Glastonbury Festival: The Complete Guide

Glastonbury is the world's largest greenfield performing arts festival. Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset has hosted around 210,000 people across five days every summer since 1970, with a fallow year every fifth cycle to let the farmland recover. Over 100 stages. 900 acres. A temporary civilization that appears in a dairy farmer's fields and disappears a week later. This guide covers how to get there, what to expect, and how to make the most of it.

Getting Tickets

Glastonbury tickets sell out in under an hour. The process works like this:

1. Register on the Glastonbury website with a photo and personal details. Registration opens months before ticket sales and remains open year-round. You cannot buy a ticket without registering.
2. Ticket sale happens in two rounds — one in October (for the following June) and a resale in spring. Both sell out almost immediately.
3. Deposit first, balance later. You pay a deposit at purchase and the balance the following spring.
4. No resale market. Tickets are tied to your registration and photo ID. There is no legitimate secondary market.

The Site

Glastonbury's 900 acres are divided into distinct areas, each with its own character:

The Main Stages

• Pyramid Stage — The iconic steel pyramid structure. The biggest headliners play here to crowds of 100,000+.
• Other Stage — The second-largest stage, typically booking strong rock, indie, and alternative acts.
• West Holts — World music, jazz, electronic, and genre-crossing bookings.
• John Peel Stage — Named after the legendary BBC DJ. Indie, alternative, and emerging acts.
• The Park Stage — On top of a hill with panoramic views. Eclectic programming and late-night DJ sets.

The Areas

• Shangri-La — The late-night district. Opens at midnight, runs until sunrise. Dance music, art installations, immersive theatre, and a dystopian-themed cityscape that gets rebuilt each year.
• Block9 — Two massive structures: NYC Downlow (a club built into a New York tenement facade) and Genosys (a multi-level industrial dance space). Some of the best sound systems on site.
• The Common — Political, environmental, and social programming alongside music. Debates, talks, and campaigning organizations.
• Theatre & Circus — Exactly what it sounds like. Cabaret, comedy, acrobatics, and theatre in tents and outdoor spaces.
• Kidz Field — A substantial children's area with dedicated programming. Glastonbury is one of the few festivals at this scale that actively caters to families.
• Stone Circle — A permanent stone circle at the top of the site. The spiritual and social heart of the festival, especially at sunrise.

Camping

Everyone camps at Glastonbury. There are no hotels within practical distance, and shuttles stop running at night.

Where to Camp

• Pennard Hill — High ground with views. Further from stages, quieter for sleeping.
• Dairy Ground — Central location, close to Pyramid Stage. Noisier, more foot traffic.
• Hitchin Hill — Near the main entrance. Easy access but can be busy.
• Worthy View — The premium camping area. Flushing toilets, hot showers, pre-pitched tents available for an additional fee.

Campsite Essentials

• Arrive Wednesday. Gates open Wednesday morning, and the best camping spots go quickly. Thursday arrivals get what is left.
• Mark your tent. Use a distinctive flag, balloon, or marker. The campground holds over 100,000 tents.
• Wellies are mandatory. Somerset clay becomes ankle-deep mud after even moderate rain. This is not an exaggeration. Bring proper wellington boots.
• Bring a sleeping bag rated for 5°C. Late June nights in Somerset can be surprisingly cold, especially after rain.

Food and Drink

Glastonbury's food has come a long way over the decades. Hundreds of vendors span every cuisine — Thai, Ethiopian, Jamaican, vegan, wood-fired pizza, fresh pasta, crêpes, proper coffee. Prices are higher than normal but not outrageous (expect £8-15 per meal). The food stalls near the Stone Circle and in the Park area tend to be less crowded than those near the Pyramid Stage.

Bars are scattered across the site selling beer, cider, wine, and cocktails. You can bring your own drinks into the campground (no glass). Refillable water points are available throughout.

What to See Beyond the Music

First-timers focus on the headline acts and miss what makes Glastonbury unique. Budget at least a full day to explore:

• Walk the entire perimeter. You will discover areas and stages you did not know existed.
• Visit at night. Shangri-La and Block9 after midnight are unlike anything at any other festival.
• Climb to the Stone Circle at sunrise. A Glastonbury tradition. The view across the site as the sun comes up is worth the early alarm.
• Check the Theatre & Circus area. Free performances run throughout the day in spaces most attendees never find.
• Talk to strangers. Glastonbury's size means you will never see the same person twice unless you want to. The crowd is open and friendly in a way that surprises most first-timers.

Practical Information

• Phone signal is unreliable. Download the lineup and map offline before arriving. Set physical meeting points with your group.
• Cash machines are on site but charge fees and have long queues. Bring cash. Many vendors now accept card.
• Toilets range from composting toilets (cleaner than you expect) to long-drops (less clean). The compost toilets in the Green Fields are the best maintained.
• Weather is unpredictable. Pack for sun, rain, and cold — ideally within the same day. Layering is essential.
• Getting there: Castle Cary is the nearest train station (free shuttle bus to the site). Car parking is available with a pre-booked pass. Coaches run from London, Bristol, and other cities.

How much do Glastonbury tickets cost?+

General admission tickets are approximately £355 plus a £5 booking fee (2024 pricing). The deposit is £75, with the balance due the following spring. Worthy View premium camping is an additional cost on top of the ticket.

When is Glastonbury 2026?+

Glastonbury typically runs the last full weekend of June (Wednesday to Sunday). Check the official Glastonbury website for confirmed 2026 dates, as fallow years occasionally shift the schedule.

Is Glastonbury worth it?+

If you are the kind of person who reads a 1,500-word guide about a festival, yes. Glastonbury rewards curiosity, endurance, and willingness to be uncomfortable. It is not the festival with the best sound, the cleanest facilities, or the most comfortable camping. It is the festival that most feels like a world unto itself.