Download Festival: what was the weather like at past editions?

At 14 of 21 editions of Download Festival from 2003 to 2025 (67%), at least one festival day had rain (≥ 1 mm); a day of 30 °C or more came at 0 of 21 editions. Source: ERA5 reanalysis (Copernicus), data to 2025.

How it works ↓

Data updated: 2 November 2026 · Sources, licences and data

Calculated 3 November 2026 · weather: ERA5 2003–2025 · edition dates checked 2 November 2026

14 / 21editions with at least one rainy day

41%of festival days rainy

4 / 21editions with mud (≥ 40 mm incl. the week before)

0 / 21editions with a day ≥ 30 °C

5 °C (2011)coldest night

2 mmmedian rain per edition

Climate of the usual dates

If the next edition falls on its usual dates (10–12 June), the weather on those calendar days in 1991–2025 gives these odds:

74% — chance of at least one rainy day
43% — share of rainy days
18 °C — average daily maximum
0% — chance of a day of 30 °C or more
43% — chance of a night below 8 °C

Average daily maximum on these dates: 16.8 °C in 1991–2005, 18.4 °C in 2011–2025.

Of the three British festivals covered on this site, Download Festival at Donington Park has the coldest nights and the most frequent rain. On its usual dates, 10–12 June, the chance of at least one rainy day is 74%; Glastonbury and Reading each come in at 63%. The figures come from the ERA5 reanalysis for past years and are not a forecast: weather services publish that for specific days.

Rain and mud at past editions

Some 41% of festival days are rainy, and “mud” (40 mm or more across the festival days and the week before) built up at 4 of 21 editions. In 2016, 23 mm fell over 10–12 June; in 2024 it rained on all 3 days, 18 mm in total. A hot day (30 °C or more) has never happened here: wellies matter more than a sun hat.

Nights in the tent and the 2027 dates

The daytime high averages 18 °C, but a night below 8 °C comes with a 43% chance. The record low is 5 °C (2011). A warm sleeping bag matters more here than at summer festivals. The next Download runs 9–13 June 2027, almost the usual dates; there is no forecast for them yet.

Weather at past editions

editions with at least one rainy day · Rain, mm

Year	Dates	Rainy days	Rain	Max	Night min	Note
2025	13–15 June	1 / 3	2 mm	24 °C	12 °C	—
2024	14–16 June	3 / 3	18 mm	18 °C	10 °C	—
2023	9–11 June	0 / 3	1 mm	28 °C	10 °C	last 3 days of 8–11 June
2022	10–12 June	0 / 3	0 mm	21 °C	10 °C	—
2019	14–16 June	3 / 3	12 mm	18 °C	8 °C	—
2018	8–10 June	1 / 3	2 mm	21 °C	10 °C	—
2017	9–11 June	2 / 3	2 mm	20 °C	11 °C	—
2016	10–12 June	3 / 3	23 mm	21 °C	14 °C	—
2015	12–14 June	2 / 3	18 mm	21 °C	9 °C	—
2014	13–15 June	0 / 3	1 mm	22 °C	11 °C	—
2013	14–16 June	2 / 3	12 mm	17 °C	9 °C	—
2012	8–10 June	1 / 3	9 mm	17 °C	7 °C	—
2011	10–12 June	3 / 3	18 mm	15 °C	5 °C	—
2010	11–13 June	1 / 3	7 mm	20 °C	10 °C	—
2009	12–14 June	0 / 3	0 mm	21 °C	5 °C	—
2008	13–15 June	1 / 3	2 mm	16 °C	8 °C	—
2007	8–10 June	0 / 3	0 mm	23 °C	12 °C	—
2006	9–11 June	1 / 3	1 mm	27 °C	12 °C	—
2005	10–12 June	0 / 3	0 mm	16 °C	6 °C	—
2004	5–6 June	0 / 2	0 mm	23 °C	14 °C	—
2003	31 May – 1 June	1 / 2	2 mm	26 °C	13 °C	—

How to read these numbers

ERA5 is a reanalysis on a 0.25° grid (about 25 km): it counts slightly more light-rain days than nearby weather stations (by about 5–7 percentage points) and gives daytime highs about 1–2.5 °C below station readings, so real hot days were hotter than shown here.
Edition window: the official programme days (main festival days, without camping or warm-up days before the start).
For one edition the source lists a longer span (camping or warm-up days, a second weekend); we used the last 3 days, the festival's usual length.
“Mud” means at least 40 mm of rain over the festival days and the week before.
Dates of past editions: Wikidata and Wikipedia (de, en, es, fr, it, nl); cancelled editions (e.g. 2020–21) are not counted.

Dates and sources

Coordinates: 52.830, -1.380; ERA5 cell centred at 52.75, -1.50 (average ground height of the cell 114 m).