Glastonbury 2025: Sun-Scorched Stages and A Worthy Farm Farewell
Quick Summary
Glastonbury 2025 was a festival of beautiful contrasts. It brought scorching temperatures, powerful headline sets from The 1975, Neil Young, and Olivia Rodrigo, emotional secret performances from Lorde and Lewis Capaldi, and a palpable undercurrent of political debate, all providing a memorable farewell before the 2026 fallow year.
The dust has settled on Worthy Farm after a Glastonbury that will be remembered for its scorching "Sahara-like" temperatures, its celebration of modern pop, and its poignant, sometimes divisive, political undercurrents. With a fallow year looming in 2026, there was a palpable sense of occasion, a feeling that this was a weekend to be truly savoured. And for the most part, it delivered.
A Tale of Three Headliners
The Pyramid Stage this year was a study in contrasts. Friday night saw The 1975 finally ascend to the headline slot they have long seemed destined for. Their performance was a polished, professional affair, a testament to their status as one of Britain's biggest bands. However, frontman Matty Healy's call for "less politics, and more 'love and friendship'" felt somewhat hollow to some, a confusing message in a festival buzzing with political discourse.
Saturday night belonged to a legend, as Neil Young made his much-anticipated return. In a move that felt almost defiantly old-school, Young initially banned the BBC from televising his set, a decision that was later reversed. The result was a performance that was both intimate and epic. With a voice that was at times a fragile whisper, and at others a furious roar, he reminded a somewhat sparse crowd of the raw, untameable power of rock and roll. For those who chose to witness the master at work, it was a truly heroic performance.
Closing the festival on Sunday was Olivia Rodrigo, a bona fide pop superstar who, at just 22, commanded the Pyramid Stage with an authority that belied her years. Her set was a whirlwind of raw emotion, seamlessly transitioning from the heartbreak of "Drivers License" to the righteous anger of her pop-punk anthems. A stunning collaboration with The Cure's Robert Smith on "Friday I'm In Love" and "Just Like Heaven" was a moment of pure, unadulterated joy, and a reminder of Glastonbury's unique ability to create unforgettable musical moments.
Secret Sets, Emotional Returns, and Britpop Nostalgia
As ever, the secret sets were the talk of the festival. Lorde's surprise appearance on the Woodsies stage to launch her new album, 'Virgin', caused such a stir that access to the area had to be restricted. But it was Lewis Capaldi's emotional return to the Pyramid Stage that truly captured the hearts of the festival. Two years on from his difficult 2023 performance, his triumphant comeback was a powerful and deeply moving moment.
The mystery of 'Patchwork' was solved when Pulp emerged to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their legendary 1995 headline set. Jarvis Cocker and the band were on typically brilliant form, leading a mass singalong to classics like "Common People" and "Disco 2000."
A Festival of Contrasts
Beyond the main stages, the weekend was a whirlwind of diverse and brilliant performances. Charli XCX turned the Other Stage into a "pulsing, strobe-lit nightclub," drawing a crowd of an estimated 60,000 people. RAYE delivered a powerhouse performance on the Pyramid Stage, while Wolf Alice further cemented their reputation as one of Britain's best live bands. The "gloomlord" himself, Gary Numan, brought his unique brand of electro-pop to The Park stage, while The Libertines and Snow Patrol provided a dose of noughties nostalgia.
However, the weekend was not without its controversies. A strong pro-Palestine sentiment was evident throughout the festival, with artists like JADE, CMAT, and Joy Crookes using their platforms to call for peace. The performances of Bob Vylan and Kneecap were particularly divisive, with the former's anti-IDF chants being condemned by festival organisers.
A Fond Farewell
As the sun set on Sunday evening, and the final notes of Olivia Rodrigo's set faded into the night, there was a sense of a chapter closing. Glastonbury 2025 was a festival of contrasts: of scorching heat and moments of pure shade-dappled bliss, of raw, unfiltered rock and roll and polished, modern pop, of unifying singalongs and divisive political statements. It was, in short, everything that makes Glastonbury the cultural institution it is. And as we head into a fallow year, the memories of this sun-scorched, unforgettable weekend will have to be enough to sustain us until we can all return to Worthy Farm in 2027.
