This weekend’s Download Festival 20th anniversary welcomed a record breaking 100,000 attendees to Donington Park becoming its most successful year ever. The fastest selling Download in its 20-year history, 2023’s edition showcased world-class rock and metal across four days and six stages.
With an unbelievable line-up, featuring the likes of Halestorm, Skindred, Evanescence, Pendulum, Simon Neil (Biffy Clyro)’s new project Empire State Bastard, The Blackout’s reunion, Creeper, Coheed and Cambria, Ice Nine Kills , Ghost, Parkway Drive, Electric Callboy, and supporting young British talent like Nova Twins, Kid Bookie, Kid Kapichi and many more, there really were too many musical highlights to mention.
The first ever Thursday headline slot saw Metallica on the Apex Stage. Sheffield’s own rockers Bring Me The Horizon owned the stage on Friday night, thrilling a crowd with their original and Download-exclusive production. Metallica followed up their Thursday night set with a spellbinding performance on Saturday evening, cementing their place in history as one of the greatest metal bands of all time. On Sunday, Slipknot closed the Apex stage with a spectacular display of energy and musical power.
Across the Apex, Opus, Dogtooth and Avalanche stages, festival goers were spoilt for choice as the sun shone over this long weekend.
Brand new for 2023, the Download Megastore sold a huge range of Download merch onsite, commemorating the 20th anniversary of the festival, breaking the U.K. record for most festival merchandise sales of all time.
2024, Download Festival will return to Donington from Friday 14 June – Sunday 16 June. Limited Early Bird tickets are on sale Monday 12 June from www.downloadfestival.co.uk.
