Rock fans are starting to get excited about next year’s Download Music Festival, with the first lineup announcement being made next week, on Monday, November 3.
First held in 2003, the festival takes place in Leicestershire’s Donington Park - with the biggest names in rock playing to one of the world’s most appreciative audiences.
Over the years it has attracted a string of high profile headliners, 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 Green Day, Sleep Token, and Korn close the three days on the main stage.
And next year the festival will take place from Wednesday, June 10, to Sunday, June 14 - with hundreds of Scots making the trip south of the border.
The internet message boards have been swirling with rumours and gossip about the bands that could make the grade this year.
Here are 17 of the most hotly-tipped.
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5. Parkway Drive
Hugely popular in their native Australia - their last three albums went to number one - metalcore troublemakers Parkway Drive have plenty of form at Download. They first played in 2018, headlined in 2023, and performed a surprise secret set on the Dogtooth Stage in 2024. | AFP via Getty Images
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6. Muse
Muse headlined Download in 2015 and always guarantee a spectacular show. The timings could work for 2026 - they released new single 'Unravelling' in June and are expected to release their tenth studio album in the first half of next year. | Getty Images for iHeartRadio
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7. AC/DC
It seems incredible that AC/DC haven't headlined Download since way back in 2010 when they were joined by Rage Against the Machine and Aerosmith on the bill. Still touring, they haven't announced any plans for 2026 yet, but you imagine that if they wanted to play nobody would stand in their way. | AFP via Getty Images
8. Blink-182
Download have been embracing the poppier side of rock in recent years (Busted in 2024 being a case in point) an few bands do that kind of thing better than Blink-182. Somewhat incredibly they have never played Download before - would they be able to go stright to the headline slot? | Getty Images,