Glastonbury 2023: Latest news, weather forecast, BBC schedule and lineup including Elton John

The gates to Glastonbury 2023 will open today (Wednesday 21 June) at 8 am, officially launching the start of this year’s festival.

Thousands of music fans will flood the fields of Worthy Farm, Somerset, and set up camp for the next five days, to see headliners Arctic Monkeys, Guns N’ Roses and Elton John, along with hundreds of other artists.

The weather for this year’s festival is predicted to be a mixture of sun and rain, after a month’s worth of rain fell in the UK last weekend.

Forecasters say higher temperatures of 27C could be reached later in the week, but the first few days are currently expected to be grey, with some rain and highs of 23C.

Arctic Monkeys fans were alarmed this week after the Sheffield-formed rock band were forced to cancel the last show before their Friday headline performance on the Pyramid Stage, after frontman Alex Turner was diagnosed with acute laryngitis.

Live coverage of Glastonbury Festival 2023 will be aired by the BBC across TV, BBC Radio, Sounds and iPlayer. This year, the broadcaster has also launched a brand new channel, Pyramid Stage – Signed, which will feature British Sign Language performances of every show on the main stage.

Glastonbury 2023 talking points

• 30,000 steps a day and ‘Glasto Lip’: What it’s like to work at Glastonbury Festival

• Elton John drops hints about surprise guests in ‘brand new’ Glastonbury headline set

• Full lineup and stage times for Glastonbury 2023

• See the latest weather forecast for Worthy Farm

Watch: Care home hosts its own Glastonbury for 'festival-loving' residents

04:03 , Tom Murray

What’s the latest weather forecast?

03:05 , Tom Murray

Weather experts are providing regular updates on the current forecasts for Pilton, Somerset.

After a downpour of rain on Tuesday (20 June) morning – a blessing to campers pitching tents when the festival begins – it currently looks like it will be a mostly dry affair.

Read the full rundown here:

Glastonbury weather forecast – all the updates you need

What it’s like to work at Glastonbury Festival?

02:09 , Tom Murray

Ever wondered what it’s like to open the gates at Glastonbury Festival?

The Independent spoke with Niki Green, one of the stewards stationed at the gates of Glastonbury, for an insider’s perspective on what goes on behind the scenes.

You can read about her experience here:

30,000 steps a day and ‘Glasto Lip’: What it’s like to work at Glastonbury Festival

What are the symptoms of laryngitis and how long does it take to recover?

01:02 , Tom Murray

Fans are concerned about the Arctic Monkeys’ Glastonbury set after frontman Alex Turner came down with a case of laryngitis this week.

The band were forced to cancel a concert in Dublin that was scheduled for Thursday (22 June).

You can find out more about the symptoms of laryngitis and how long it usually takes to recover here:

What are the symptoms of laryngitis and how long does it take to recover?

Glastonbury 2023 lineup: Who is headlining this year’s festival?

Wednesday 21 June 2023 00:04 , Tom Murray

The 7 most brutal set clashes at Glastonbury 2023

Tuesday 20 June 2023 23:17 , Tom Murray

...and the possible workarounds

Everything you need to know about Guns N’ Roses at Glastonbury

Tuesday 20 June 2023 22:01 , Tom Murray

On Saturday (24 June) night, all eyes will be focused on the Pyramid Stage for Guns N’ Roses’s headline performance.

The Los Angeles-based rock band formed in 1985 and are best known for their 1988 hit, “Sweet Child o’ Mine”.

Read more:

Everything you need to know about Guns N’ Roses at Glastonbury 2023

The earthy magic and lawless energy of being a child at Glastonbury festival

Tuesday 20 June 2023 21:01 , Adam White

I wasn’t conceived at Glastonbury, but for the first decade of my life I may as well have been. I was, in many respects, a Glastonbury baby. Born and raised in nearby Bristol, I first visited in 1994, aged two with potty in hand, and attended for the five years that followed. I have not been back since. But even if Glastonbury has changed hugely in the decades in between, it still exists as a joyous, creative paradise of jugglers, acrobats and enormous fire-breathing spiders for those lucky enough to experience it as a child. Enough to grant it an almost mythical hold over many of the children who have passed through over the years, like a soothing imprinton the soul.

