The general public have Glastonbury. Ravers have Creamfields. Metalheads have Download.
Festival season is well underway in the UK, and this week the biggest weekend in rock and metal is returning to the fields of Donington Park in Leicestershire. Twenty one years since its inception in 2003, Download is bigger and better than ever, with a good mix of nostalgic classics and up-and-comers.
RECOMMENDED: The best music festivals in the UK.
Going to a festival can be pretty hectic, so we’ve gathered together everything you could possibly need to know about this year’s Download festival, including when and where it is, the exact lineup (and stage splits), what you’re allowed to bring, and even the weather forecast. Here’s your complete guide to Download Festival 2024.
When is Download Festival 2024?
The countdown is almost over – gates are already open! The music will begin on Friday (June 14) and continue until Sunday (June 16).
Where is Download Festival 2024 and how do I get there?
The festival will once again be held in Donington Park, Leicestershire. The nearest cities are Derby and Nottingham, both of which are a good half-hour drive away. Because of that, Download can be pretty tricky to get to.
Parking is now sold out, so if you haven’t already booked that it is worth looking into alternative methods of transport. If you are planning to drive, Download’s website has loads of info about the best routes to take and live updates on nearby roads.
The festival’s official travel partner is Big Green Coach, and you can book your bus tickets here. If you're travelling another way, such as train or drop-off, check here for advice on the best way to get to the site.
Who are the headliners for Download 2024?
This year, Queens of the Stone Age will headline the Apex stage on Friday. Pop-punk icons Fall Out Boy will carry the baton on Saturday, and Avenged Sevenfold will close out the event on Sunday. It’s going to be huge.
What’s the full Download lineup and set times?
There are loads of really exciting names in the complete lineup for the festival, including Royal Blood, Wheatus, Pantera, Busted, and even Limp Bizkit. Here’s the complete lineup, including times and which stage each act will be on.
Friday 14th June
Apex
- Queens of the Stone Age 21:10 - 22:50
- Royal Blood 19:00 - 20:10
- Black Stone Cherry 17:30 - 18:30
- Polyphia 16:10 - 17:00
- The Struts 15:00 - 15:40
- Those Damn Crows 14:00 14:30
- The Blue Stones 13:00 - 13:30
Opus
- Funeral For A Friend 21:35 - 22:30
- Heilung 20:00 - 21:00
- Mr. Bungle 18:30 - 19:15
- Soft Play 17:15 - 17:55
- All Them Witches 16:05 - 16:45
- Scene Queen 15:00 -15:35
- Halocene 14:00 - 14:30
- Hannabie 13:00 - 13:30
Avalanche
- Busted 20:30 - 21:30
- Wheatus 19:20 - 20:00
- Baysied 18:10 - 18:50
- Vukovi 17:15 - 17:45
- Dream State 15:30 - 15:55
- Aviva 14:40 - 15:05
- Tx2 13:50 - 14:15
- Storm 13:00 -13:25
Saturday 15th June
Apex
- Fall Out Boy 21:20 - 22:50
- The Offspring 18:40 - 19:55
- Enter Shikari 17:05 - 18:05
- Babymental 15:40 - 16:30
- Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes 14:15 - 15:05
- The Hunna 13:05 - 13:45
- Wargasm 12:00 12:35
Opus
- Pantera - 19:35 - 20:50
- While She Sleeps 18:10 - 19:00
- Tom Morello 17:05 - 17:45
- Slaughter To Prevail 16:00 - 16:40
- Karnivool 14:55 - 15:35
- Bleed From Within 13:40 - 14:30
- Asinhell 12:45 - 13:15
- Florence Black 1:55 - 12:20
- Heriot 11:05 -11:30
Avalanche
- Billy Talent 19:40 - 20:40
- Holding Absence 18:30 - 19:10
- Silverstein 17:20 - 18:00
- Noahfinnce 16:25 - 16:55
- Rory 15:30 - 16:00
- Charlotte Sands 14:35 - 15:05
- Deathbyromy 12:45 - 13:15
- Hotwax 11:50 - 12:20
- Mallavora 11:00 - 11:25
Sunday 16th June
Apex
- Avenged Sevenfold - 21:00 - 22:50
- Limp Bizkit 19:00 20:00
- Sum 41 17:00 - 18.00
- Bowling For Soup 15:40 - 16:30
- Kerry King 14:25 - 15:10
- Creeper 13:10 - 13:55
- Code Orange 12:00 - 12:40
- Lord Of The Lost - 11.00 - 11:30
Opus
- Machine Head 19:45 - 20:55
- Corey Taylor 18:30 - 19:15
- Electric Callboy 17:25 -18:05
- Zebrahead 16:15 - 16:55
- Thy Art Is Murder 16:25 - 16:55
- Elvana 15:20 - 15:50
- Royal Republic 13:30 - 14:00
- 311 12:40 - 13:04
- Alien Weaponry 11:50 - 12:15
- Kelsy Karter & The Heroines 11:00 - 11:25
Avalanche
- The Used 20:30 - 21:30
- Counterparts 19:20 - 20:00
- Hoobastank 17:50 - 18:50
- Atreyu 16:50 - 17: 20
- Of Mice And Men 15:50 - 16:20
- Tigercub 14:50 - 15:20
- Pinkshift 13:50 - 14:20
- Noisy 12:50 - 13:20
- Cemetery Sun 11:50 -12:20
- Delilah Bon 11:00 - 11:25
You can also keep track of who’s playing where on the Download app, which you can get on both the Google Play store and the Apple App store.
Can I still buy tickets for Download Festival 2024?
Sadly, tickets for Download are completely sold out. That includes camping, non-camping, weekend, and single day tickets. Your best bet is just asking around and hoping a friend of a friend has one available. Maybe next year.
Are there any prohibited items?
Some things, like flag poles and tin can openers, are allowed into the campsite but not the actual festival ground. Generally you can use your common sense and assume that anything that could be used as a weapon, including aerosol cans and glass bottles, isn’t allowed at all, but if you’re unsure about something specific you can check exactly what is and isn’t allowed here.
Any news on the weather forecast?
It could be worse. That’s probably not what you want to hear, we know, but we don’t want to get your hopes up. It looks like there will be rainy spells throughout the weekend, broken up by some cloudy or even sunny moments. It isn’t set to be torrential though! Silver linings. There will be highs of 17-18 degrees, and lows of 9 degrees, so definitely bring a jacket.
Keep up to date with the latest weather forecasts here.
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