Neil Young has now been officially confirmed to headline Glastonbury Festival 2025.
The news comes after the Canadian-born singer, songwriter and guitarist made headlines earlier this week when he shared a statement with fans, confirming that he was set to perform at the Worthy Farm event later this year, but had pulled out due to creative differences.
“The Chrome Hearts and I were looking forward to playing Glastonbury, one of my all time favorite outdoor gigs,” Young wrote in an open letter on the Neil Young Archives (31 December 2024).
Young was one of the numerous high-profile names that had been speculated as a possible headliner, and confirmed in his post that he had agreed to play initially, but had then changed his mind — saying he believes the BBC’s involvement in the Festival means it is “now under corporate control”.
“We were told the BBC was now a partner in Glastonbury and wanted us to do a lot for things we were not interested in. It seems Glastonbury is now under corporate control and is not the way I remember it being,” he continues. “We will not be playing Glastonbury on this tour because it is a corporate turn-off, and not for me like it used to be. Hope to see you at one of the other venues on the tour.”
The BBC – which has partnered with the Glastonbury since 1997 – broadcasts and streams large portions of the event, and it was available globally for the first time last year.
Now, less than a week after sharing the withdrawal update, the 79-year-old songwriting icon has announced that he has changed his mind once again, and will be playing at the site as initially planned.
Taking to his website again today (3 January), Young shared a brief update with fans saying that his decision to back out was a result of miscommunication, and that he will be returning to Worthy Farm later this summer after all.
“Due to an error in the information received, I had decided to not play the Glastonbury festival, which I always have loved,” he began. “Happily, the festival is now back on our itinerary and we look forward to playing! Hope to see you there!”
Festival organiser Emily Eavis then also confirmed news that Young will be performing at Glasto 2025 as a headliner too, taking to Instagram she wrote: “What a start to the year! Neil Young is an artist who’s very close to our hearts at Glastonbury. He does things his own way and that’s why we love him. We can’t wait to welcome him back here to headline the Pyramid in June.”
The specific details of the “error in the information” has not been explained, and additional details regarding what to expect from Young’s upcoming performance are still unclear — that said, one could only guess Young would take to the Pyramid Stage on the Saturday night, although, as mentioned, the exact performance day has yet to be revealed.
Young last played Glastonbury in 2009 when he headlined the iconic Pyramid Stage on 26th June that year, after being scheduled to do so 12 years earlier, only to be forced to pull out through injury — Portions of the show were broadcast on the BBC, including “The Needle and the Damage Done,” “Words,” “Rockin’ in the Free World,” and a cover of the Beatles classic “A Day in the Life.”
As of this moment in time, Neil Young and Rod Stewart are the only two artists to be officially confirmed for playing Glastonbury 2025, after Stewart was announced for this year’s Legend Slot late last year — a performance which will follow on from his previous headline appearance in 2002, alongside Coldplay and Stereophonics.
Announcing the news via social media, Glastonbury organisers wrote: “We’re excited to announce that Sir Rod Stewart will play the Sunday teatime legend slot at Glastonbury 2025.”
Taking to his own Instagram the Faces legend wrote: “I’m absolutely thrilled to announce that I’ll be playing Glastonbury 2025! After all these years, I’m proud and ready and more than able to take the stage again to pleasure and titillate my friends at Glastonbury in June. I’ll see you there!”
Festival Organiser Emily Eavis added: “Bringing Sir Rod Stewart back for the Sunday afternoon slot on the Pyramid Stage is everything we could wish for. What a way to bow out with the final legends slot before we take a fallow year. We cannot wait.”
The British legend – who will be 80 when he gives the performance – will play the coveted Legends Slot and follow in the footsteps of Shania Twain (2024), Yusuf/Cat Stevens (2023), Diana Ross (2022), Kylie Minogue (2019), Barry Gibb (2017), Jeff Lynne’s ELO (2016), Lionel Richie (2015), Dolly Parton (2014), Kenny Rogers (2013), Paul Simon (2011), Ray Davies (2010), Tom Jones (2009), Neil Diamond (2008), Dame Shirley Bassey (2007), Brian Wilson (2005), James Brown (2004), Isaac Hayes (2002), Willie Nelson (2000), Al Green (1999), and Tony Bennett (1998).
As with every Glastonbury-year, speculation about who might play the legendary festival is always very high, and with the 2025 event fast approaching, the Glasto Rumour Mill is already spinning in full force.
Despite the first line-up poster not usually being revealed until the beginning of March, followed by the full line-up announcement sometime at the end of May (and a string of individual area line-up announcements in between), there are many artists who ‘self-confirm’ before the official announcements by divulging the news via interviews, social media or website listings to accompany the ever-growing rumours.
Some potential prominent headliner names currently making the rumour rounds include Olivia Rodrigo, Sam Fender and The 1975, to name a few.
Click here to view our daily updated list of acts confirmed, rumoured and unlikely to perform at Glastonbury 2025 so far.
The Glastonbury 2025 Autumn ticket sales took place last November with the introduction of a new queueing system, which saw Ticket Plus Coach Travel packages and General Admission tickets sell out within 32 minutes and 40 minutes, respectively.
The sold-out Glastonbury Festival is set to return this summer and will run from the 25th to the 29th of June 2025 in Worthy Farm, Pilton, Somerset.
⚠️ Bogus Operators
Glastonbury Festival would very much like fans to be aware that there are people out there who will try and sell fake Glastonbury tickets to unsuspecting, willing and innocent potential purchasers. Although Glasto-veterans who have been going to the Festival for quite some time may recognise these scams for what they are, newcomers might not.
Please do not risk falling victim to touts, bogus operators or fake promotions / contests. If you have doubts about any company offering tickets, accommodation or competitions to access Glastonbury Festival, please get in touch with the Festival office – And as always, remember that tickets are sold only on one site, which is glastonbury.seetickets.com
Ticket Opportunities
In addition to the upcoming ticket resales, some other opportunities for getting to Glastonbury include volunteering and working at the Festival, as well as entering competitions (once those options make themselves available).
Some past chances for winning tickets in previous years included opportunities from Brothers Cider, The Guardian, Vodafone, Time Out, White Claw, Tony’s Chocolonely & Oxfam, Chilly’s, Hunter Boots, Barbour & Oxfam, Co-op & Brooklyn Pilsner, and more.
Click here to view our daily updated list of all the competitions currently running for the chance of winning tickets to this year’s Glastonbury Festival.