Back then, against the withering judgements of outraged co-workers, my parents saw it as an adventure and an education, for themselves and for me. My dad sometimes worked there as a steward, picking up litter and ushering in guests in exchange for a free ticket. But the tickets themselves were also relatively affordable – around £50 each, picked up from a local ticket shop, with under-12s getting in for free. Too broke to afford any sort of overseas holiday, Glastonbury was our version of an annual family sojourn, and a bargain considering what was on offer.

Read the full article:

The earthy magic and lawless energy of being a child at Glastonbury

The Pretenders share video to announce secret show

Tuesday 20 June 2023 20:40 , Tom Murray

Secret set act announced!

Tuesday 20 June 2023 20:24 , Tom Murray

The Pretenders have just been announced as one of Glastonbury’s secret acts.

The English-American band has revealed they will be performing on Saturday, 19:45 BST, at The Park Stage. The band also teased some special guests though their identities have not been disclosed.

“It’s always been there for most of our lifetimes. There has never been a festival like it anywhere else,” lead singer Chrissie Hynde said.

Read more:

Glastonbury announces major rock band as secret set act

The 22 greatest Glastonbury performances ever, from Beyoncé to Paul McCartney

Tuesday 20 June 2023 20:01 , Roisin O'Connor

A 40-minute blast of pure, undiluted zeitgeist. A gigantic crowd stretching away over hill and vale. A generation’s prejudices and expectations overturned like a flick of dust off the shoulder. A setlist chiselled into quicksilver by Zeus and carried to the stage by a choir of winged roadies. Or maybe just the Dalai Lama, blowing out the candles on a birthday cake.

These are just a few of the reasons why a gig playing out on the hallowed grounds of Worthy Farm might go down in Glastonbury folklore – one of those iconic moments that don’t just make the weekend, but mark out the evolution of pop culture. Glastonbury is where musical history is made and cultural colossi are crowned on a near-annual basis.

Ahead of the glorious return of the world’s greatest festival, headlined this year by Arctic Monkeys, Guns N’ Roses and Elton John, here’s a look back at the best ever Glastonbury performances.

The 22 greatest Glastonbury performances ever

Glastonbury cancels screening of Jeremy Corbyn film booked ‘in good faith’

Tuesday 20 June 2023 19:00 , Roisin O'Connor

Glastonbury Festival has said that it stands “against all forms of discrimination” after cancelling a screening of a film about former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.

Titled Oh, Jeremy Corbyn: The Big Lie and produced by Platform Films, the film was due to be shown at the arts festival’s Pilton Palais cinema on Sunday (25 June).

Full story:

Glastonbury cancels screening of Jeremy Corbyn film booked ‘in good faith’

Unveiled! The Glastonbury 2023 tea towel

Tuesday 20 June 2023 18:30 , Roisin O'Connor

How to watch the BBC’s live coverage

Tuesday 20 June 2023 18:00 , Roisin O'Connor

How to watch the BBC’s live Glastonbury coverage

Billie Eilish performs at Glastonbury 2022

Tuesday 20 June 2023 17:30 , Roisin O'Connor

There’s an unfortunate lack of women topping the bill at this year’s Glastonbury. Last year was a little different, with US pop star Billie Eilish making history as the youngest solo artist to headline the Pyramid Stage.

Here’s a look back at her performance:

30,000 steps a day and ‘Glasto Lip’: What it’s like to work at Glastonbury Festival

Tuesday 20 June 2023 17:00 , Roisin O'Connor

From the dreaded night shifts to looking after vulnerable festival-goers, there’s plenty going on behind the scenes at the legendary music festival

30,000 steps a day and ‘Glasto Lip’: What it’s like to work at Glastonbury Festival

Glastonbury secret sets 2023: Rumours and how find out who will play

Tuesday 20 June 2023 16:30 , Roisin O'Connor

Glastonbury secret sets 2023: Rumours and how find out who will play

How to watch Glastonbury 2023 live

Tuesday 20 June 2023 16:00 , Roisin O'Connor

How to watch the BBC’s live Glastonbury coverage

The 7 most brutal set clashes at Glastonbury 2023

Tuesday 20 June 2023 15:31 , Roisin O'Connor

...and the possible workarounds

The 7 most brutal set clashes at Glastonbury 2023

The 22 greatest Glastonbury performances ever, from Beyoncé to Paul McCartney

Tuesday 20 June 2023 14:59 , Roisin O'Connor

Ahead of the festival’s return to Worthy Farm, Mark Beaumont picks some of Glastonbury’s greatest ever music moments

