Glastonbury Festival is legendary, pulling in some of the biggest names in music throughout its 53-year legacy, from David Bowie to Sir Elton John.
Speculation over who will take to the Pyramid Stage is always huge, with The 1975, Neil Young and Olivia Rodrigo taking the crowns for 2025’s lineup.
Looking back at the incredible headliners, it’s no surprise that even legends have to wait their turn (unless you’re Coldplay, who, as of 2024, have played five times and hold the record for most times as headliner).
Come rain or shine, Glastonbury is usually held in late June but not every year as the ground needs to recover with the occasional fallow year — just like next year.
Ever since the Somerset music festival opened its doors in 1970, it’s pulled in some massive names, especially for a gig that only cost £1 to get into originally.
With anticipation for 2025 at an all-time high, we look fondly back at the headliners who’ve come before…
Which acts have headlined Glastonbury Festival from 1970 to 2025
1970 – T. Rex
Tyrannosaurus Rex (soon to be T.Rex) took the first-ever top spot for the launch of Glastonbury Festival after The Kinks pulled out.
1971 – David Bowie
Ziggy Stardust became a headliner after Pink Floyd cancelled and, despite his icon status, he would only headline one more time.
1972 to 1977 – No Glasto!
1978 – No headliner
This one is known as the ‘impromptu’ festival with no headliners as such.
1979 – Tim Blake and Peter Gabriel
1981 – Ginger Baker, Hawkwind, and Taj Mahal
1982 – Van Morrison, Jackson Browne
1983 – Curtis Mayfield, UB40
1984 – Weather Report, Black Uhuru and The Smiths
1985 – Echo & The Bunnymen, Joe Cocker and The Boomtown Rats
The Style Council and The Pogues also performed but didn’t get the top billing.
1986 – The Psychedelic Furs, Level 42, and The Cure
Festival goers could also see Madness and Simply Red, with tickets costing less than £20.
1987 – The Communards, Elvis Costello and Van Morrison
1989 – Suzanne Vega, Elvis Costello and Van Morrison
This year saw some firsts with the first consecutive headliners, as the festival skipped 1988, plus Suzanne Vega as the first-ever female headliner 12 Glastos in!
1990 – The Cure, Happy Mondays and Sinead O’Connor
1992 – Carter USM, Youssou N’Dour and Shakespeare’s Sister
1993 – The Black Crowes, Christy Moore and Lenny Kravitz
Red Hot Chilli Peppers were set in the headline slot but decided to drop out of the then £58 festival.
1994 – Levellers, Peter Gabriel and Elvis Costello
Lower on the listing were some truly incredible talents and future headliners with Johnny Cash, Rage Against the Machine, Radiohead, Blur, Oasis, and Bjork all performing at the festival.
1995 – Pulp, Oasis, and The Cure
1997 – Ash, The Prodigy, and Radiohead
1998 – Primal Scream, Pulp and Blur
1999 – Skunk Anansie, REM, and Manic Street Preachers
This year saw two Glastonbury debuts from future Pyramid Stage headliners Muse and Coldplay.
2000 – Travis, The Chemical Brothers and David Bowie
Fans this year were treated to an extra special show as this is the last time the Heroes legend would take to the Pyramid Stage.
2002 – Rod Stewart, Stereophonics and Coldplay
2003 – Moby, REM, and Radiohead
2004 – Muse, Oasis, and Sir Paul McCartney
Bellamy, Muse’s guitarist, gave the band’s headlining performance some extra spark when he smashed his guitar on stage.
2005 – Basement Jaxx, The White Stripes, and Coldplay
Jack White has returned to Worthy Farm since but the White Stripes split shortly after this. 2005 was also the year the legendary Kylie Minogue was set to headline but cancelled last minute.
2006 – Arctic Monkeys, The Killers and The Who
All first-time headliners this year in an impressive lineup but elsewhere icon Adele was chasing pavements — 10 years before taking the headline spot.
2008 – Kings of Leon, The Verve and Jay Z
Every year without fail, Kings of Leon are mentioned as possible headliners; this is the one time it proved to be true. On Sunday, Jay Z made history as the first hip hop headliner, much to Noel Gallagher’s chagrin.
2009 – Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen and Blur
2010 – Muse, Stevie Wonder and Gorillaz
2011 – Coldplay, U2 and Beyonce
While Coldplay returned to the festival for the umpteenth time, U2 managed to nab a headline after dropping out the year before (replaced by Gorillaz). Beyonce was the first solo female headliner since Sinead O’Connor and only the third solo female ever.
2013 – Mumford & Sons, Arctic Monkeys and The Rolling Stones
2014 – Arcade Fire, Kasabian and Metallica
Dolly Parton was also here for this year’s Legend slot and pulled in a massive crowd despite not headlining.
2015 – Kanye West, Florence & The Machine, and The Who
Florence only took the top spot after the Foo Fighters dropped out and Ye proved a controversial choice (not for the reasons he would be now, though).
2016 – Muse, Coldplay and Adele
2017 – Radiohead, Foo Fighters and Ed Sheeran
2019 – Stormzy, The Killers and The Cure
2020 – Kendrick Lamar, Sir Paul McCartney and Taylor Swift
Only it never happened because, as we all remember, the world was put on pause in the global pandemic.
Sir Paul and Taylor have reunited, though, at her Eras Tour in London, while Kendrick featured on her track Bad Blood. This lineup would have been legendary.
2022 – Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar and Sir Paul McCartney
In a slight switch-up of the promised 2020 headliners, Billie became the youngest-ever headliner while Sir Paul took the title of oldest-ever headliner.
2023 – Arctic Monkeys, Guns N’ Roses, and Sir Elton John
A double debut from two icons here – both Guns N’ Roses and Sir Elton had never headlined before.
2024 – Dua Lipa, Coldplay, and Sza
Yes, Coldplay again. It’s no secret that this line-up caused a little controversy with fans complaining.
However, it is also one for the history books as it marked the first time two headline slots have been taken up by female performers – it only took 54 years!
2025 – The 1975, Neil Young and Olivia Rodrigo
Another American pop princess, Olivia Rodrigo, is set to headline and close the show on Sunday — a risky choice after Sza failed to impress but fans have faith in her ability to turn out a show.
The 1975 are also a controversial one, as frontman Matty Healy has a tendency to be an absolute menace. Neil Young is probably also controversial to someone, so pinch of salt with the complaints.
Other big names this year are Charli XCX being Brat and the return of The Prodigy, as well as Patchwork rumours and our legend, Sir Rod Stewart.
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