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Download Festival cancelled

By Andy Malt | Published on Tuesday 2 March 2021

Numerous UK festivals have announced that they are planning to go ahead this summer following last week’s unveiling of a road map for COVID restrictions being lifted in England. However, that proposed schedule will also inevitably result in some cancellations being confirmed too. And one of the festivals now definitely not taking place this year is Live Nation’s Download.

The event had been set to go ahead over the first weekend in June, had COVID-19 restrictions allowed such a thing. However, with those dates sitting before the moment when the UK government reckons large-scale events might just possibly be able to return – 21 Jun – promoters know that a 2021 edition will now not be possible.

“Following the announcement of the government’s roadmap and despite the extraordinary efforts the NHS have put in to roll out the vaccine, we can sadly now confirm that Download Festival will no longer be taking place this year”, say organisers in a statement.

“We never gave up hope of bringing the festival back to Donington this June and had been working so hard behind the scenes to make that happen, but sadly, we now know it’s not possible”, they go on. “We’re heartbroken for everyone in the Download family, from artists to suppliers and of course our passionate Download fans”.

However, plans for 2022 have already been announced, with two of this year’s headliners – Kiss and Biffy Clyro – rolling their sets over to next year. Iron Maiden will also step in to replace System Of A Down. The event is set to take place on 10-12 Jun 2022. Tickets purchased for this year can be rolled over.