Last night , the UK’s biggest Rock & Metal festival, unleashed their line-up for next year – and boy is there a lot to unpack! With over 100 names announced in the first wave, including many that we at CLASH predicted earlier this week, next year’s festival is already looking like it has a little something for everyone in the alternative community. Here’s three reasons why we’re already excited…
The three headliners will be shows for the history books!
Starting at the top, with all three headliners announced: Pop-punk icons will play the Friday, modern metal behemoths will bring the party on the Saturday night and rock titans will close out the festival on the Sunday.
Starting with , it will incredibly be their first-ever performance at Donington Park, and they bring with them an enviable catalogue of era-defining hits like ‘All The Small Things’, ‘What’s My Age Again’ and ‘I Miss You’. Expect a fun night of big singalongs!
meanwhile went down in Download folklore back in 2023 the first time they headlined the festival, delivering a set many fans online – and even the Download team – called one of the best ever. Now returning for their second headline show at the festival within five years, the pressure will be on for them to raise the bar again in 2027.
Then finally, will be bumped up to headline the main stage for the first time, having packed out the Opus stage field when they last played in 2023. After Emily Armstrong and Linkin Park made history by becoming the first female-fronted band to headline the festival earlier this year, Amy Lee and Evanescence will carry that torch into 2027 by becoming the second band in as many years to achieve that honour. Expect emotional anthems and a field losing their minds to their iconic 00s hit, ‘Bring Me To Life’!
The undercard is stacked and diverse
However, it’s not just about the headliners as the undercard is also bursting with an exciting array of huge rock, metal and alternative acts, with truly a little something for everyone.
Firstly hardcore and post-hardcore is well represented for the 2027 edition, with bands like , , , and all announced in this first wave. There’s also plenty of metalcore in the mix with the likes of , , and , as well some crossover alternative acts like , , and . There’s also plenty of new bands ready to be discovered, as well as legends from the scene like , , and .
Diversity has always been one of Download’s biggest strengths, and the 2027 line-up already feels like one of the most eclectic they’ve ever produced. No matter your taste, Download has the flavour.
This is only the beginning!
While this huge announcement of over 100+ acts has given us a clear picture of what’s in store for the 24th edition of Download, it is not by any means the complete picture. Arguably the best thing about this line-up announcement is that this is only the start and there are plenty more acts still to be announced across all four main stages, as well as the full District X campsite line-up!
Who will be this year’s wildcard act, following in the footsteps of Scooter and 5ive last year? Which acoustic sets will we see after hours in the campsite? Who will be the surprise act in the main arena? Which other rock and metal heroes will journey to Donington in the second wave announcement? These are all questions still to be answered in the coming months.
For now though, it’s time to digest this massive first announcement and get excited for Download XXIV – June will be here quicker than you think.
