Download Festival 2026 draws large crowds to Donington Park
The three-day metal event at Donington Park in Leicestershire features headliners Limp Bizkit, Guns N' Roses, and Linkin Park. Near sell-out attendance has produced busy conditions across multiple stages.
BBC NewsThe 2026 Download Festival opened at Donington Park in Leicestershire with near sell-out attendance. Organizers said the event is the largest festival in the UK this summer because Glastonbury is not taking place. Limp Bizkit performed on Friday, Guns N' Roses on Saturday, and Linkin Park is scheduled to close the festival on Sunday. Multiple stages operated throughout the weekend.
Crowd and weather conditions Photographs showed dense crowds at the Apex Stage and other areas. Attendees displayed a range of clothing styles, including battle jackets and red hats associated with one headliner. Weather remained mostly sunny during performances despite earlier showers, according to reports from the site.
Additional displays and side events A miniature custom urn containing some of Lemmy's ashes was placed inside a fruit machine for permanent display in Manchester after the festival. Other acts, including Halestorm, As Everything Unfolds, South Arcade, The Wildhearts, and Behemoth, performed on various stages.
