Download Festival 2024 weather forecast
Will it be sunny or rainy?!
Last updated 10th Jun 2024
Just like every long-running music festival on these shores, the weather at Download Festival has been something of a mixed bag over the past two decades thanks to the UK’s reliably unreliable meteorological conditions.
2005, 2006, 2009, 2018 and 2023 were all absolute scorchers, while 2016 was a mud bath of epic proportions and it literally didn’t stop raining all weekend. 2012 was extremely muddy, and 2015/2019 were also soggy and boggy.
48 hours before Donington Park opens its gates, Planet Rock takes a look at the weather forecast for the 21st Download Festival.
Headlined by Queens of the Stone Age (Friday 14th June), Fall Out Boy (Saturday 15th June) and Avenged Sevenfold (Sunday 16th June), Download Festival returns to its traditional three-day format following the extended four-day 20th anniversary event last year.
Other bands performing across the weekend include Black Stone Cherry, Pantera, The Struts, Tom Morello, Those Damn Crows, Royal Blood, Kerry King, Mr. Bungle, Corey Taylor, Limp Bizkit, Florence Black, and many more.
Almost completely sold out, the final tickets are on sale from Download Festival’s official website now. Sunday is already sold out.
Here’s the Download Festival 2024 weather forecast:
Wednesday 12th June:
BBC Weather: Overcast in the morning, however there are chances of some sunny spells in the afternoon. Temperatures peak at 15° and there will be a gentle breeze from the west. It will be very cold overnight with lows of 7°.
Met Office: A largely overcast day with just 10% chance of rain - meaning it will stay dry for Download Festival revellers erecting their abodes for the weekend. Temperatures will peak at a very modest 14° - below average for the time of year.
Thursday 13th June:
BBC Weather: After a bright and very chilly start it will get cloudier around lunchtime before light rain hits the hallowed turf of Donington in the afternoon. Highs of 16° are predicted in the afternoon.
Met Office: Following a cold start, it will be very overcast day with heavy rain expected in the afternoon. Highs of 14°, but it may feel a few degrees cooler.
Friday 14th June:
BBC Weather: A mixed bag of a day with sunny spells, cloud and light rain showers all forecast. Again it won't be particularly warm with temperatures peaking at 16°.
Met Office: Much better weather than Thursday with sunny spells possible throughout the day alongside the odd light shower. Highs of 17°.
Saturday 15th June:
BBC Weather: Echoing Friday's forecast, it's expected that the weather on Saturday will be very mixed with chances of sunshine and rain throughout the day. It will be a tad warmer at 17° in the afternoon and 11° overnight.
Met Office: Very similar weather to Friday with bright spells and some light rain. Highs of 16° in the afternoon.
Sunday 16th June:
BBC Weather: The third day of highly unpredictable and very mixed weather. Light rain, spells of dry weather and sunshine are all possible throughout Sunday. It willl be the warmest day of the weekend at 18°.
Met Office: Dry and overcast in the morning, but it will brighten in the afternoon with a chance of rain at times. Highs of 17°.
If you still haven’t packed for Download Festival, check out our survival guide below featuring all the essentials you need to pack before heading off to Donington.
Feature: Download Festival survival guide
Feature: Download Festival 2024 stage times
The very first Download Festival in photos:
The Main Stage at Download Festival 2003
The very first Download Festival took place on the hallowed turf of Donington Park – home of the legendary Monsters of Rock – on Saturday 31st May to Sunday 1st June 2003.
Iron Maiden headline Download Festival 2003
Two-times Monsters of Rock headliners Iron Maiden topped the bill on the opening night of Download 2003.
Iron Maiden headline Download Festival 2003
Iron Maiden's performance at the inaugural Download Festival was part of their Give Me Ed... 'til I'm Dead Tour.
Deftones at Download Festival 2003
Other main stage performers on the Saturday were Marilyn Manson, Deftones (pictured), Ministry, InMe, Murderdolls, Amen, Funeral for a Friend, Stampin' Ground, Shadows Fall and Murder One.
Download Festival 2003 crowd
Years before the advent smartphones, the Download Festival 2003 faithful attended the event armed with disposable cameras.
Ministry at Download Festival 2003
Ministry's All Jourgenson sings into his understated microphone stand on the Saturday at Download Festival 2003.
HIM at Download Festival 2003
Ville Valo of Finnish gothic rockers HIM during the band's Saturday set on the Scuzz Stage. The second stage also boasted performances from A, Reel Big Fish, Taproot, Sepultura, Reef, SOiL, The Hellacopters, SikTh, 3 Colours Red, From Autumn To Ashes, Queen Adreena, Violent Delight, Arch Enemy, and Chimaria.
Download Festival 2003 crowd
Download Festival's name has a two meanings. The word 'Download' was a murky word at the time thanks to Napster and illegal downloading. Download was also seen as a Monsters of Rock for the 21st century and the internet would provide connectivity with its audience. Tickets had a download code on them so fans could get tracks by some of the bands performing.
Audioslave headline Download Festival 2003
Late rock legend Chris Cornell on stage with Audioslave during the band's main stage headline set on Sunday night at Download Festival 2003. It was Audioslave's only appearance at Download, however Chris Cornell would return with Soundgarden and as a solo artist.
Audioslave headline Download Festival 2003
Audioslave replaced original headliners Limp Bizkit on the line-up after Fred Durst and co. cancelled.
Keith Flint at Download Festival 2003
The late-great Keith Flint on stage with his fleeting solo band Flint on the Sunday at Download Festival 2003. The Prodigy headlined the second stage at Download Festival 2006 and 2009 before stepping up as main stage headliners in 2012.
Stone Sour's Corey Taylor at Download Festival 2003
Wearing a Union Jacket emblazoned with the words 'Donington' in marker pen, Corey Taylor played the very first Download Festival with Stone Sour. Slipknot have headlined Download five times since the festival's inception, and Corey has also performed as a solo artist over the past 21 years.
Metallica play secret set at Download Festival 2003
A truly landmark Download Festival moment, Metallica played a secret set on The Scuzz Stage on the Sunday afternoon.
Metallica play secret set at Download Festival 2003
Metallica performed a 10-song set on the rammed-to-the-rafters stage, including a clutch of tracks from their soon-to-be-released album 'St Anger'.
Metallica play secret set at Download Festival 2003
Also on The Scuzz Stage bill alongside Metallica on Sunday were NOFX, Boysetsfire, The Bouncing Souls, Strung Out, Thrice, Spunge, TSOL, The Real McKenzies, The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster, Brand New, Instruction, Beatsteaks, Randy and Fabulous Disaster.
The Darkness' Justin Hawkins at Download Festival 2003
Justin Hawkins backstage before The Darkness' performance on The Main Stage. Audioslave, Zwan, Flint, Apocalyptica, Less Than Jake, Disturbed, Stone Sour, Evanescence, Mudvayne, Spineshank, One Minute Silence, Raging Speedhorn and Instruction also played on the second day.
Billy Corgan at Download Festival 2003
Billy Corgan on stage with Zwan on the Sunday at Download Festival 2003