10 Iconic Glastonbury Performances We Won’t Be Forgetting in a Hurry
The Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts makes its return at the end of June.
The legendary outdoor event kicks off on the 25th for five packed days of music, performing arts, theatre, dazzling light shows, experimental installations, and so much more in the heart of Somerset.
From its roots back in the 70’s, the festival has grown year upon year from its humble beginnings as the Pop, Blues & Folk Festival. In its first year, 1,500 people attended a one-day festival inspired by founder Michael Eavis’ memories of seeing Led Zeppelin at the Bath Festival of Blues and Progressive Music at the showgrounds nearby. In exchange for their £1 tickets, attendees saw a headline performance from T.Rex, alongside Steamhammer, Quintessence, and Al Stewart. The stage was originally a simple structure in a cow field, the sound system modest, the weather unpredictable, and the crowd intimate. Fifty years later, the festival’s iconic Pyramid Stage has gone through several variations, and the always sold-out festival now brings over 200,000 people together for one of the biggest weekends in global music and cultural celebration.
Over the past five decades, Glastonbury has grown far beyond its founder’s expectations. The iconic Pyramid Stage and the legendary artists who have graced it have earned Glastonbury a permanent spot on every music lover’s bucket list. With such a long history of iconic performances, it’s hard to narrow down the best one, so we’ve compiled a list of ten that we won’t be forgetting any time soon.
Elton John – 2023
For the historic 2023 headliner, attendees witnessed British music legend Elton John play the coveted Sunday night slot, marking the end of his farewell tour and his career as a touring musician. During his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour, John announced this would be his final run of shows. Beginning in the U.S. in 2018, he embarked on an extensive world tour, eventually concluding in Europe, with Glastonbury as a fitting finale. It was also, surprisingly his first ever Glastonbury performance, making it even more special. Performing to over 120,000 fans, he delivered hit after hit in his trademark flamboyant attire. He was joined by Rina Sawayama for a joyful duet of Don’t Go Breaking My Heart, and also brought out Brandon Flowers, Jacob Lusk, Stephen Sanchez, for guest appearances. The night ended with a powerful trio of I’m Still Standing, Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me, and Rocket Man. A spectacular swansong for a true musical icon.
Coldplay – 2024
No list of Glastonbury legends would be complete without a notable mention for Coldplay. The London-formed rock band has headlined the Pyramid Stage a record-breaking five times. Their first appearance at the festival came in 1999 when the four-piece played the New Bands tent, famously almost missing their debut, before their first headline in 2002, and several occasions to follow. In 2024, they delivered one of their most memorable performances. The festival’s political background came to the forefront during the bands set, when Chris Martin was joined on stage by Palestinian-Chilean vocalist Elyanna, for a touching rendition of the then unreleased, We Pray. A statement of hope, later asking that people send their love all over the world, including to those areas affected by conflict. Coldplay’s power lies in conjuring moments of pure togetherness from even the biggest crowds, and with hits like Paradise and Yellow bellowing through hundreds of thousands of people, the band once again turned a massive audience into a united chorus of hope.
T.Rex – 1970
A notable mention of course goes to the first band to ever headline the festival. The 1970 lineup was originally due to be The Kinks and Wayne Fontana, but when both acts pulled out last minute, the then named Tyrannosaurus Rex played to a humble audience of 1,500. The band fronted by singer-songwriter Marc Bolan arrived in a Cadillac so big it famously almost didn’t make it to the rural grounds, but when he did reach that stage, he delivered glam rock energy that the band were so famous for. The first ever headline act at Worthy Farm, setting a standard for the 50+ years of music to follow.
David Bowie – 2000
A true cultural reset occurred in 2000, when David Bowie delivered what has been hailed as one of the greatest rock and pop shows ever. Having previously performed at the festival in 1971, he returned much later in his career much to the delight of Glastonbury co-organiser Emily Eavis, who quotes his spellbinding performance as the best she’s seen. The performance was recorded and released 18 years later as a live album, perfectly capturing the awe of 250,000 mesmerised fans.
The Cure – 1986
Alongside Coldplay, The Cure are Glastonbury regulars, headlining four times over as many decades. Their 1986 debut was unforgettable, as a dramatic thunderstorm accompanied their alt-rock set. The band embraced the chaos and the unique atmosphere, delivering three encores and closing with Faith. A defining moment that paved the way for future appearances.
Dave – 2019
One of the most iconic moments in recent years came when British rapper Dave invited a fan on stage. “I want to share a moment with one of you guys on the stage” he said, before introducing his track Thiago Silva, and asking for a volunteer to come on and rap the lines normally performed by AJ Tracey. Somehow out of the crowd came Alex, clad in a Paris St Germain shirt, hoisted on the shoulders of his mates. Greeted on stage to the hundreds of thousands of people chanting his name, young Alex absolutely devoured the track with surprising confidence, much to everyone’s amazement. What began as an impromptu invitation became one of the festival’s most magical and viral moments.
The Killers – 2017
Despite an already extensive lineup of musical and performance artists, quintessential to Glastonbury is a surprise set. Each year a few time slots are saved under pseudonyms or left blank entirely inviting speculation and rumour that begins months before anyone reaches Worthy Farm. In 2017, American rock band The Killers, blew every guess out the water and stormed the John Peel stage on the festival’s closing day to open with When You Were Young. Billed as TBA, there were strong suspicions that the US based band were in fact the guests, leading to so many people flocking to the blue and red peel tent that officials eventually alerted all 200,000 in attendance to steer clear of the tent due to reaching maximum capacity. For those lucky enough to get in, hit after hit was belted to an enormous crowd. A once-in-a-lifetime show, Brandon Flowers later said that after years of performing their hit Mr. Brightside, that one performance was the standout. Undoubtedly due to every attendee feeling like the luckiest music lover alive to witness such a special moment in the bands career.
Kasabian – 2024
Similarly, in 2024, an intriguing TBA was left on the lineup at the Woodsies stage for the Saturday evening. Kept tightly under wraps, hours before the performance, Kasabian confirmed their attendance, sending thousands of the festival’s crowd to the small venue. Opening with Club Foot to immediately send the crowd into a frenzy, frontman Serge Pizzorno donned a shredded denim jacket for a high-energy set culminating in Fire. A decade after their 2014 Pyramid Stage headline, the band could have easily pulled a monumental crowd back to the main stage but instead opted for a more intimate and intense set on a smaller stage. The foursome from Leicester delivered a one-off performance, for a true ‘you had to be there’ moment.
Dolly Parton – 2014
For a crowd-pleasing feel-good performance, look no further than Dolly. Wearing her signature rhinestones and white flares, the country superstar drew a record-breaking crowd to see her perform on the Sunday afternoon legends slot. Joined by Bon Jovi’s Richie Sambora for a surprise duet of Lay Your Hands on Me, sheer joy radiated from the masses as she ran through her repertoire of classics. The set closed with a euphoric singalong to 9 to 5 as Glastonbury gave all its love to the sparkly queen of country music.
The Rolling Stones – 2013
Few bands are better suited to Glastonbury’s euphoric and muddy magic than a bad who need no introduction, The Rolling Stones. Year after year rumours swirled in anticipation that this would finally be the year the Stones came to Glastonbury, and in 2013 the stars finally aligned. 50 years after the band’s formation, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood, and Mick Taylor took fans through a two-hour masterclass in rock history. A monumental performance befitting the legends they are.
With 2025’s lineup featuring The 1975, Neil Young, and Olivia Rodrigo, Worthy Farm is poised to add yet another chapter to its rich and riotous history. This year carries extra weight, as a planned fallow year in 2026 will give the land and local residents a much-needed rest. That knowledge has only heightened anticipation and emotion among fans and performers alike. As thousands descend on Somerset once again, the spirit of Glastonbury will echo far beyond the fields, into hearts and memories for years to come.
