The Download Festival has recently released an official statement following significant controversy concerning the accessibility of bathrooms for transgender fans and artists attending the 2025 music weekend. This issue gained traction on social media platforms when musician Noah Finnce highlighted the festival’s decision to follow government guidelines, raising concerns about inclusivity and safety.

The situation escalated when Finnce shared his thoughts on Twitter, stating, “Hey @DownloadFest, what the heck are you doing inviting trans people to play your festival but denying them the basic right of using the appropriate bathroom? I had an amazing time performing last year, but I won’t be returning if it means I have to wait in line for the women’s bathroom while my trans sisters risk exposing their identities in the men’s bathroom. This policy endangers trans individuals.”

He further emphasized, “How can you invite trans artists like me to perform at your festival and then prohibit us from using the restroom that aligns with our gender identity? If the only way we can relieve ourselves is by putting our safety at risk, you’ve created a hazardous atmosphere for us.”

This sparked responses from other artists as well, with Pinkshift labeling the rules as “absurd and extremely unsafe.” Similarly, Witchfever expressed that enforcing such guidelines would pose a “serious threat to the safety of trans individuals.”

Download Festival’s Clarification on Bathroom Accessibility Policies

In light of the growing discussion across various social media channels, Download Festival took the initiative to clarify their restroom policies for the 2025 event. The festival’s social media account stated, “We stand in solidarity with all members of our community and strive to ensure that everyone feels safe, supported, and welcomed at Download.” They proceeded to share a more comprehensive statement addressing the matter.

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The festival’s statement conveys the following key points:

At the core of Download is a commitment to acceptance – we stand with all community members and aspire for every attendee to feel secure, supported, and welcomed during the festival.

We want to reassure all attendees that the majority of toilets at Download will be gender-neutral and accessible to everyone. Additionally, we will provide single-sex toilets. Download Festival has always been and continues to be a space for everyone.

We sincerely apologize for any previous communications that may not have been clear. We eagerly anticipate seeing you at Download this year.

In the comments section of the Download post, various individuals expressed concerns that the organizers have yet to fully address trans-exclusionary policies or clarify whether they are enforcing EHRC guidelines. Conversely, some commenters felt the statement was sufficiently clear.

The 2025 edition of the Download Festival is scheduled to take place from June 13-15 at Donington Park in the U.K. This year’s remarkable lineup features bands like Korn, Sleep Token, Green Day, Weezer, Shinedown, Bullet for My Valentine, Sex Pistols featuring Frank Carter, Spiritbox, and many more.