Donnington Park saw excellent weather for Download 2025, despite forecasts of rain for the whole weekend, making perfect conditions to enjoy this year’s line-up in.

By Veronika Lapuridi

Photos by Stuart Duthie

In addition, the accessibility at Download has been majorly improved over the last years, and a low alcohol bar was added, meaning people who benefit from these were less held back from enjoying themselves than in previous years.

On Thursday, before the festival even fully started, people gathered at the Doghouse tent for the Vengaboys. They performed several covers, including Living on A Prayer, as well as their popular songs We Like To Party and Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom!!. Although there were many more people than the capacity of the tent, the audience members around the edge lifted the sides up to allow people behind a chance to watch the Vengaboys’ cheerful and energetic performance.

On the first day we saw Green Day, who were headlining the Apex stage as well as Apocalyptica, who came on at the Dogtooth stage a little later. Green Day opened with American Idiot, Holiday and Do You Know Your Enemy, and delivered an incredible set with good energy. Great use was made of the pyrotechnics on stage as well, elevating the overall vibe.

Apocalyptica were headlining the Dogtooth stage on Friday. They performed their famous Metallica covers with great energy and played some of their own work which was equally received. Despite them coming on during Green Day’s set, while most of the festival-goers were gathered at the Apex stage, they still attracted lots of people.

On Saturday the forecasted rain made an appearance while Sex Pistols were playing the Opus stage, which provided a welcome relief from the heat, and created a rainbow during the set. Despite the muddy conditions making it difficult, people did create mosh pits.

On Sunday Meshuggah played the Apex stage during the day, gathering long-time fans, and Korn headlined. Korn had played Download many times in the last twenty years, but this was their first time headlining, which they shared with the crowd with excitement. From where I stood, Korn seemed to have been let down by sound design, as there were a couple speakers which did not work properly, leading to large portions of the crowd there moving or leaving. However, I have heard that both closer to the stage and further away they were fantastic. They also had excellent visuals throughout the show.

Download Festival took place at Donnington Park from Friday 13 to Sunday 15 June 2025.