It was “just one of those days” at the Download Festival last Friday, June 12, as Limp Bizkit headlined the event at Donington Park. They returned to the top slot 23 years after stepping down as inaugural headliners in 2003. The nu-metal outfit drew one of the weekend’s largest crowds with a set mixing hits and tributes.
Lauren Sanderson also appeared on stage for “Hot Dog.” This followed their 2024 Download performance, when Limp Bizkit sub-headlined yet attracted more fans than that year’s actual headliners, Avenged Sevenfold.
At the show, the band honored late bassist Sam Rivers, who passed in 2025. They called Rivers “the soul in the sound” and a “once-in-a-lifetime kind of human.” Friend Dougie Millers also received recognition during the show. “We are all here to celebrate life and celebrate music,” said Durst, per Kerrang.
An injury during “My Way” stopped everything for ten minutes. Durst talked with fans as medical staff brought out a stretcher. After resuming, the band closed with a second run-through of “Break Stuff.”
Audioslave replaced them as headliners at the first Download Festival in 2003. Limp Bizkit last played Donington Park in 2013 before coming back in 2024.
Guns N’ Roses headlined the festival on Saturday, June 13. Linkin Park closed the weekend on Sunday, June 14. Both acts were U.K. exclusives for 2026. The weekend also featured Bad Omens, Cypress Hill, Tom Morello, Trivium, Halestorm, Pendulum, Mastodon, BABYMETAL, Architects, and Feeder.
More than 100,000 people showed up for the three-day event. The District X stage hosted Five, Electric Six, and The All-American Rejects. Secret sets and tribute acts, including Nic-Cage Against The Machine, filled out the bill.
Anne Erickson started her radio career shortly after graduating from Michigan State University and has worked on-air in Detroit, Flint, Toledo, Lansing and beyond. As someone who absolutely loves rock, metal and alt music, she instantly fell in love with radio and hasn't looked back. When she's not working, Anne makes her own music with her band, Upon Wings, and she also loves cheering on her favorite Detroit and Michigan sports teams, especially Lions and MSU football. Anne is also an award-winning journalist, and her byline has run in a variety of national publications. You can also hear her weekends on WRIF.
