Glastonbury 2027 speculation has been given an exciting twist after one of the festival’s most hotly tipped acts announced a surprise performance.
Irish rock legends U2 have confirmed they will perform an exclusive concert for the BBC next month, just days after Metro readers voted them among their dream Glastonbury headliners.
Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr will reunite on stage for an intimate show at a secret central London venue on Tuesday, November 3.
The special performance, announced by Jo Whiley on BBC Radio 2 on Tuesday evening, will see the band revisit some of their biggest hits alongside material from their upcoming studio album, Carnaval De Luz, which arrives on November 13.
And while the announcement has absolutely nothing to do with Glastonbury officially, the timing is certainly interesting for fans hoping to see the rock veterans return to Worthy Farm.
After all, with a new album, a major BBC performance and renewed activity from the band, a Pyramid Stage comeback suddenly seems a more likely prospect.
U2 last headlined the festival in 2011, meaning a return next summer would mark 16 years since Bono and company last entertained the crowds in Somerset.
And apparently, the British public thinks that is quite long enough.
In a recent Metro poll asking readers to choose their dream Glastonbury 2027 headliners, U2 emerged as the second-most popular choice with 387 votes, representing 12.89% of the 3,003 votes cast.
They were narrowly beaten by Oasis, who claimed the top spot with 400 votes, despite festival organiser Emily Eavis having already poured cold water on rumours of a Gallagher brothers takeover.
Clearly, Glastonbury fans are a stubborn bunch.
Eminem completed the readers’ dream headline trio, with Sam Fender and The Rolling Stones also proving popular.
Of course, U2’s latest announcement is hardly confirmation that they’ve received a phone call from Eavis, and there has been no official indication that the band will appear at next year’s festival.
But their upcoming return to the stage does at least demonstrate that they are back in action, which is more than can be said for some of the acts dominating the annual rumour mill.
For now, fans will have the opportunity to see the 22-time Grammy Award-winning group in considerably more intimate surroundings than the Pyramid Stage.
A limited number of tickets for their London concert are available through a BBC Audiences ballot, which closes at 11.59pm on Thursday, October 29.
The venue will remain a secret until the day of the performance, with successful applicants informed of its location ahead of the show.
Those who aren’t lucky enough to secure a place won’t miss out entirely, however.
The concert will air on BBC Two in late November as part of a special evening dedicated to the band, while BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds will broadcast the performance during Jo Whiley’s show on Monday, November 30, between 7pm and 9pm.
The radio broadcast will also feature a new interview with the group.
Whiley said: ‘Every time I see U2 perform, they’re always incredible, giving 100% to each and every show.
‘I can’t wait to see what they have in store for us, and to share what I know will be a fantastic concert with listeners.’
The band will also join Vernon Kay for his Tracks of My Years feature, selecting ten songs that have shaped their lives and careers, which will be available on BBC Sounds and iPlayer from November 15.
Meanwhile, the identities of Glastonbury’s actual headliners remain a closely guarded secret.
Eavis has previously confirmed that all three acts have already been booked, meaning thousands of festivalgoers are currently engaged in the time-honoured tradition of treating every tour announcement as a potential clue.
With tickets selling out in just 42 minutes, plenty of music lovers have already committed to attending next summer without the slightest idea who’s topping the bill.
Whether U2 will be among them remains to be seen.
But with the band evidently preparing for a busy few months, fans can certainly be forgiven for keeping their fingers crossed.