and high-profile festival year ahead, with strategic lineups and expanding events shaping the landscape.
How we got here
The 2026 festival calendar is shaping up with major events in the UK and US. Download Festival, a key UK rock event, will feature top bands, with rumors swirling about headliners. The Reading and Leeds festivals are also expected to announce prominent acts, filling the void left by Glastonbury's fallow year. In the US, the Foo Fighters are preparing a stadium tour, and a new nu-metal festival expands to two cities after cancellations in 2025. These developments reflect a broader trend of increased festival activity and line-up speculation for 2026.
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Download Festival is a British-created rock festival created by Terrance Gough, held annually at Donington Park in England; in Paris, France; at Parramatta Park, Sydney; and at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne.