As per Nottinghamshire Live:
The 2021 Download Festival at Donington Park will not be going ahead, it has been announced.
Bosses of the annual festival, which attracts up to 100,000 people from across the world normally, have been forced to pull the plug on this year’s event because of the coronavirus pandemic for the second year in a row.
Download 2021 had been due to take place between June 4 – 6 with almost 100 acts announced and thousands of tickets sold.
Festival organizers said they did everything possible to try and make the event happen and have instead announced the line-up for 2022 with tickets going on general sale for that from 10am on Friday, March 5.
A festival statement said: “We never gave up hope of bringing the festival back to Donington this June and have been working so hard behind the scenes to make that happen – but we now know it’s not possible.
“We’re heartbroken for everyone in the Download family, from artists to suppliers and of course, our passionate Download fans.
“We want to thank the NHS for rolling out the vaccine, as well as thanking you all for your patience and for keeping the spirit of Download alive until we can be together again.
“You are very welcome to retain your ticket and carry it over to next year. Alternatively you can receive a refund from your ticket agent. Horns up, we will see you in 2022.”
The 2022 event June 10 -12 sees Iron Maiden, Kiss and Biffy Clyro as headliners – the latter two had been lined up to headline this year.
Despite 2021 being unable to take place, Download organizers have assured fans that 2022 is very much on.
Iron Maiden will return on the Saturday night and frontman Bruce Dickinson said: “Like everyone, we were all hugely disappointed when the global pandemic forced the cancellation of Download 2020, which would have been Maiden’s seventh time headlining here.
“So we are delighted to be invited back and fulfil our ambition of playing Donington Park in every decade since the 1980’s.
“As most people know, this festival is hallowed ground for us (and Eddie!) and our fans’ vocal support and enthusiasm is always phenomenal and much appreciated.
“We can’t wait to see everyone again, and are determined to make the show one hell of a party and the greatest homecoming ever.”
After an epic and well documented 47-year career that launched an era of rock n’ roll, KISS will perform in the UK at Download Festival 2022, in a UK exclusive on Friday night.
They embarked on their final ever tour in 2020 before being cut short by the pandemic and will make their final Download appearance next year.
Guitarist Paul Stanley said: “Download will be the culmination of 47 years of unapologetic bombast and spectacle. We will make this a fitting farewell to a country and its people whose music remains the blood in our veins.”
