Download 2026 Adds 14 Acts Including A Day To Remember and THE PRIMALS as Day Tickets Go On Sale
Download 2026’s organisers unveiled a second wave of artists for the Donington Park festival, adding 14 names to the DLXXIII bill as day tickets went on sale. The move matters now because a 48-hour PayPal presale begins at 10am today (23. 02. 26) ahead of a general on-sale at 10am on Wednesday 25 February, compressing fan buying decisions.
Download 2026 lineup: 14 new names join the Donington Park bill
The new roster comprises A Day To Remember, THE PRIMALS, Daughtry, Creeper, Hot Milk, DECESSUS, Silly Goose, Marmozets, BAND‑MAID, Stampin’ Ground, Frozemode, Conjurer, Annisokay and Private School — 14 additions to the festival that runs from June 10 to 14. These names slot into a broader poster already headlined by Limp Bizkit, Guns N’ Roses and Linkin Park and featuring acts such as Scooter, Electric Callboy, Pendulum, Bad Omens, The Pretty Reckless, Cypress Hill, Trivium, Halestorm, BABYMETAL and Tom Morello, with many more listed for the event now in its 23rd year, DLXXIII.
THE PRIMALS: Final Fantasy XIV’s band makes first appearance outside Asia
Organisers highlighted THE PRIMALS as a distinctive booking: the official Final Fantasy XIV band will play their first show outside Asia at Download. Festival booker Kamran Haq said the second announcement adds further depth and diversity to the lineup and specifically flagged acts such as A Day To Remember, Daughtry, Creeper and Hot Milk as significant additions.
DECESSUS and Ignacia Fernández’s viral moment drive demand
DECESSUS were confirmed among the 14, identified as a Chilean death‑metal group fronted by current Miss World Chile, Ignacia Fernández. Fernández’s unexpected growls went viral earlier this year, a development Haq said created huge demand for the band’s appearance. That viral moment directly influenced the booking’s momentum: the visibility of Fernández’s performance translated into increased interest in DECESSUS on the Download bill.
Tickets: PayPal 48‑hour presale opens 10am on 23. 02. 26; general sale 10am 25 February
With the second wave revealed, organisers have put day tickets on sale. PayPal customers receive an exclusive 48‑hour presale window beginning at 10am today (23. 02. 26), after which a general on‑sale opens at 10am on Wednesday 25 February. Haq warned that tickets are selling faster than usual and indicated that more announcements remain possible ahead of the June event.
Scooter, past Download moments and the search for breakout stars
Earlier messaging from organisers confirmed Scooter for the main arena lineup rather than District X — a decision that follows the Vengaboys’ District X appearance in 2025 and the sustained fan demand for high‑profile, cross‑genre bookings. Commentators have suggested that Scooter could be staged in the Avalanche Stage, though exact placement and whether they will headline remain unanswered.
The second announcement was teased for just over a week and arrived later than some fans expected; the first wave of announcements contained roughly 90ish bands, making the timing important for scheduling and clash management. What makes this notable is the way programming choices can reshape a weekend: memories of Download 2018 linger, when Guns N’ Roses’ extended set led to a near‑standstill on several stages while only the Dogtooth Stage maintained a normal schedule. That year Parkway Drive performed as second‑stage headliners at 6: 15pm and delivered a pyro‑filled show many observers called the highlight of the weekend.
Promoters and fans alike will watch for which newer acts can seize a similar moment this year. Examples across Download’s history show the potential trajectory: Trivium’s early appearance in 2005 helped propel them to much larger slots by 2026; Bloodywood’s day‑stealing set in 2023 has seen them move into main support roles in arenas less than three years later; Alien Weaponry, after lineup changes and setbacks, have been working back toward prominence. Blood Incantation will make their Download debut in 2026 and are notable enough to appear as a logo band on the poster, underscoring the festival’s mix of veteran names and emergent acts.
Organisers say the new wave broadens the Saturday‑to‑Sunday musical palette and positions the event for strong demand as fans decide across overlapping schedules. For attendees planning purchases in the immediate window, the presale timetable and the stretch between this announcement and the June dates will be decisive in shaping weekend choices for download 2026.
