England: The gates of Worthy Farm swung open on Wednesday as Glastonbury Festival 2025, the world’s largest greenfield music festival, welcomed around 200,000 revelers for a five-day spectacle of music, culture, and celebration.
The festival, nestled in the heart of southwest England, boasts a diverse lineup ranging from global pop sensation Olivia Rodrigo to music icon Rod Stewart, who will perform in the coveted Sunday afternoon legends slot. Other headliners include pop rock band The 1975 and legendary singer-songwriter Neil Young.
This year’s edition sold out in just 35 minutes, despite headliners not yet being announced at the time, underscoring the enduring popularity and cultural significance of the event, first held in 1970.
The main Pyramid Stage will see The 1975 headline on Friday night, Neil Young on Saturday, and Olivia Rodrigo at just 22 close out the festival on Sunday night.
The 80-year-old Rod Stewart returns to Glastonbury to deliver a career-spanning set during the Sunday Legends slot, expected to draw one of the festival’s biggest daytime crowds.
Controversy has already touched the festival with the scheduled appearance of Irish rap group Kneecap, set to perform on the West Holts stage Saturday afternoon.
The performance comes just days after one of its members, Liam O’Hanna (stage name Mo Chara), was charged with a terrorism offense in the UK for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah during a London gig in November 2024.
The decision to keep Kneecap in the lineup has drawn criticism from political leaders, including Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Despite the tension, Glastonbury remains focused on music and community, with more than 100 stages and thousands of performers spanning rock, pop, electronic, folk, and world music genres.
