The spirit of Lemmy Kilmister is coming home to one of his favorite stages. Motörhead have announced that the 7th annual Lemmy Forever ceremony will take place at this year’s Download Festival at Donington Park.
The special event is scheduled for Friday, June 12, 2026, at 3pm inside Lemmy’s Lounge — a fitting tribute at a festival Lemmy and Motörhead loved deeply. Lemmy performed at Download four times (2005, 2008, 2010, and 2013) and was booked to headline in 2016 before his passing in December 2015.
During the ceremony, a miniature of Lemmy’s custom urn containing a portion of his ashes will be enshrined in a vessel shaped like a classic fruit machine — one of Lemmy’s greatest passions outside of music.
Motörhead manager Todd Singerman shared a heartfelt message:
“It remains a responsibility we proudly carry. Not everyone can make the pilgrimage to visit Lemmy in Hollywood, so we are bringing Lem back to his fans. These places meant something to him, and they mean something to the people who loved him. It’s important that they have somewhere they can come, raise a glass, share a story, and spend a moment with him.”
The ceremony will also honor longtime Motörhead guitarist Phil Campbell, who passed away in March 2026 and had presided over many previous Lemmy Forever events. Singerman added:
“When Phil passed we lost such an important family member, and I know Lem would insist we all raise a glass to Phil as well.”
This continues the global Lemmy Forever journey, which has already seen tributes at Hellfest, Wacken Open Air, Bloodstock, the Rainbow Bar & Grill, and Lemmy’s hometown of Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent.
Download Festival feels like the perfect spiritual home for this year’s Lemmy Forever ceremony. Lemmy’s raw energy and connection with festival crowds was legendary — bringing a piece of him back to Donington creates a powerful, emotional moment for thousands of fans who grew up on Motörhead’s thunderous sound. In an industry that often moves on quickly, Motörhead’s commitment to keeping Lemmy’s legacy alive year after year is truly special and deeply respected.
