Glastonbury Festival, the iconic event held annually at Worthy Farm in Somerset, has reported that their pre-tax profits have increased to £5.9 million in the year ending March 2024, more than doubling the £2.9 million recorded the previous year.
Alongside this success the festival has made significant charitable contributions, with £5.2 million donated to organisations such as Oxfam, Greenpeace, and WaterAid.
This financial turnaround comes after challenging years during the COVID-19 pandemic, when – like many similar events worldwide – the festival faced cancellations in 2020 and 2021, resulting in multimillion-pound losses. However, the back-to-back successful festivals in 2023 and 2024 have helped to rebuild financial reserves, ensuring both the event’s longevity and its philanthropic commitments.
Thank you to everyone who entered the prize draw to win tickets to Glastonbury! Together you raised an incredible amount to support people affected by conflict.
Special thank you to @glastonbury for match funding, bringing the total to £1.2 million! [1/2] pic.twitter.com/OWFCFRZhXp
— War Child UK (@WarChildUK) March 28, 2024
Its profitability is a relatively small proportion of its overall income, Glastonbury generated £68.4 million in revenue—a 20% increase compared to the previous year—and contributed an estimated £168 million to UK-based businesses in 2023. The organisation also invested £3.7 million in purchasing additional land in June 2024, a move likely aimed at securing the festival’s sustainability and growth.
The festival has also seen a generational shift in leadership. Michael Eavis, who co-founded Glastonbury in 1970, has officially handed over day-to-day operations to his daughter, Emily Eavis. Emily has gradually assumed more responsibility over the years, and this transfer solidifies her role as the driving force behind the festival’s future.
While the 2025 lineup remains largely under wraps, Sir Rod Stewart has been confirmed for the prestigious “legends slot.” The announcement comes as part of what is being billed as Stewart’s festival farewell.
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Musician Neil Young was initially slated to perform at Glastonbury 2025, marking his second appearance at the event. In a flip flop series of events, the singer abruptly stated his intent to withdraw, citing concerns about alleged “corporate control” by the BBC and other sponsors. Earlier today however he reversed this decision, citing an error in information and has assured fans that he is looking forward to headlining this summer.
For 2026, the festival has announced a “fallow year” to allow the land to recover, a tradition that underscores Glastonbury’s commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship. This has perhaps contributed to the way that tickets for the 2025 edition of the festival sold out in just 35 minutes when they went on sale late last year.
Tickets for Glastonbury 2025 have now Sold Out. Thanks to everyone who bought one and sorry to those who missed out, on a morning when demand was much higher than supply.
There will be a resale of any cancelled or returned tickets in spring 2025.
— Glastonbury Festival (@glastonbury) November 17, 2024
The 2024 festival was headlined by pop superstar Dua Lipa, who graced the Pyramid Stage and later announced a Wembley Stadium show for 2025. Kasabian took the stage for a Saturday evening set on the Woodsies Stage and in one of the festival’s famed surprise sets, Kevin Parker of Tame Impala delighted fans.
Despite it being a good financial year for Glastonbury, its been an tough for other festivals. The number of cancelled, shut down, or postponed events has doubled since 2023. The most recent of these to announce its cancellation was Norfolk and Malta based Sundown Festival who announced on their website and instagram that they would not be returning for a 13th year in 2025.
It is a credit to Glastonbury’s continued cultural significance that it maintains both economic security and impact. It will be interesting to see if it remains both a symbol of tradition and a stage for reinvention, but with this renewed financial foundation, the festival appears well-prepared to face its next chapter, whatever challenges and opportunities may arise.
