Temporary road closures and a one-way system will be in place around Donington Park during Download Festival weekend, with several additional closures held as contingency measures if traffic conditions require them.
Resident road closure information for Download 2026 says the contingency closures are intended to prevent festival traffic from cutting through residential areas and to help manage traffic flow around the site. These measures will only be introduced if needed.
The contingency closure locations listed are Donington Bypass at Park Lane, the A453 at Grimes Gate, the A453 at The Green, Melbourne Lane at Slade Lane, Melbourne Lane at Forty Foot Lane, Cockshut Lane at Derby Road, Main Street at Packhorse Road, Main Street at Main Street, and the A453 at Gelscoe Lane.
A temporary closure will also be introduced at Walton Hill junction, between Isley Walton and the Hilltop lights, from 9pm until 2am on Friday 12 June, Saturday 13 June and Sunday 14 June. The information says this is to support the safety and speed of customers leaving the festival site.
A one-way system will operate on Melbourne Road and the A453 over the same three evenings, from 9pm until 2am. It will run from the junction of Slade Lane and Melbourne Lane to the A453. All traffic will be directed right onto the A453, with the one-way route continuing to the junction of Moor Lane towards the A42. From that point, traffic will return to normal two-way operation.
The arrangements are likely to affect residents and motorists using roads around Donington Park, East Midlands Airport, Isley Walton, Melbourne Lane and the A453 during the main festival weekend. Residents are being advised through the festival’s road closure information that some closures are planned as fixed evening measures, while others will only be used if traffic levels make them necessary.
