The Wildhearts added to Download Festival 2026 line-up
Ginger Wildheart calls it a "f---ing honour!"
The Wildhearts have been added to the line-up of this year’s Download Festival.
On Wednesday, the band confirmed they will be taking to the hallowed turf of Donington on Saturday 13th June 2026.
Commenting on the band’s Download Festival slot, leader Ginger Wildheart said: ‘So f---ing honoured to be asked to play Download Festival this year
‘Can’t wait to see my old buddy Andy Copping there, a man who has championed The Wildhearts since my first ever gig as a singer/shouter.
‘We are massively grateful to the Gods of Rock n Roll for making this happen and will make them proud 💥🎶❤️’
Former Download Festival booker Andy Copping responded: ‘A pleasure to have you, Ginger. It will be great to see you and catch up.’
The Wildhearts join a Download Festival line-up that’s headlined by Limp Bizkit, Guns N’ Roses and Linkin Park, and also boasts performances from the likes of Halestorm, The Pretty Reckless, Daughtry, Mastodon, Those Damn Crows and Creeper.
Last month, Ginger Wildheart revealed has been diagnosed with a rare but aggressive type of cancer called Mantle Cell Lymphoma.
Ginger later thanked fans for their messages and support, and he revealed he won’t be undergoing cancer treatment.
“I’ve lived the life of ten men and will die with dignity,” Ginger said. “Still got 2-3 years to say goodbye to everyone. And I’ll be rocking until the very last moment. No misery please. Positivity all the way.”
The Wildhearts played a clutch of UK shows earlier this month, and they hit the road again in May playing concerts in Hull, Aberdeen, Stirling and Edinburgh.
The greatest Donington headliners of all time:
20 – ZZ Top
ZZ Top headlined Monsters of Rock in 1985
19 – System of a Down
System of a Down headlined Download Festival in 2005, 2011 and 2017
18 – Def Leppard
Def Leppard headlined Download Festival in 2009, 2011 and 2019
17 – Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy Osbourne headlined Monsters of Rock in 1986 and co-headlined with KISS in 1996
He also topped the bill at Download Festival in 2018
16 – The Prodigy
The Prodigy headlined Download Festival in 2012
15 – Muse
Muse headlined Download Festival in 2015
14 – Status Quo
Status Quo headlined Monsters of Rock in 1982
13 – Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi headlined Monsters of Rock in 1987
12 – Guns N’ Roses
Guns N' Roses headlined Download Festival in 2006 and 2018
11 – Linkin Park
Linkin Park headlined Download Festival in 2004, 2007, 2011 and 2014
10 – KISS
KISS co-headlined Monsters of Rock with Ozzy Osbourne in 1996
They went on to headline Download Festival in 2008, 2015 and 2022
9 – Rainbow
Rainbow headlined Monsters of Rock in 1980
8 – Aerosmith
Aerosmith headlined Monsters of Rock in 1994
7 – Whitesnake
Whitesnake headlined Monsters of Rock in 1983 and 1990
6 – Slipknot
Slipknot headlined Download Festival in 2009, 2013, 2015, 2019 and 2023
5 – Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath headlined Download Festival in 2005, 2012 and 2016
4 – Rammstein
Rammstein headlined Download Festival in 2013 and 2016
3 – Metallica
Metallica headlined Monsters of Rock in 1995
They also headlined Download Festival in 2004, 2006, 2012 and 2023 (twice)
2 – AC/DC
AC/DC headlined Monsters of Rock in 1981, 1984, 1991
They headlined Download Festival in 2010
1 – Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden headlined Monsters of Rock in 1988, 1992
They also headlined Download Festival in 2003, 2007, 2013, 2016, 2022