Glastonbury Timeline & History

A timeline of events in Glastonbury's history, including information about the festivals, venues, people, and more.

1970

  • September 19th: Event starts its life as the Pilton Pop, Folk & Blues Festival

  • The Kinks cancel their headline slot due to Michael Eavis being a dairy farmer

    Replaced by T. Rex.

1971

  • Name changes to Glastonbury Fair

  • Pyramid Stage: First version built

    Conceived by Bill Harkin, the stage was a one-tenth replica of the Great Pyramid of Giza. It's built using Kwikstage scaffolding and 300 sheets of expanded metal.

1972

  • Glastonbury Fayre documentary released

    Directed by Nicolas Roeg.

1978

1979

  • Name changes to Glastonbury Fayre

  • Alister Sieghart: Starts working in the festival's information stall

1981

  • Name changes to Glastonbury CND Festival

    First year joining the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.

  • Pyramid Stage: Second permanent version built

    Constructed from telegraph poles and metal sheeting from the Ministry of Defence.

  • Alister Sieghart: Helps build Pyramid Stage

1984

  • January 17th: Michael Eavis successfully defends five prosecutions

    These were brought forward by the Mendip District Council for breaching the 1983 license.

1985

  • Cockmill Farm purchased

    Increases festival size by over 100 acres.

  • Jim Fox: Starts working as a performer in the Green Fields

1988

  • First fallow year

    Taken to give the land, locals, and organisers a break.

1989

1990

  • Name changes to Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts

  • June 25th: Riots break out between travellers and security

    This results in 235 arrests and £50,000 worth of damage.

  • Outside Cinema: Dolby Stereo added

  • Malcolm Haynes: Starts out booking for World Music Stage

1991

  • Fallow year

    Taken due to the confrontations between travellers and security in 1990.

1992

1993

  • Red Hot Chili Peppers cancel their Saturday headline slot due to Flea having chronic fatigue syndrome

    Replaced by Lenny Kravitz.

1994

  • Festival is screened on national television for the first time

    Channel 4 airs the entire thing live.

  • Outside Cinema: Screen destroyed in Pyramid Stage fire on June 13th

    Replacement measures 56ft wide by 24ft high, at the time the biggest 35mm cinema screen in the country. Dolby Digital is also introduced with an upgraded sound system.

  • Pyramid Stage: Stage burns down on June 13th

    Bad luck strikes one week before the festival. A replacement stage is used in 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, and 1999.

1995

  • The Stone Roses cancel their Saturday headline slot due to John Squire breaking his collarbone

    Replaced by Pulp.

1996

  • Fallow year

1997

  • BBC takes over television coverage

  • Steve Winwood cancels his Sunday headline slot due to his truck getting stuck in the mud

    Replaced by Ash.

1999

2000

2001

  • Fallow year

2002

  • Super fence is introduced to stop gate-crashers

    It stands 14ft high and costs over £1 million.

  • Mean Fiddler takes over logisitics and security

  • The Strokes cancel their Friday headline slot

    Replaced by Coldplay.

  • Kaye Dunnings: Starts working as a performer at Lost Vagueness

  • Lou Fitzpatrick: Becomes Assistant Coordinator of the Dance Tent

2004

2005

2006

  • Fallow year

  • Glastonbury documentary released.

    Directed by Julien Temple.

2007

2008

2010

2011

2012

  • Fallow year

  • Festival takes back control of logistics and security

2013

2014

2015

2016

2018

  • Fallow year

2019

2020

  • March 18th: Festival cancelled due to Covid-19 on March 18th

    Enforced fallow year.

2021

  • January 21st: Festival cancelled due to Covid-19 on January 21st

    Enforced fallow year.

2022

  • Glastonbury: 50 Years & Counting documentary released

  • Mez Yard: Shortened from Mezcal Yard to Mez Yard

2023

  • November 2nd: 2024 ticket sale dates are pushed back two weeks

    Glastonbury Festivals says "it has come to light that some individuals hoping to buy tickets for 2024 have discovered after Monday's registration deadline that they are no longer registered, despite believing they were". 

  • The Woods: Becomes part of Woodsies area

  • Carhenge: Reappears after 36 years in William's Green

  • Tolpuddle: Becomes part of Woodsies area

  • BBC Music Introducing: Becomes part of The Reach area