Download Festival organisers have confirmed their much-loved loyalty scheme will return for the 2020 festival, which has previously given fans who return year-after-year with up to £50 of ‘dog pounds’ to spend in the arena (including on beer!).

In a newsletter, organisers said: “We can’t reveal too much yet, however, what we can say is coming early 2020, only minor improvements and fast track applications”.

Last year, organisers decided the loyalty scheme money could no longer be spent on food, with the ‘dog pounds’ only redeemable for drinks or merch.

When the scheme first started, a photo of you attending a previous Download or a social media could be used as evidence, allowing volunteers, day ticket holders, and competition winners to take advantage of the scheme. In recent years, the scheme has changed to require ticket booking references for every previous Download attended, and you’ll also need to book your Download 2020 ticket before you’ll be able to apply for the loyalty scheme.

To check prices and buy tickets, visit the Download Festival page on Festicket.

Kiss, Iron Maiden and System of a Down are set to headline, with Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickenson saying: “Next year we will play a number of countries and cities we have yet to visit on this incredible tour, so it is terrific to be able to accept the invitation to return to Download in 2020 and we will certainly go to town and add a few extra items to the show.

“This will be our seventh time headlining at Donington Park. It’s home turf and we all really enjoy playing this Festival, the vibe from the crowd is always fantastic.”