As Glastonbury Festival 2025 wraps up, thousands of music enthusiasts once again flocked to Worthy Farm to enjoy one of the world’s most iconic music gatherings. Tickets vanished in a flash, reaffirming the festival’s enduring popularity. But for those who missed out on seeing headliners like Olivia Rodrigo, The 1975, Neil Young, and Rod Stewart live, 2026 will bring disappointing news: Glastonbury will not take place next year.
This pause, known as a ‘fallow year,’ is a crucial tradition that allows the vast grassy fields of Worthy Farm to recover from the incredible wear and tear caused by hundreds of thousands of festival-goers. Emily Eavis, daughter of founder Michael Eavis, explained to the BBC the importance of these breaks: “The fallow year is important because it gives the land a rest, and it gives the cows a chance to stay out longer and reclaim their land. It also gives everyone time to switch off. When the festival returns, it feels fresh and exciting again. It keeps the festival from feeling like it’s just about making money.”
While Glastonbury takes this break, UK music fans can explore other renowned festivals such as Wireless, Leeds, Reading, and Camp Bestival to satisfy their live music cravings. Those determined to experience Glastonbury must wait until the festival’s return in 2027, which will likely be held during the usual late June weekend, possibly from Wednesday, June 23 to Monday, June 28, or even up to early July.
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Historically, the festival has taken breaks before. The early years saw pauses due to regeneration needs and crowd control issues—in 1988 and 1991 respectively—before establishing the formal fallow year policy in 1996. More recently, the 2020 and 2021 editions were canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic and related restrictions.
Tickets for Glastonbury are awarded through a pre-registration and queuing system, where hopeful attendees enter an online queue randomly. Registration typically opens in November the year before the festival, so those eager to attend in 2027 should prepare to register by November 2026. The extended break offers ticket-seekers more time to save, as prices generally exceed £300.
While the hiatus is a letdown for many, it’s a vital part of keeping Glastonbury sustainable and ensuring that when it does return, the festival remains the magical, unforgettable experience millions worldwide anticipate every year.