Glastonbury 2022 – live: Festival kicks off with Billie Eilish to make history as youngest ever headliner

Glastonbury Festival 2022 is underway, with music fans from around the world flocking to Worthy Farm in Somerset, England.

After Glastonbury founder Michael Eavis opened the gates on Wednesday 22 June, revellers have been setting up their tents ahead of the live music sets beginning on Friday.

This year’s festival is being headlined by Gen-Z pop star Billie Eilish, Beatles legend Sir Paul McCartney and US rapper Kendrick Lamar, with Diana Ross taking on the traditional Legends Slot.

Mercury Prize-winning rock band Wolf Alice are booked to perform on the Pyramid Stage on Friday at 4.45pm, but fans are worried after the group tweeted about their struggles getting to the UK.

The group had finished performing in LA and were due to fly back today (Thursday 23 June). However, they tweeted in the early hours of the morning that their flight had been cancelled, amid ongoing travel chaos at UK airports.

The Independent has contacted the band’s representatives for comment.

Meanwhile, the Met Office is forecasting thunderstorms that could potentially hit festivalgoers today (23 June).

Read more:

• Glastonbury through the years – in pictures

• How to watch the BBC’s Glastonbury coverage on TV

• The 22 greatest Glastonbury performances ever, from Beyoncé to The Cure

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

• Everything you need to know about registering for Glastonbury 2023 tickets

Follow live updates below:

Glastonbury 2022 talking points

• Latest Glastonbury 2022 weather report

• The earthy magic and lawlessness of being a child at Glastonbury

• 18 highlights for Glastonbury Festival 2022

Sam Fender to play the Pyramid Stage tonight

08:03 , Ellie Harrison

Sam Fender fans get ready, for the Newcastle musician is playing the Pyramid Stage from 8.15pm to 9.15pm tonight, just before Billie Eilish’s headline set.

He’s pretty excited, too...

Read our interview with Fender here, in which he chatted to us about the state of the nation, overcoming a life-threatening illness, and his ‘crippling insecurities’...

How to find out which acts are playing secret sets

07:43 , Ellie Harrison

George Ezra and Green Day are among the rumoured acts who could perform secret sets at Glastonbury.

Bastille, who were heavily rumoured to play, did perform a secret set on Thursday 23 June.

The set list for their sixth performance at Glastonbury included hits such as “Things We Lost in the Fire”, “Survivin’” from their 2020 EP Goosebumps, “Shut Off the Lights” and, of course, “Pompeii”, to finish.

Read more below about who could be up next...

Glastonbury secret sets 2022: Rumours and how find out who will play

Are we on the verge of a girl group renaissance?

07:20 , Ellie Harrison

This weekend, the original Sugababes will reunite on the stage of Glastonbury for the first time in two decades.

They’re the only UK girl group on the lineup, and are performing just over a month after pop trio Little Mix went on hiatus to pursue solo careers.

At first glance, the future landscape of girl groups in contemporary pop looks decidedly flat. Is there any hope of a renaissance?

Read the full story below and find out how to get tickets for Sugababes’ forthcoming tour here...

Round round, baby: Are we on the verge of a girl group renaissance?

Steve Carell’s new Minions film to be screened at festival today

07:00 , Maanya Sachdeva

Steve Carell has revealed there will be a special advance screening for his forthcoming animated film Minions: The Rise of Gru at Worthy Farm this week.

The fifth film in the Despicable Me franchise acts as an origin story for Gru (voiced by Carell) and his Minions, telling the story of how the group came to existence to fight against unstoppable crime forces.

The film is scheduled for release on 1 July and will be screened at the Pilton Palais – the festival’s cinema tent – on Friday.

In his announcement, Carell invited festival-goers to “be one of those very first people in the UK to see it”.

Full story here:

Steve Carell reveals special Minions advance screening at Glastonbury

How to watch the BBC’s live festival coverage this year

06:30 , Maanya Sachdeva

Live sets from Worthy Farm will be broadcast on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds throughout the Glastonbury festival, which runs from Wednesday 22 – Sunday 26 June.

Coverage will be brought to audiences by presenters such as Cerys Matthews, Clara Amfo, Dermot O’Leary, Jo Whiley, Lauren Laverne, Vick Hope and Zoe Ball.

