Pop
Download Festival's bonkers new lineup includes boy band Five and Electric Six
Download Festival has announced a wildly eclectic District X programme for 2026, promising late‑night chaos, comedy, secret sets and unexpected guest appearances at Donington Park.
Pop nostalgia is about to collide head‑on with mosh‑pit chaos, as 90s boyband Five prepare to make their gloriously unexpected debut at Download Festival — a booking so delightfully unhinged it might just become the most talked‑about moment of the entire weekend.
After Dutch Eurodance legends Vengaboys stole the show last year, the pop group, known for hits including Slam Dunk (Da Funk) and Everybody Get Up, will perform at Donington Park as part of the festival’s late‑night entertainment schedule.
District X has become Download’s dedicated space for alternative programming, offering comedy, DJ sets, tribute acts and surprise performances alongside the main arena. Five’s addition continues the area’s tradition of mixing genres and bringing in acts outside the festival’s usual heavy‑music focus.
They will be joined by Electric Six, who will perform well‑known tracks such as Gay Bar and Danger! High Voltage.
The All-American Rejects are also confirmed for an acoustic set, while District X will host several secret shows that will only be revealed during the festival weekend.
The programme includes a wide range of DJ sets from names including Dick and Dom, Creeper, MODESTEP, Cancer Bats vocalist Liam Cormier and Holding Absence frontman Lucas Woodland. Live performances from DUNE RATS and London rap trio Frozemode add further variety to the schedule.
Tribute acts and novelty performances also feature heavily. TokenGrass will present a bluegrass reinterpretation of Sleep Token’s music, while Nic Cage Against The Machine will deliver Rage Against The Machine covers fronted by a Nicolas Cage impersonator. Comedy trio OCT, viral performer James B. Partridge and Scottish accordionist RuMac are among the additional acts confirmed.
The 2026 festival - which takes place between June 10 and 14 - will be headlined by Limp Bizkit, Guns N’ Roses and Linkin Park, with A Day To Remember, Scooter, Electric Callboy, Cypress Hill, Pendulum, Bad Omens and BABYMETAL also on the bill.
Weekend camping tickets have sold out, with remaining arena and day tickets available via the festival’s website.
