UPDATE: The leaked line-up poster shown below has now been officially confirmed.
After months of anticipation, the first official line-up announcement for Download 2023 is now just hours away. The “special edition” of the festival will run over four nights – with the main and second stages having an extra day’s full line-up on the Thursday.
We’re expecting the headliners and a good chunk of the line-up for Download’s 20th edition to be revealed at 9pm tonight, during the Jack Saunders show on BBC Radio 1.
You’ll be able to listen live here on BBC Sounds and if you’re a Barclaycard customer or have access to an artist presale, you’ll be able to start buying tickets from 9pm tonight too. General sales don’t start until 10am Thursday – but you can still get presale access from 9pm Tuesday by joining the Download Festival mailing list here. Instalment plans will be available throughout the presales.
To check prices, access presales, and buy tickets, visit the official Download Ticketmaster page.
Last week, the line-up poster seen below appeared on social media having allegedly been leaked. While there’s no way to know if it’s legitimate, it includes two headline sets from Metallica, who are listed as playing both Thursday and Saturday nights. The sets would both be unique with no songs repeated. The band headlined Download Germany earlier this year.
According to the unverified poster, Slipknot and Bring Me The Horizon will be the other two main stage headliners and a huge list of other artists will be revealed tonight. They include Alexisonfire, Architects, Disturbed, Pendulum and Simple Plan.
Slipknot frontman Corey Taylor took part in a Q&A session just two weeks ago, when he was asked if the band will be at Download 2023. While nodding his head, he responded: “I’m going to try and make this as clear as I can. On my life, I can neither confirm nor deny. I wish I could tell you that we’re going to be there, I really do.
“Unfortunately, I don’t have that answer right now. So I will tell you when I can.”
If you’re thinking about splashing out on some RIP ‘glamping’ accommodation, that goes on sale at 9pm Tuesday. It’s the first chance to grab upgraded digs for Download 2023 and as in previous years, some options are expected to sell out quickly.
Thousands of early-bird tickets for the festival have already been sold, which were available at cheaper prices on the basis the line-up was still completely unknown. These were cut off at midnight last night ahead of tonight’s announcement.
As usual, it’s only weekend entry tickets which go on sale this week. It’s unlikely day tickets will be available anytime soon – last year, they went on sale on Tuesday 29th March. However, organisers have confirmed campervan passes will go on sale alongside the line-up announcement and first presales at 9pm tonight.
Download organisers rolled out some changes this year and among the most notable were the changes to the layout. This meant the campsites were now much closer to the arena than in previous years. They also made further efforts on sustainability, using more bio-fuels and getting rid of single-use plastic.
And just a few weeks ago, the official Download 2022 aftermovie was revealed. Offering the chance to relive the best bits from this year at Donington, it features a killer soundtrack with Those Damn Crows, Cassyette and Sleep Token along with highlights from headliners KISS, Iron Maiden and Biffy Clyro.
Download Festival returned this summer after a two-year break during the pandemic. Taking place relatively early in the festival season on the second weekend of June, it was one of the first events to announce its cancellation when Covid first struck, confirmed three days after the UK went into lockdown in March 2020.
Though the full-size Download couldn’t happen in 2021 either, the festival made history by holding a downscaled pilot event as part of the UK Government’s Events Research Programme. Bands played for expenses and a drastically reduced capacity meant fans camped in the arena – meaning it was just a few minutes’ walk to the arena. Check out our full review here.
To check prices or buy tickets for Download 2023, visit the official Download Ticketmaster page.
Image credits:
Matt Eachus / Download Festival
Sarah Koury / Download Festival
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