Find out more about how you can catch headliner performances by Billie Eilish, Sir Paul McCartney, Diana Ross, and Kendrick Lamar:

How to watch the BBC’s live Glastonbury coverage

Bastille frontman thanks fans after ‘insane’ set with Ol’ Dirty Brasstards

06:00 , Maanya Sachdeva

Bastille frontman Dan Smith thanked fans after the “Pompeii” hitmakers’s “insane” performance at the Williams’s Green stage on Thursday.

Sharing a photo with his bandmates, Smith wrote on Twitter: “That was insane. Thanks SO MUCH to everyone who came along.”

Bastille was accompanied by 10-piece brass band Ol’ Dirty Brasstards, prompting Smith’s opener: “Tonight we’re Brasstille and the Brasstards...or something.”

Singer-songwriter and guitarist Charlie Barnes, who is currently touring with Bastille, also tweeted about the show, writing: “Hahahahaha played Glastonbury with a load of my brass friends hahahahahahahaha have a nice weekend everyone.”

‘Did you make it?’: Wolf Alice fans react to band’s travel update amid fears of cancelled set

05:30 , Maanya Sachdeva

Wolf Alice fans are keeping their “fingers crossed” that the band can make it to Glastonbury after a flight cancellation ahead of their scheduled performance left them stranded in the US.

The “Don’t Delete The Kisses” artists are due to perform on the Pyramid Stage at Worthy Farm on Friday afternoon.

“Has anyone got a private jet in LA?” the band tweeted late on Wednesday (22 June), explaining, “Our flight’s been cancelled and we need to get to Glastonbury, not joking.”

On Thursday, the group tweeted that they were flying out to Seattle, from Los Angeles, before getting on a direct flight to London in time, hopefully, for their set.

“Did you make it?” one fan commented under their post on Twitter, with another writing: “Fingers crossed you lot, cannot wait to see you at Glasto.”

Bastille fans react to band's 'not-so-secret' set: 'I'm a bit emotional'

05:00 , Maanya Sachdeva

Bastille fans were overjoyed to watch the band play a “not-so-secret” set at the William’s Green stage Thursday, accompanied by 10-piece brass band Ol’ Dirty Brasstards.

“Tonight we are Brasstille and the Brasstards...or something,” band frontman Dan Smith joked, as fans reportedly chanted the refrain of their 2013 hit “Pompeii” while waiting for the set to begin.

Their set followed festival founder Michael Eavis’s covers performance, with Smith telling the crowd: “I can’t believe we get to play after Michael Eavis, what the f***.”

Bastille’s set list for their sixth performance at Glastonbury included hits such as “Things We Lost In The Fire”, “Survivin’” from their 2020 EP Goosebumps, “Shut Off The Lights” and, of course, “Pompeii” right at the end.

After watching their performance, one fan tweeted: “Since 2012, I have never gone more than 1.5 years without seeing Bastille, [but] because of Covid, I didn’t see them for almost three years until today at glasto. I’m a bit emotional atm, thank you @bastille.”

“I don’t care about Bastille, only Brasstille,” another joked.

Glastonbury crowd chant ‘we love you Michael, we do’ to festival founder

04:30 , Maanya Sachdeva

The crowd at Glastonbury chanted “We love you Michael we do” around the Williams Green stage as festival founder Michael Eavis played with his band to a packed audience on Thursday.

The 86-year-old performed renditions of hits such as the Elvis hit “Always On My Mind” and Frank Sinatra’s “My Way”.

Eavis thanked the crowd and left the stage to huge applause before leaving in his “trademark red” Land Rover, and further cheers rang out as he passed festival-goers on the road outside the venue.

‘We’re a family’: Dying Glastonbury fan to travel to festival via helicopter

04:00 , Maanya Sachdeva

A terminally ill Glastonbury fan has been granted his dying wish – to make it to the festival one last time.

Nigel Stonehouse, 58, from Hartlepool, will travel to Worthy Farm via helicopter after a GoFundMe campaign raised over £18,000 to fund the journey. This will be his 19th time at the Somerset music festival.

When asked why it’s so important to Stonehouse to go to Glastonbury, he replied: “It’s always important to go to Glastonbury – we’re a family.”

Stonehouse, who is suffering from kidney cancer, first attended the festival in 1986.

