Iron Maiden To Headline Download Festival 2016

19 October 2015, 19:00 | Updated: 11 November 2015, 11:55

The band will close the rock and metal festival on Sunday 12 June.

Iron Maiden are confirmed to headline Download Festival next year. 

The veteran heavy metal stars are set to close the rock festival - which takes place at Castle Donington, Leicestershire on 10-12 June 2016.

The band and crew will hit the spiritual home of rock, by flying into East Midlands Airport on their jumbo jet, Ed Force One, piloted by frontman Bruce Dickinson.

The huge gig will be the only UK date played by the band next year.

On the news, Dickinson, said: “Download is a very special place for us. Not just because it’s always great to play on home turf but because there’s a truly unique vibe there, it’s the very heart of England and of Metal, so a fitting place for Iron Maiden! The crowd is always fiercely passionate and the whole band feeds off that famous Donington energy. 

"We aim to deliver a really memorable show for our fans to close the 2016 Festival. Although this is our sixth time headlining at Castle Donington, it’s the first time we’ve been able to land Ed Force One right on the doorstep of the Festival site!”

After their set, the band will head straight back on The Book Of Souls World Tour, performing their album of the same name, which hit the top of the UK charts, as well as 40 countries around the globe.

Tickets for Download Festival go on sale from 9am on Friday 23 October 2015.