Cancelled in March, the Download in the United Kingdom held a "test edition" before the official event in 2022. The edition took place on the evening of Friday the 18th and extended until Sunday the 20th.
The event was part of the Event Research Programme , a pilot project by the British government to test the holding of large gatherings after the pandemic. With a capacity of 10,000 people, the event, which usually receives 110,000, will allow people to walk around without masks, camp, and even mosh during the sets – provided that all fans have tested negative for COVID-19.
In the UK, scientists have been studying how to hold events while the population is almost entirely vaccinated. The "pilot" version of the Download Festival will allow researchers to gather more data to determine when and how the music industry in the country can return to full capacity.
See below for a video and some photos from the event.