Full story here:

Terminally ill festival-lover to fly to Glastonbury as public grant ‘last wish’

Louis Tomlinson spotted at Worthy Farm amid rumours of secret Harry Styles set

03:30 , Maanya Sachdeva

One Direction fans were thrilled over the possibility of a mini band reunion at Worthy Farm, after Louis Tomlinson was spotted at Glastonbury amid rumours of a secret Harry Styles set.

Styles and Tomlinson were part of “the internet’s first boyband” One Direction, alongwith Niall Horan, Liam Payne, and Zayn Malik. The group went on extended hiatus in 2015, following Malik’s departure.

Styles is rumoured to perform alongside Glastonbury’s youngest-ever headliner Billie Eilish on the Pyramid Stage Friday night (24 June).

Currently on his “Love On Tour” to promote his 2019 album Fine Line, the “As It Was” singer still has the majority of the weekend free in between tour dates.

Meanwhile, Tomlinson, 30, was spotted at the Somerset venue, in a short fan video posted online. He was dressed in a loose, white T-shirt and shorts.

03:00 , Maanya Sachdeva

And the first stage dive of the weekend goes to...

02:30 , Louis Chilton

Here’s a look at some of the secret headliners set to appear at the festival...

Glastonbury secret sets 2022: Rumours and how find out who will play

02:00 , Louis Chilton

The big acts might not get going til tomorrow, but there’s still stuff going on in Worthy Farm.

For example...

01:30 , Louis Chilton

Fellow headliner Kendrick Lamar, meanwhile, was seen performing a tribute to Virgil Abloh while wearing crown of thorns during a Louis Vuitton show.

Watch the video here...

Kendrick Lamar performs tribute for Virgil Abloh while wearing crown of thorns

01:00 , Louis Chilton

Paul McCartney has announced a surprise warm-up show ahead of his headline set this weekend...

Paul McCartney holding surprise pre Glastonbury show in Frome

Friday 24 June 2022 00:40 , Louis Chilton

For those not able to be there, here’s how to watch this year’s Glasto coverage on TV

How to watch the BBC’s live Glastonbury coverage

Up-to-date weather forecast for Worthy Farm

Friday 24 June 2022 00:20 , Annabel Nugent

With a Yellow Warning issued for thunderstorms, anyone at Worthy Farm right now will no doubt be keeping an eye on the weather.

Worst comes to worst, though, what’s Glastonbury without some mess and mud?

Keep up to date with all the weather updates for the festival below.

Latest forecast threatens thunderstorms for Glastonbury

Kendrick Lamar at Glastonbury: Day, time and stage details for rapper’s festival debut

Friday 24 June 2022 00:00 , Annabel Nugent

A number of artists will be making their Glastonbury debut this year, but few are as highly anticipated as Kendrick Lamar.

The Pulitzer Prize-winning rapper will headline the Pyramid Stage on Sunday, the final night.

His appearance follows the release of his critically acclaimed fifth album Mr Morale & the Big Steppers. You can read The Independent’s five-star review of the record here.

Find out the details for Lamar’s performance, including when and where his set will be, below.

What day and time will Kendrick Lamar perform at Glastonbury?

Glastonbury in pictures: Day 2

Thursday 23 June 2022 23:40 , Annabel Nugent

Between laughter yoga workshops, burning sunsets, and outrageous festival outfits, Glastonbury certainly makes for a brilliant photo opportunity.

Catch up on Day 2 of the festival in pictures below...

See all the best photos from Glastonbury day 2 at Worthy Farm

Paul McCartney at Glastonbury: Day, time and stage details for musician’s second headline set

Thursday 23 June 2022 23:20 , Annabel Nugent

Paul McCartney is one of three headliners to be taking the stage this weekend.

The former Beatle will headline the Pyramid State alongside Billie Eilish, the festival’s youngest ever solo headliner, and Kendrick Lamar.

Find out when and where McCartney performs below.

What day and time will Paul McCartney perform at Glastonbury?

This is the musician’s second Glastonbury headline performance after performing in 2004.

Speaking about that set, he said: “My best memory was that moment we walked out on stage, when we performed there in 2004. The sheer size of the crowd, and the banners and the flags that they all hold up which reminded me of the battle of Agincourt.”