From private helicopter arrivals and exclusive backstage access to unwinding in bespoke bell tents and yurts, we curated the extraordinary for our clients this year. With Glastonbury resting in 2026, the demand for 2027 will be unprecedented. Enquire now to secure your package.
Enquire for 2027Glastonbury 2025 FAQs
The three main headliners at Glastonbury 2025 were The 1975 on Friday night, Neil Young on Saturday, and Olivia Rodrigo closing the festival on Sunday. The 1975 delivered a polished performance in their long-awaited headline slot, whilst Neil Young provided an intimate yet epic rock performance. Olivia Rodrigo commanded the Pyramid Stage with remarkable authority for a 22-year-old, including a stunning collaboration with The Cure's Robert Smith.
Glastonbury 2025 was characterised by scorching temperatures that were described as "Sahara-like". The festival experienced unusually hot weather throughout the weekend, creating a sun-scorched atmosphere across Worthy Farm. Despite the intense heat, festival-goers found moments of shade-dappled bliss throughout the site.
Yes, several notable secret performances took place. Lorde made a surprise appearance on the Woodsies stage to launch her new album 'Virgin', which caused such excitement that access to the area had to be restricted. Lewis Capaldi made an emotional return to the Pyramid Stage two years after his difficult 2023 performance, delivering a triumphant and deeply moving comeback set. The mystery act 'Patchwork' was revealed to be Pulp, celebrating the 30th anniversary of their legendary 1995 headline performance.
The festival featured diverse performances across multiple stages. Charli XCX transformed the Other Stage into a "pulsing, strobe-lit nightclub" attracting an estimated 60,000 people. RAYE delivered a powerhouse performance on the Pyramid Stage, whilst Wolf Alice further cemented their reputation as one of Britain's best live bands. Other notable acts included Gary Numan at The Park stage, The Libertines, and Snow Patrol providing noughties nostalgia.
The festival saw some political tensions and divisive moments. There was a strong pro-Palestine sentiment evident throughout, with artists like JADE, CMAT, and Joy Crookes using their platforms to call for peace. The performances of Bob Vylan and Kneecap were particularly controversial, with Bob Vylan's anti-IDF chants being condemned by festival organisers. The 1975's Matty Healy also caused discussion with his call for "less politics, and more 'love and friendship'".
Neil Young initially banned the BBC from televising his set in a move that felt "defiantly old-school". However, this decision was later reversed, allowing the broadcast to proceed. Despite performing to a somewhat sparse crowd, Young delivered what was described as a "truly heroic performance" for those who chose to witness it.
No, Glastonbury will not take place in 2026. The festival is taking a fallow year in 2026, which added a palpable sense of occasion to the 2025 event as attendees knew it would be their last chance to experience the festival until 2027. This created a feeling that the 2025 weekend was truly to be savoured.
Glastonbury 2025 was described as a "festival of beautiful contrasts" featuring scorching temperatures, powerful headline performances, emotional secret sets, and political undercurrents. The combination of raw rock and roll with polished modern pop, unifying singalongs alongside divisive political statements, and the knowledge of the upcoming fallow year created an unforgettable and poignant atmosphere that captured everything that makes Glastonbury a cultural institution.
During Olivia Rodrigo's Sunday headline set, she performed a stunning collaboration with The Cure's Robert Smith on the songs "Friday I'm In Love" and "Just Like Heaven". This was described as "a moment of pure, unadulterated joy" and exemplified Glastonbury's unique ability to create unexpected and unforgettable musical moments between artists from different generations.
The festival had a palpable sense of occasion due to the upcoming 2026 fallow year, creating an atmosphere where everything felt more significant and worth savouring. Despite controversies and the intense heat, the weekend was characterised by diverse brilliant performances, emotional moments, and the full spectrum of experiences that define Glastonbury - from intimate acoustic moments to massive crowd singalongs across multiple stages.
