Glastonbury organiser Emily Eavis said she has been offered “a really big American artist” who she hopes will headline the music festival in 2024.
Speaking on an episode of Annie Macmanus and Nick Grimshaw’s podcast Sidetracked last year, she said that while the legendary festival is usually booked up by July, she had received a call “from [a representative of] a really big American artist saying, ‘This person’s around next year’, and I was like, ‘Oh my God, this is incredible. Thank God we held the slot.’”
The festival head honcho remained tight-lipped on this year’s headliners, however, but did comment on how impressed she had been by Madonna’s recent UK shows.
“Everybody knows that I’ve always wanted Madonna to play Glastonbury,” she said. “It’s not a big news story.”
The Queen of Pop has never performed at Glastonbury, so perhaps 2024 will be her year.
While there isn’t much in the way of consistency when it comes to Pyramid Stage headliner announcements, lucky fans who managed to bag a ticket to the mother of all festivals – and those who enjoying watching from the comfort of their living room – are all keen to know who will perform.
Last year saw Elton John’s legendary set attract a record-breaking 7.6 million viewers as the Rocket Man said farewell in what he claimed was his last UK performance.
The 77-year-old pulled out all the stops at his debut Glastonbury appearance, working his way through a set-list that was all killer and no filler.
Who is performing at Glastonbury 2024?
At present, no performers have been confirmed for Glastonbury 2024.
There are plenty of rumours circulating, however.
Betting odds currently have Coldplay and Dua Lipa in joint first-place as the predicted headliners, followed by Madonna, then Pink.
Coldplay have headlined Glastonbury on four previous occasions, including 2002, 2005, 2011 and 2016, so it’s possible that they are ready for another round on the Pyramid Stage.
Other rumoured acts include Bruce Springsteen, who will be midway through his UK and European tour with the E Street Band, which currently has a Glastonbury-sized gap in its schedule.
The Killers also have space in their diaries for Glastonbury, as they tour their new greatest hits collection Rebel Diamonds in the UK this summer.
Organisers behind the festival were subject to criticism after the 2023 headliners were all male with Arctic Monkeys, Guns N’ Roses and Sir Elton John performing.
Ms Eavis said: “I’ve always been really passionate about [a] gender split [on festival lineups] and I think, actually, our problem was that I’d been so outspoken about it that having a year when there wasn’t a female sent people a bit mad – or some people.
“And we did have a female – she pulled out and we replaced them with Guns N’ Roses. But everyone knows that it’s top of my list.
“It is difficult with female artists because there aren’t enough headliners. But we’re also creating them. We’re putting the bands and female artists on smaller stages and bringing them through all the time. And who knows? Next year we might get two. And certainly, I can say that the legend is female.”
How can I get a ticket?
Standard tickets to Glastonbury festival 2024 sold out in less than an hour, organisers confirmed in November.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, the festival said: “Our thanks to everyone who bought one and we’re sorry to those of you who missed out on a morning when demand greatly exceeded supply.
“In Spring 2024, there will be a re-sale of any cancelled or returned tickets.”
You can find more information on tickets on the Glastonbury website here.
When is Glastonbury 2024?
The festival which has music, comedy art and other events will take place on 26–30 June at Worthy Farm, Pilton, Somerset.
