Every year, the Glastonbury lineup comes out with a sprawling mix of must-see acts. It’s not just a huge event in British culture, but a fascinating exercise in lineup assembly; the organizers are placing their bets on future stars, treating longtime attendees to some legendary throwbacks, and all the while, attempting to curate an of-the-moment mix.
This year’s edition keeps those trends going, with headlining performances from The 1975, Neil Young, and Olivia Rodrigo. Plus, Charli XCX will make a major return to Glasto, as will RAYE, The Prodigy, Alanis Morissette, Deftones, Wet Leg, and many more.
As festivals have transformed over the last decade, Glastonbury has remained consistent, continuing to champion indie artists, experimental forces, and older artists due for some reappraisal. But with the “something for everyone” approach comes a ton of different micro-trends, themes, and shifts that speak to our current moment.
Here are 20 thoughts on Glastonbury’s 2025 lineup.
01. Neil Young, Man of the People
The 79-year-old legend has been consistent, whether that be his Spotify boycott from a few years back or his gut reaction to pull out of Glastonbury 2025 because the event was taking a “corporate turn.”
But Young has the casual grace to revert course and admit he was wrong, claiming in January that the info he had received was “an error” and “the festival is now back on our itinerary.” Young’s presence on the lineup as a headliner is a breath of fresh air. He hasn’t played the festival since 2009, and Glasto usually includes a figure like Young in its “legends” slot.
This year, with political divisions at a boiling point and a huge slate of new talent emerging in the headliner pool (ahem, Charli XCX), Young topping the bill is a generous offering, and a commitment from the festival to champion cross-generational music with progressive and socially-conscious values at the fore.
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