Glastonbury Festival 2026

Background & History

• Origins: Glastonbury Festival, officially the Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts, began in 1970 as the Pilton Pop, Blues & Folk Festival, organized by dairy farmer Michael Eavis on Worthy Farm, Pilton, Somerset, England. Inspired by the 1970 Bath Festival of Blues and Progressive Music, Eavis launched it the day after Jimi Hendrix’s death (September 19), drawing 1,500 attendees with acts like Marc Bolan’s T. Rex and Stackridge. Tickets cost £1, including free camping and milk from the farm’s cows.
• Early Evolution: In 1971, renamed Glastonbury Fayre it became a free festival with 12,000 attendees, co-organized by Arabella Churchill and Andrew Kerr. It embraced medieval traditions—music, dance, poetry, and theatre—introducing the first Pyramid Stage, a scaffolding structure on a ley line linking Glastonbury Tor to Stonehenge. The 1970s saw irregular events due to financial and logistical hurdles, with pauses until 1981 when Eavis partnered with the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), embedding activism into the festival’s ethos.
• Growth and Cultural Impact: By the 1990s, Glastonbury became a cultural juggernaut, hosting 300,000 in 1994 despite official capacity limits. It introduced TV broadcasts and a new Pyramid Stage after a 1994 fire. The festival reflects British music trends—Britpop (Oasis, Blur, Pulp in the 1990s), hip-hop (Jay-Z, 2008), and grime (Stormzy, 2019)—while championing diversity with headliners like Beyoncé (2011, first solo female) and global acts. It has raised over £50 million for charities like Oxfam, Greenpeace, and WaterAid since 1981.
• Modern Significance: Known for its hippie roots, New Age spirituality, and Vale of Avalon mysticism, Glastonbury is a global beacon of inclusivity, creativity, and environmental advocacy. Fallow years (e.g., 2012, 2018, 2026) allow land recovery, reflecting sustainability goals. Despite challenges like 2005’s mud chaos or 2020–2021 COVID cancellations, it remains a pilgrimage for 200,000+ attendees, blending music, arts, and social change.

Event Highlights

• Main Performances: The Pyramid Stage hosts global icons—think The Rolling Stones (2013), Paul McCartney (multiple years), or Dua Lipa (2025)—with 3,000+ acts across 100+ stages. Other Stage showcases rising stars, West Holts delivers hip-hop and soul, and Acoustic Stage offers folk and ballads. Surprise sets, like Pulp’s in 2025, keep excitement high.
• Special Traditions: The Pyramid Stage, rebuilt in 1994, sits on a sacred ley line. Fallow years every five (2026 next), rest the land. Solstice rituals at the Stone Circle echo 1971’s medieval Fayre. The “Legends” slot features icons like Cliff Richard (2025) or Dolly Parton (2014). All profits support charities like CND and MSF.
• Unique Attractions: Spanning 900 acres, explore Shangri-La’s late-night raves, Arcadia’s fire-breathing sculptures, or Green Fields’ eco-workshops and Peace Garden. Art installations like Carhenge (a car-based Stonehenge) dazzle, while Kidzfield offers family fun (sock wrestling, crafts). Flash mob dances (e.g., Shania Twain’s 2025 choreography) and circus/theatre tents create a vibrant, immersive escape.

Date & Duration

• Dates: Wednesday, June 23 – Sunday, June 27, 2027
• Duration: 5 days

Venue / Location

• Location: Worthy Farm, Pilton, Somerset, England—a 900-acre dairy farm between Pilton and Pylle villages, 6 miles east of Glastonbury town in the Vale of Avalon, overlooked by the mystical Glastonbury Tor.
• Main Venue: The site features iconic areas like the Pyramid Stage field, Silver Hayes (dance), and Green Fields (healing/eco zones). Entry via gates like Pennard (south) or Gully’s (east).
• Google Maps Address: Worthy Farm, Pilton, Shepton Mallet BA4 4BY, United Kingdom

Ticket Information

• How Tickets Are Sold: Sold exclusively via See Tickets (glastonbury.seetickets.com). Pre-registration with photo ID is mandatory to combat touting. General admission and coach packages sell out in minutes (2025 took <1 hour). Resales in April 2027 for returned tickets; a prize draw for 25 ticket pairs supports MSF (~$10 USD entry). No other agencies are authorized.
• Admission Type: Paid event; no free entry.
• Ticket Pricing (USD): Based on 2025’s £378.50 + £5 fee, expect ~$480–$500 USD for general admission (2027 prices TBD, likely higher with inflation).
• Special Seating/VIP: No fixed seating; open fields with standing/GA. Hospitality packages (apply spring 2026) include premium viewing areas, lounges, and catering (~$1,000+ USD). Accessible platforms for people with disabilities are available.
• Price Range: Minimum: ~$480 USD (general admission); Maximum: ~$1,200+ USD (hospitality with glamping add-ons).

