Glastonbury Festival 2025: Gates Open as Worthy Farm Welcomes Thousands

Glastonbury Festival is officially underway, with thousands of music fans flocking to Worthy Farm in Somerset to watch some of their favourite bands and artists perform. The gates to Worthy Farm were opened by founder Michael Eavis and his daughter, festival co-organiser Emily Eavis, at 8 am on Wednesday, marking the official start of the highly anticipated event.

The festival promises a packed schedule of performances leading up to the first headline act.

The Headliners and Key Performances

The first headline performance will feature The 1975 on the Pyramid Stage on Friday. Following this, Neil Young will headline on Saturday, ahead of Rod Stewart’s Legends Slot on Sunday afternoon and Olivia Rodrigo’s own headline performance on Sunday evening.

Hundreds of other performances are scheduled throughout the week, including sets from Irish hip-hop trio Kneecap, British pop stars Charli XCX and RAYE, Grammy-winning rapper Doechii, pop singer Gracie Abrams, and rock bands Wolf Alice, The Libertines, and Wet Leg.

Rod Stewart’s Legends Slot

Veteran singer Sir Rod Stewart will perform in the coveted Sunday tea-time legends slot this year. He previously indicated he will be joined by his former Faces band member Ronnie Wood, as well as some other guests. Stewart recently postponed a string of concerts in the US due to flu but is ready for Glastonbury.

Regarding his performance, he shared, “I just wish they wouldn’t call it the tea-time slot. That sounds like pipe and slippers, doesn’t it?” He also revealed that he persuaded organisers to secure him an hour-and-a-half slot after initially being offered 75 minutes. “Usually I do well over two hours, so there’s still a load of songs we won’t be able to do,” he said. “But we’ve been working at it. I’m not gonna make any announcements between songs. I’ll do one number, shout ‘next’, and go straight into the next one. I’m going to get in as many songs as I can.”

Uncertainty Surrounds Neil Young’s Broadcast

It is currently uncertain whether fans will be able to watch Neil Young’s set from home, as it is reportedly omitted from the BBC’s planned coverage. The corporation’s schedule states that it will be showing “some of the anticipated sets from the likes of The 1975, Rod Stewart, Olivia Rodrigo, RAYE, Charli XCX and many more,” but Young’s name has been omitted from both its live and catch-up schedules.

Festival co-organiser Emily Eavis reportedly told entertainment correspondent Colin Patterson that she did not believe the BBC would show Young’s performance. Patterson elaborated, saying, “There’s been all kinds of backstage wrangling and negotiations, but as things currently stand, Neil Young’s headline set on Saturday night will not be broadcast by the BBC.”

Past Controversies

Young caused a furore last year after announcing he had been set to perform at Glastonbury, but had pulled out due to creative differences. His statement at the time claimed, “We were told that BBC was now a partner in Glastonbury and wanted us to do a lot of things in a way we were not interested in… It seems Glastonbury is now under corporate control and is not the way I remember it being… 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.” Days later, he made an about-turn, declaring the whole thing a misunderstanding: “Due to an error in the information received, I had decided to not play the Glastonbury festival, which I always have loved,” he said. “Happily, the festival is now back on our itinerary and we look forward to playing! Hope to see you there!” While Young will be seen by those at the festival, it appears unlikely for those watching from home.

Organisers’ Welcome and Controversies

Festival co-organiser Emily Eavis shared her enthusiasm for the opening day, stating it is “one of my favourite moments of the whole weekend.” She added, “So much goes into all those areas… all that planning, all that speculation, all the opinions, all the debate, all the outrage, all the love, all the feelings that just are generated every day, all the press, all the noise. To be able to actually look everyone in the eye on those gates and bring everyone in, and just think, actually, it’s all really just about this. It’s all about these people having the best time over the next five days.”

She also noted to BBC News that it was “very moving” to welcome everyone in: “It’s been such a build-up this year, it’s been an amazing amount of excitement… We’re all so looking forward to opening the gates and to be able to do it with my dad has been amazing… It’s the best moment to let them all in and it’s just such a joyful city, the most joyful city in the UK for the next five days.” The gates were officially opened to the tune of “The Final Countdown,” with Michael Eavis and Emily welcoming ticket-holders with the help of their family and the Glastonbury team.

Support for Kneecap

Earlier, Emily Eavis offered her stance on the controversy surrounding Irish hip-hop trio Kneecap, following prime minister Keir Starmer’s claim that it would not be “appropriate” for the band to perform. Eavis affirmed that the band is “welcome” at Glastonbury.

Festival Insights: From Fashion to Mystery Acts

For those arriving at Worthy Farm this week, Glastonbury has published its map of the 2025 site, which includes the Pyramid Stage, camp sites, Healing Fields, and sensory calm spaces.

Glastonbury Fashion Trends 2025

When it comes to Glastonbury fashion, there are generally two types of attendees: those who pack minimal essentials like wellies and a few changes of clothes, and those who meticulously plan their entire aesthetic for months. The latter group often creates mood boards and Pinterest presentations, drawing inspiration from timeless fashion moments of the early Noughties, particularly those championed by figures like Kate Moss, Alexa Chung, and Sienna Miller. Their understated, bohemian festival fashion continues to be a source of inspiration, reinvented and revived for each new festival season.

The Mystery of Patchwork

Glastonbury Festival always brings new artists to its main stages, and this year is no exception. Fans are currently speculating about a mystery act named Patchwork, scheduled for a prime slot on Saturday at 6:15 pm on the Pyramid Stage. This performance will follow a set by John Fogerty and precede RAYE and headliner Neil Young, sparking curiosity about who this enigmatic band might be.

Arrival and Atmosphere

Campers arriving at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset, can expect a mixed bag of sunshine and rain throughout the week, “with sunny spells and scattered showers expected throughout the day” on Wednesday, according to forecasters.

Travel Challenges Reported

Despite the excitement, some Glastonbury-goers experienced travel chaos. Reports from Victoria Coach Station indicated “inexplicable delays of at least two and a half hours” for coaches en-route to Worthy Farm. An irked source described the scene: “Staff are lovely and clearly eager to keep the line moving, but why — year after year — does the station forgo a logical timing and queueing system and become an elaborate round-the-outside-of-the-building human centipede of frustrated millennials carrying far too much inflatable furniture?”