The 22 greatest Glastonbury performances ever, from Beyoncé to The Cure

Thursday 23 June 2022 23:00 , Annabel Nugent

Ahead of the glorious return of the world’s greatest festival, headlined this year by Paul McCartney, Billie Eilish and Kendrick Lamar, here’s a look back at the best ever Glastonbury performances.

From Patti Smith and Jay-Z to The Cure and The Smiths, here’s the 22 greatest sets of all time to take place at Worthy Farm – in our humble opinion, at least.

The 22 greatest Glastonbury performances ever

Glastonbury 2022 in pictures

Thursday 23 June 2022 22:40 , Annabel Nugent

Curious to see what this year’s festival looks like? See below for a rolling list of pictures from Glastonbury 2022.

Warning: If you didn’t have FOMO before, you’ll definitely feel it after seeing these photos.

See all the best pictures from Glastonbury 2022

How to get tickets to the next Glastonbury festival

Thursday 23 June 2022 22:20 , Annabel Nugent

If you aren’t at Worthy Farm, by now the FOMO has likely set in and you’re wondering how to get tickets for the next Glastonbury.

Find out everything you need to know about 2023 registration here, including ticket prices and when they will become available to purchase.

Glastonbury 2023 registration, tickets and everything you need to know

Lineup and set times for this year’s biggest acts

Thursday 23 June 2022 22:00 , Annabel Nugent

Hundreds of acts are performing at Worthy Farm this weekend. Here’s a list of the big names that you’ll likely want on your radar – including when and where they’re playing.

Glastonbury 2022 full lineup and set times by day

Up to date weather forecast for Worthy Farm

Thursday 23 June 2022 21:40 , Annabel Nugent

It wouldn’t be Glastonbury without some rain. Hope you packed your wellies!

Latest forecast threatens thunderstorms for Glastonbury

How to watch Glastonbury from home and full TV schedule

Thursday 23 June 2022 21:20 , Annabel Nugent

For those of us not at Worthy Farm, you can tune into the action live thanks to live coverage of the event.

Whether you want to follow it all or just catch a performance or two, BBC has you covered.

Coverage will be spread across BBC One, Two, Three, Four, BBC Radio, the BBC Sounds app, and BBC Radio.

See a comprehensive TV schedule below.

Full TV schedule of BBC’s Glastonbury coverage

A brief look at Glastonbury’s storied past

Thursday 23 June 2022 21:00 , Annabel Nugent

If you’ve ever been interested in the history of the iconic festival, we’ve got you covered.

Founded in 1970, Michael Eavis – a farmer from Somerset – decided to stage a festival to pay off his overdraft. The rest is history.

When did Glastonbury start?

Who are the secret sets? Everything you need to know

Thursday 23 June 2022 20:40 , Annabel Nugent

Sure, you may know who is headlining but Glastonbury – but are you clued up on who this year’s secret sets are?

With past secret sets including Lady Gaga, Franz Ferdinand and Pulp, it’s likely this year will see at least a few big names unexpectedly taking the stage.

George Ezra, Harry Styles, Green Day, Elton John, and Arcade Fire are among the artists rumoured to be making an appearance. Find out more below.

Glastonbury secret sets 2022: Rumours and how find out who will play

When does Billie Eilish perform and on what stage?

Thursday 23 June 2022 20:20 , Annabel Nugent

Tomorrow, Billie Eilish will make history as Glastonbury’s youngest ever solo headliner.

At 20 years and six months old, she will be the youngest solo act to headline Glastonbury. The youngest ever performer to headline Glastonbury as part of a group was Mark Hamilton of the UK band Ash who headlined in 1997 at the age of 20 and three months.

Find out when and where Eilish performs below.

What time, date and stage is Billie Eilish performing at Glastonbury?

18 highlights for Glastonbury from Healing Fields to Cineramageddon

Thursday 23 June 2022 20:00 , Annabel Nugent

Every Glastonbury weekend, the transformation of Worthy Farm from a West Country dairy farm into a glorious festival site never fails to wow.

Bars within bars, areas within areas, and festivals within festivals offer ticket holders a Russian doll of silliness and surrealism. The centre of which you’ll probably never reach – at least not without a comprehensive plan.

Take a look at our 18 hihglights for Glastonbury 202, from the Healing Fields to Cineramageddon.