Contact Information

• Email: General: Use contact form at glastonburyfestivals.co.uk/contact (select topic); tickets: See Tickets via glastonbury.seetickets.com; press: press@glastonburyfestivals.co.uk; accessibility: accessibility@glastonburyfestivals.co.uk; hospitality: hospitality@glastonburyfestivals.co.uk.
• Phone: No direct festival line; See Tickets support: +44 (0)844 888 9993 (UK, 9am–5pm); international queries via form.
• Website: https://www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk (news, line-ups, maps); glastonbury.seetickets.com (ticketing).
• Social Media: @glastonburyfestivals on X/Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook for updates and live coverage.
• Key Staff: Michael Eavis (founder), Emily Eavis (co-organizer); press/volunteer teams via contact form.
• Press/Volunteers: Press accreditation for major outlets only (apply via form); volunteer roles (stewards, info points) via info@glastonburyfestivals.co.uk (opens post-2025).
• Note: Responses in ~24–48 hours; English primary; data stored per GDPR (max 24 months).

Cultural Experience

• Traditions: Rooted in 1960s counterculture and New Age spirituality, Glastonbury celebrates freedom and community in the Vale of Avalon, tied to ley lines and Glastonbury Tor myths. Solstice rituals at the Stone Circle feature drumming, fire ceremonies, and pagan-inspired gatherings, echoing the 1971 Fayre’s medieval spirit.
• Music and Vibe: Spans rock, pop, electronic, and folk, with Pyramid Stage singalongs (e.g., Oasis covers) uniting crowds. The festival fosters a utopian escape—strangers share tents, dance freely, and form bonds across ages and backgrounds.
• Costumes: A sartorial playground: boho dresses, mud-caked wellies, glam fairy wings, or punk leathers. Green Fields see flowing robes; Shangri-La ravers don neon. Headdresses banned since 2015 for cultural sensitivity.
• Local Customs: Eco-activism shines through CND marches, Green Fields’ sustainability talks, and vegan/veggie food pushes. Workshops on crafts or yoga, plus debates in the Theatre Field, embody the festival’s progressive ethos.

Food & Drinks

• South Indian: Dosa Deli’s masala dosas and onion bhajis (~$10 USD)—crispy, spiced, vegetarian-friendly.
• Comfort Food: Anna Mae’s Mac ‘n’ Cheese skillets with bacon or jalapeños (~$12 USD); pie and chips (~$12 USD).
• Global Bites: Goan fish curry with naan (~$15 USD); Tibetan momos or Thai curry rice bowls in £6 (~$7.60 USD) meal deals; Korean fried chicken tacos (~$10 USD).
• Seafood/Vegan: You’re My Lobster’s lobster rolls (~$18 USD); vegan katsu wraps or falafel pittas for dietary needs.
• Drinks: Burrow Hill Cider Bus pints (~$6 USD); Cocoa Caravan’s artisan hot chocolate (~$5 USD); Somerset ales or non-alcoholic lemonades.
• Budget Options: 400+ traders offer £6 deals (chilli, salads, kids’ meals); markets sell smoothies and crepes.

Getting There

• Airports: Bristol International (BRS, 17 miles, ~30-min drive); London Heathrow (LHR, 95 miles, ~2-hr train/coach); Birmingham (BHX, 100 miles).
• Trains: Castle Cary (nearest station, ~2 hrs from London Paddington via GWR); free festival shuttle to site (Wed–Mon, 24/7 peaks).
• Coaches/Buses: National Express from 90+ UK cities (London Victoria: 3.5 hrs, ~$50 USD return); local 374/375/376 to Glastonbury town, then GF1 shuttle (~$10 USD total).
• Parking: £25 (~$32 USD) per vehicle in public fields (pre-buy with ticket); limited EV charging; no re-entry without pass-out.
• Cycling: Bike To Glasto’s free lock-ups and cyclists’ campsite; ~20-mile routes from Bristol.
• Tips: Carpool via apps (unofficial); helicopters banned except operations; 1/3 attendees use public transport per festival’s carbon calculator.

Accommodation Options

• On-Site Camping: Free with ticket; pitch in Pennard Hill (lively), Limekilns (quiet), or family zones (Cockmill/Wicket). Bring tents; no fires/BBQs in tents (CO risk).
• Pre-Erected Campsites: Worthy View (~$300 USD, off-site with shuttle); Sticklinch (~$250 USD, glamping); BCT scout tents (~$200 USD for 4).
• Glamping/Tipis: Festival Tipi Village (~$500 USD for 6); luxury off-site like Pennard Hill Farm lotus belles (~$9,000 USD for 4, showers/views) or Bath & West (~$300 USD large pitch).
• Campervans: Pitches ~$200–$300 USD (8m/16m lengths); no sleeping in public car parks; external sites like Old Oaks (~$150 USD/night).
• Hotels/B&Bs: The Lion at West Pennard (~$150 USD/night, 11-min drive); Constantine Court Homestay (~$100 USD, 14-min); Chapterhouse (~$120 USD, hot tub).
• Luxury: Montigo Resorts Somerset (~$400 USD, spa); Knoll Hill Farm glamping (~$200 USD, massages). Book early; off-site adds shuttle time.