The 22 greatest Glastonbury performances ever

The earthy magic and lawless energy of being a child at Glastonbury festival

Tuesday 20 June 2023 14:31 , Roisin O'Connor

Adam White recalls the years he was more interested in seeing The Corrs than Courtney Love, and when the colours, noise and fire-breathing spiders gripped his imagination

The earthy magic and lawless energy of being a child at Glastonbury

Glastonbury 2023 lineup: Who is headlining this year’s music festival?

Tuesday 20 June 2023 13:45 , Roisin O'Connor

30,000 steps a day and ‘Glasto Lip’: What it’s like to work at Glastonbury Festival

Tuesday 20 June 2023 13:26 , Roisin O'Connor

Glastonbury is back. This week sees the UK’s biggest music festival return for another anticipated event at Worthy Farm.

For a five-day period from Wednesday 21 June to Sunday 25 June, the Glastonbury site in Somerset is playing host to a number of the world’s biggest music acts, including headliners Arctic Monkeys, Guns N’ Roses, and Elton John.

Ahead of the festival, The Independent spoke with Niki Green, one of the stewards stationed at the gates of Glastonbury, for an insider’s perspective on what goes on behind the scenes.

My colleague Louis Chilton reports:

30,000 steps a day and ‘Glasto Lip’: What it’s like to work at Glastonbury Festival

Elton John drops hints about surprise guests in ‘brand new’ Glastonbury headline set

Tuesday 20 June 2023 12:40 , Roisin O'Connor

Elton John has dropped hints about his forthcoming headline performance at Glastonbury Festival.

The 76-year-old musician, who is currently playing the final leg of his much-delayed Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour in Europe, will headline the Pyramid Stage on Worthy Farm on Sunday (25 June) night.

The set, which is scheduled to stretch over two hours in length, marks not only John’s first time playing Glastonbury, but his final ever UK tour date.

Speaking in a new interview with BBC Radio 1, the “Rocket Man” singer let slip some more clues about his “brand new” set, which he said will heavily focus on hits.

“I’m starting with a song I haven’t played for about 10 years, so we’ll see how it goes,” John told Clara Amfo.

Elton John hints at surprise guests in ‘brand new’ Glastonbury headline set

Full lineup and stage times for Glastonbury

Tuesday 20 June 2023 12:20 , Roisin O'Connor

It might not be quite the same as being amongst the fields of festival flags, but if you missed out on tickets, there are still plenty of ways to tune into Glastonbury festival from home.

Live sets from Worthy Farm will be broadcast on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds throughout the festival, which runs from Wednesday 21 – Sunday 25 June.

Coverage will be brought to audiences by presenters such as Jack Saunders, Clara Amfo, Jo Whiley and Lauren Laverne who will be joined by guests and artists at the festival.

BBC iPlayer’s dedicated Glastonbury channel will be live from Friday 23 June – Sunday 25 June (12pm–late), presenting 40 hours of coverage including live performances, preview programmes and more

The channel will feature the biggest sets from the Pyramid, Other, West Holts, John Peel and Park Stages.

Check out all the details here:

How to watch the BBC’s live Glastonbury coverage

What’s the weather looking like for Glastonbury 2023?

Tuesday 20 June 2023 11:43 , Roisin O'Connor

Glastonbury revellers are no doubt hoping the weather holds out for this year’s festival, after a month’s worth of rain fell in the UK last weekend.

You can find the latest forecast here:

Glastonbury weather forecast – all the updates you need

Welcome to Glastonbury 2023!

Tuesday 20 June 2023 10:47 , Roisin O'Connor

Hello and welcome to The Independent’s liveblog of Glastonbury 2023.

As is tradition, I’ll be manning the liveblog with help from our incredible editorial team, while our intrepid reviewers and reporters head to Worthy Farm, Somerset for the main event.

Stay tuned for the latest news, updates, gossip, pictures and video, plus reviews of this year’s headliners – Arctic Monkeys, Guns N’ Roses and Elton John, and other highlights.