From Herbie Hancock to the Healing Fields – 18 highlights for Glastonbury 2022

The 7 most brutal set clashes – and how to get around them

Thursday 23 June 2022 19:40 , Annabel Nugent

“Clash” is a word that will cause any Glastonbury ticketowner to break out in a cold sweat.

Deciding between Billie Eilish and Foals and Little Simz feels impossible. Likewise, Haim, Olivia Rodrigo, Big Thief, and Glass Animals.

Here, we run through the biggest clashes of the 2022 festival – and some nifty workarounds.

The 7 most brutal Glastonbury 2022 set clashes (and possible workarounds)

Fat Boy Slim reflects on his Glastonbury memories

Thursday 23 June 2022 19:22 , Kerri-Ann Roper, PA Entertainment Editor

Fatboy Slim has reminisced about his first time playing Glastonbury’s Pyramid Stage saying he’s “spent the rest of his career” trying to get back on it.

The DJ, real name Norman Cook, is now a household name but first performed at the music festival on Worthy Farm more than three decades ago as part of indie rock group, The Housemartins.

Glastonbury Festival opened its gates again this week for the first time in three years after being cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, with Cook, 58, one of the performers on the bill.

He told the festival’s on-site newspaper, the Glastonbury Free Press, about his first experience playing at the event, saying: “It was playing the Pyramid Stage with the Housemartins in 1986.

“Much to my shame, I thought it would be filled with old, stoned, bearded hippies who’d come from Stonehenge after the solstice. And we thought they’d all be flinging mud at us. We were pleasantly surprised to find out it wasn’t like that at all.”

Other big names at Glastonbury in 1986 included The Pogues, The Waterboys, The Cure, Level 42, Simply Red and Madness.

Press Association

Glastonbury 2022 – in pictures

Thursday 23 June 2022 19:02 , Roisin O'Connor

Music fans are returning to Worthy Farm in their droves for the first Glastonbury Festival since 2019.

The world-famous event was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic, but has now returned and is set to be headlined by Billie Eilish, Paul McCartney and Kendrick Lamar.

Other acts on the billing include Diana Ross in the traditional Legends Slot, plus Sam Fender, Megan Thee Stallion, Foals, St Vincent, Lorde, Olivia Rodrigo, AJ Tracey and many more performing from 24 – 26 June.

On Wednesday 22 June, festival co-organisers Michael and Emily Eavis welcomed revellers back to the festival in Somerset.

“To actually be able to see people there and welcome in, watch them streaming in and running to pitch their tents up… it’s an amazing feeling,” Emily Eavis told Lauren Laverne in an interview with BBC Radio 6.

Check out some of the brilliant photos so far:

See all the best pictures from Glastonbury 2022

How to watch Glastonbury 2022 from home

Thursday 23 June 2022 18:42 , Roisin O'Connor

Those who aren’t venturing to Worthy Farm for Glastonbury this year can keep up with the action from the comfort of their sofa.

This year’s festival – taking place from Friday 24 June to Sunday 26 June – will see Billie Eilish, Paul McCartney and Kendrick Lamar perform as headliners. Diana Ross will perform in the Legends slot.

Viewers in the UK can watch the Glastonbury live stream for free on the BBC.

Coverage will be spread across BBC One, Two, Three, Four, BBC Radio, the BBC Sounds app, and BBC Radio.

For the first time ever, BBC iPlayer will be hosting a special Glastonbury channel from Thursday (23 June), which will broadcast preview shows and live performances over the next four days.

Here’s the full schedule!

Full TV schedule of BBC’s Glastonbury coverage

Dying Glastonbury fan to travel to festival via helicopter

Thursday 23 June 2022 18:14 , Roisin O'Connor

A Glastonbury fan who has been told he has weeks to live has been granted his dying wish - to make it to the festival one last time.

Nigel Stonehouse, 58, from Hartlepool, will travel to Worthy Farm via helicopter after a GoFundMe campaign raised over £18,000 to fund the journey.

Any remaining donations will be donated to Water aid, Oxfam and Greenpeace, and a local cat rescue organisation, the fundraiser’s organisers said.

Stonehouse, who has been to Glastonbury 19 times, described the festival as being “like a family.”

‘We’re a family’: Dying Glastonbury fan to travel to festival via helicopter