Glastonbury Timeline & History

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.

Glastonbury Fayre documentary released

Directed by Nicolas Roeg.

Impromptu festival occurs after travellers arrive from Stonehenge

Pyramid Stage: Harry Williamson's version appears

The Polytantric Stage was used at the impromptu 1978 festival and in addition to the Main Stage in 1979.

Name changes to Glastonbury Fayre

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

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

January 17th: Michael Eavis successfully defends five prosecutions

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

Cockmill Farm purchased

Increases festival size by over 100 acres.

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

Fallow year

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

Hilary McManus: Designs the 'dancing figures' logo

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

Fallow year

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

The Experimental Soundfield: Debuts as its own area

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

Replaced by Lenny Kravitz.

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.

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

Replaced by Pulp.

Fallow year

BBC takes over television coverage

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

Replaced by Ash.

Lou Fitzpatrick: Starts working in the Site Office

Outside Cinema: Screen upgraded to 64ft wide

Pyramid Stage: Third and current version built

Designed by Bill Burroughs, now four times the size of the original.

Fallow year

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

The Dome: Called Gaiaspace Dome

Kylie Minogue cancels her Sunday headline slot due to cancer diagnosis

Replaced by Basement Jaxx

Glade Stage: Original stage moves to Dance Village as G Stage

The Dome: Called Drifts Dome

Malcolm Haynes: Founds Dance Village

Fallow year

Glastonbury documentary released.

Directed by Julien Temple.

Pre-registration and photo ID tickets introduced

NYC Downlow: Festival's first gay venue debuts in Trash City

Built with a £2,000 budget supplied by Joe Rush

Michael Eavis: Receives a CBE for services to music

Alister Sieghart: Founds Cubana Salsa Tent

Bimble Inn: Moves from the Tipi Field to The Park

Tipi Field: Moves to its current location near The Park

Replaced by Trash City in the Southeast corner.

Cubana Salsa Tent: Moves from ? to Dance Village

Trash City: Moves from Theatre & Circus Fields to the old Tipi Fields

Kaye Dunnings: Founds Shangri-La

U2 cancel their Friday headline slot due to Bono's back surgery

Replaced by Gorillaz

The Igloo: Moves to The Common

Left Field: Moves from what is now William's Green to its current location

This occured after it not appearing at the 2009 festival.

BBC Music Introducing: Moves from The Park to the Dance Village

NYC Downlow: Moves from Trash City to Block9

The Common: Swaps fields with Arcadia

Arcadia: Swaps fields with The Common

Campo Pequeno: Old lock gates used to construct venue

Gates donated by Britsh Waterways

Cubana Salsa Tent: Moves from Dance Village to near Left Field

Glade Stage: Changes to G Stage in Glastonbury Fair

Fallow year

Festival takes back control of logistics and security

Free University of Glastonbury: Moves from HMS Sweet Charity to The Crow's Nest

The Glade: Area is used for the Spirit of '71 stage

Spirit of '71: Becomes its own area, replacing Glastonbury Fair

Arcadia: Moves from Trash City to The Glade

Joe Rush: Builds the Phoenix above the Pyramid Stage

Malcolm Haynes: Founds Silver Hayes

Strummerville: Moves from Unfairground to Glasto Latino field

The Glade: Returns to its rightful home

Arcadia: Moves from The Glade to its current location

Foo Fighters cancel their Friday headline slot due to Dave Grohl breaking his leg

Replaced by Florence & The Machine

Strummerville: Moves from Glasto Latino field to its current location near the Tipi Field

John Peel Stage: Moves fields from Sugg's Ground to Long Ground

The Experimental Soundfield: Returns as part of The Glade

NYC Downlow: Rebuilt into current version

Fallow year

A ban on single-use plastic water bottles is introduced

Block9: Expands to two adjacent fields, Block9 East and Block9 West

The Flying Bus: Changes name from Bez's Flying Bus

Glasto Latino: Moves to West Holts field

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

Enforced fallow year.

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

Enforced fallow year.

Glastonbury: 50 Years & Counting documentary released

Mez Yard: Shortened from Mezcal Yard to Mez Yard