Once entering the vast festival, I found a nice angle of the main stage, known as Apex. From this front-right perspective, I first enjoyed Hollywood Undead. For saying I only knew their hit ‘Everywhere I Go’, it was easy to be immersed in their performance. This was my first example of the weekend, where I can attest to the die-hard fans of the festival. The crowd loved every second.
It’s hard to even know where to position Creeper in this review. With two stand-alone sets as well as a DJ set, they were certainly kept busy over the weekend. I love their aesthetic. It suits the sound perfectly and gives them a great vibe. The only downside was missing half of the set I watched as I was in the massive toilet queues!
Probably my personal highlight of the weekend was Pendulum. Their high-energy drum and bass brought the day to life. The performance was filled with classics like ‘Propane Nightmares’ and ‘Tarantula’. However, nothing could top the energy of bringing out Rou Reynolds from Enter Shikari for the remix of ‘Sorry You’re Not a Winner’. A great surprise for the weekend. Something so special about alternative events like this is the ability to play everything from drum and bass to metalcore with fans equally immersed all in diverse sounds.
Electric Callboy were long due this Apex stage slot. After playing a monumental set on the much smaller Avalanche stage back in 2023, they were sure to make a triumphant return. Yet, 2024 wasn’t the year for them as they had to cancel due to illness. Three years after their victorious festival debut, the band once again drew huge crowds. Bonus points for how many fans were in costume too.
Not everyone was sold on the idea of West Coast hip-hop legends Cypress Hill having the Friday support spot. They may not fit the bill of what Download is known for but they absolutely delivered a powerful performance. With political undertones and a bold attitude, the rappers made it clear why they have gained legend status. Even as the set ended with House of Pain’s ‘Jump Around’, the crowd had insane amounts of energy.
The day came to a close with Limp Bizkit, who made their return following their support slot back in 2024. The crowd was a sea of red baseball caps and white T-shirts, demonstrating the love still felt for these nineties, nu-metal rockers. Fred Durst knows his audience well and delivered a performance filled with greatest hits, pop intervals, and even brought fans to the stage. A fun and nostalgic close to day one.
I stumbled upon the end of The Wildhearts' set first thing on Saturday morning over at the Opus stage. I’d never heard of the band before but thought their track ‘You Are Not Your Diagnosis’ had a poignant message that rang in my head for the rest of the day. It feels even more poignant to hear about Ginger Wildheart’s cancer diagnosis and courageous attitude. It's lovely to see the music community stand in solidarity when musicians face such difficult times.
Another highlight of the weekend was getting to see hardcore nu metallers Snot. Opening with their song of the same name was a great choice to instantly wake up the crowd. It’s not easy having an early slot with such a big sound. My only wish is that they could’ve played longer than twenty-five minutes.
I almost felt like a proud parent watching South Arcade play to such a vast array of people. Their EP ‘2005’ was one of my musical highlights of 2024, so to see them now on the Apex stage at Download was monumental. Harmony Cavelle is a memorable lead for the group who isn’t afraid to get in the crowd and interact between songs. Billboards advertising their upcoming tour were seen around the arena. I'd definitely recommend giving them a watch.
BABYMETAL had a tough act to follow, playing after Download veterans Black Veil Brides, yet they certainly followed it. Their iconic choreography and synchronised costumes were in full effect. Every track was done flawlessly, although 'METALI!!' and 'RATATATA' were two I had to re-listen to as soon as I got home. They also won the award for the most crowd surfers I’ve ever seen at a show! The power of incredible Kawaii metal.
The Saturday ended with the classic hard rock band Guns N' Roses. They often receive criticism now that they're later in their career for frontman Axl Rose's vocal abilities. Whilst they aren't on par with the studio recordings, I still think this band is worth the watch. The musicians never missed a beat and to play a massive three hour set at their age is commendable.
Sunday morning, the Avalanche tent was treated to MOULD. Opening on a smaller stage on the final day of a festival isn't an easy job, yet these guys made it look like one. As soon as they began to play, the crowd slowly grew bigger. The group played a few songs from their upcoming debut album titled 'Hoping as a Coping Mechanism,' which has an indie math rock feel to it. It felt like a refreshing sound to hear at a festival that contains a large quantity of metal.
Another Sunday highlight for me was RØRY. Since gaining a following as part of ADHD Love, she has advocated for neurodiverse people as well as written books and shared content. I actually found her set quite inspiring. The artist has been through a lot of challenges in her life and created some great music in the meantime. A very worthy artist to grace the Apex stage.
Closing Download Festival 2026 was the ever-powerful Linkin Park. Emily Armstrong has consistently been met with a mixed reception since beginning to lead the band in 2024. This show alone proves why she deserves every accolade she has gained. Her vocals were incredible, and her ability to follow the much-loved Chester Bennington in her own unique style is impressive. I'm glad the band continues to tour and still play their classics, as they are adored by fans across the world.
The best part of this festival is definitely the community feel. Every band from the niche names to the arena sell-outs is met with a decent and welcoming crowd. Whilst there, I was given gifts by other festival goers and found all attendees I spoke to were friendly and welcoming. The inclusivity and positivity within alternative music need to stay because it's what makes events like this so important.
Emily Teague
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