Glastonbury Festival fans are eagerly anticipating this year’s lineup, featuring superstars like Olivia Rodrigo, The 1975, Neil Young, Noah Kahan, and Rod Stewart. Unsurprisingly, tickets sold out quickly, with over 200,000 fans expected at Worthy Farm once again.
However, if you were hoping to attend Glastonbury next year, there’s disappointing news: there will be no festival in 2026. Organizers have confirmed that after the big celebration planned for 2025, the event will take a year off before returning in 2027.
This break is known as a “fallow year,” a tradition that gives the farmland at Worthy Farm a chance to recover from the heavy wear and tear caused by the masses of festival-goers. It’s essential to let the grass and soil regenerate, ensuring the land remains healthy and sustainable for future events.
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Emily Eavis, co-founder of Glastonbury Festival along with her father Michael, explained the importance of these fallow years in an interview with the BBC. She said, “The fallow year is important because it gives the land a rest, and it gives the cows a chance to stay out for longer and reclaim their land. It also allows everyone — organizers and the public alike — to take a break and come back refreshed. It feels lovely when you return, and it’s good not to be seen as simply cashing in.”
Historically, fallow years have been part of the festival’s rhythm for decades. The first break was in 1988,, allowing the grass to recover, followed by another in 1991 due to crowd issues. The tradition of regular fallow years officially began in 1996, with Michael Eavis noting they typically occur every five or six years.
Aside from these planned breaks, the festival was also canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and government lockdowns.
Looking ahead, Glastonbury Festival plans to return in 2027, likely during its customary last weekend of June. Potential dates could be from Wednesday, June 23 to Monday, June 28, or Wednesday, June 30 to Monday, July 5.
In the meantime, festival lovers eager for live music next summer may consider other UK events like Wireless, Leeds and Reading Festivals, or Camp Bestival while Worthy Farm enjoys its well-deserved rest.