First held in 2003, the Download Festival welcomes some of the biggest names in rock music to Donington Park, in Leicestershire, every year.
Conceived as a replacement for the much-missed Monsters of Rock Festival, last held in the same venue in 1996, it’s had a string of high profile headliners over the years, including the like of Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, Slipknot, Metallica, Aerosmith, AC/DC, Def Leppard, Kiss, Faith No More, and Guns N' Roses.
Last year saw Queens of the Stone Age, Fall Out Boy and Avenged Sevenfold close the three days on the main stage.
The first lineup announcement is set to be announced on Tuesday, November 12, with the festival taking place from June 13-15.
Here’s who is rumoured to be topping the bill - from near-certs to longshots.

5. Ghost
Swedish heavy metal band Ghost recently announced a huge areana tour for 2025. Their theatrical performance would certainly be entertaining enough to close out a day at Download. | AFP via Getty Images

6. Slipknot
Slipknot may have headlined Download as recently as 2023 but don't count out a return next year as they continue to celebrate their 25 years as a band. They're about to embark upon a string of UK tour dates showcasing their self-titled debut album, and may be back this summer. | Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Ima

7. Sleep Token
The masked rock collective Sleep Token, led by The Vessel, have never headlined Download before. They have an army of fans though, so 2025 might just be their year. | Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Ima

8. Trivium
American heavy metal band Trivium are no strangers to Download, having headlined the secind stsage in both 2009 and 2014. 2025 is the 20th anniversary of their second album 'Ascendancy' - the perfect excuse to promote them to the main stage. | AFP via Getty Images
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