Worthy Farm, Pilton, Somerset, England, United Kingdom
Glastonbury Festival
One of the world's most famous music festivals: a temporary city of more than 200,000 people on a Somerset dairy farm.
The straight answer
Glastonbury Festival runs for five days in late June, Wednesday to Sunday, but it takes periodic fallow years off, and it did not run in 2026, so check the organizers' announcement before you plan.
Glastonbury is the world's best-known music festival, held on Worthy Farm near the village of Pilton in Somerset, in the southwest of England. Founded in 1970 by farmer Michael Eavis, it now draws more than 200,000 people for five days in late June, running Wednesday to Sunday, with the music programme concentrated from Friday to Sunday.
The key planning fact: Glastonbury does not happen every year. The farm takes a regular fallow year, roughly one year in five, to let the land and the local community recover. The festival did not run in 2026. Always check the official announcement for the next edition before building a trip around it.
Getting in is the other big challenge. Tickets are sold months in advance, in the autumn before the festival, only to people who have registered with a photo, and they typically sell out within about an hour. Resale opportunities for returned tickets are limited and just as competitive.
The event, explained
The Pyramid Stage is the famous main stage, where the headliners play, and the Other Stage and West Holts are the next biggest. But the real scale of Glastonbury is in the dozens of smaller stages and areas: dance music fields, cabaret, comedy, theatre, and circus.
The festival spreads across a large site with distinct areas: the Green Fields with crafts and healing, the late-night areas in the southeast corner of the site, and the Park with its views over the whole festival.
Glastonbury is also a charity event, raising money for causes including Greenpeace, Oxfam, and WaterAid, and it has strong environmental rules, including a ban on single-use plastic bottles on site.
The Wednesday and Thursday before the main music days are for arriving, setting up camp, exploring the site, and smaller evening events. Many regulars say those quieter days are the best part.
How to play it right
- 01Register on the official Glastonbury ticket site well before tickets go on sale. You need a registration with a photo for each ticket, and tickets cannot be transferred.
- 02Tickets usually go on sale in the autumn before the festival, with coach-and-ticket packages sold first and general tickets a few days later. Be online early with a fast connection; they sell out in about an hour.
- 03Most people camp. Pack for sun and rain: late June in Somerset can bring highs near 70F (21C) with sunshine or days of heavy rain and deep mud. Wellington boots are essential.
- 04Getting there: the official coach services from major UK cities are the easiest option. The nearest railway station is Castle Cary, with shuttle buses to the site. Driving means long queues and a parking ticket.
- 05Bring cash and a card; most traders on site accept cards, but a backup is sensible. Food and drink are plentiful but festival-priced.
- 06Check the official website for the next edition before booking anything, since fallow years mean some years have no festival at all.
With kids in tow
- Children under a certain age get in free with a ticket-holding adult, and the Kidz Field is a dedicated area with entertainment, rides, and activities.
- Family camping areas are quieter than the main campsites. Bring ear protection for small children near the big stages.
- Mud, crowds, and long walks between stages are tough on young kids. A sturdy wagon or trolley for small children and gear is a common family solution.
Book your stay for Glastonbury Festival.
Sponsored links to Expedia and Vrbo. We may earn a commission; it never changes a verdict.
- Hotels for June
Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Glastonbury FestivalOpens a hotel search for Glastonbury Festival in June, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
- Rentals on Vrbo
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in Glastonbury FestivalWhole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
- Tours and tickets
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in Glastonbury FestivalTimed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Glastonbury Festival for June. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Glastonbury Festival, quick answers
When is Glastonbury Festival?
Five days in late June, Wednesday to Sunday, in the years it runs. It takes a regular fallow year, roughly one in five, and did not run in 2026. Check the official site for the next edition.
Why does Glastonbury take a fallow year?
To give the farmland, the village of Pilton, and the organizers a break. The festival has taken fallow years regularly for decades.
How do I get Glastonbury tickets?
Register with a photo on the official ticket site, then buy when tickets go on sale in the autumn before the festival. They typically sell out in about an hour.
What is the weather like at Glastonbury?
Unpredictable. Late June in Somerset can bring sunny days near 70F (21C) or heavy rain and deep mud. Pack for both, including wellington boots.
How do I get to Glastonbury Festival?
Official coaches run from cities across the UK. By train, go to Castle Cary station and take the shuttle bus. Driving is possible but traffic queues can be long.
Also in June
The Great Migration
Serengeti, Tanzania and Masai Mara, Kenya
Year-round, with calving in the southern Serengeti from roughly late January to March and river crossings from about July to October
Wimbledon
London, United Kingdom
Two weeks from late June into mid July, finishing with the finals on the second weekend
Inti Raymi (Festival of the Sun)
Cusco, Peru
June 24 every year, the climax of a month of festivities in Cusco
Midsummer in Sweden (Midsommar)
Sweden (Stockholm, Dalarna, and nationwide)
Midsummer Eve falls on the Friday between June 19 and 25 every year, with Midsummer Day on the Saturday after
Before you book.
Sort these two things first.
Sponsored links. We may earn a commission; it never changes a verdict.
- Visit Faye
Travel insurance.
FayeA missed connection, a bag that never turns up, a hospital abroad: far cheaper to cover before departure than to argue about after.
- Visit Saily
eSIM data.
SailySet up an eSIM before you fly so your phone has data the moment you land, without roaming charges.
Our top-rated travel gear
Whatever you decide, this is the gear we actually travel with: verified, priced, and ranked. Live price check on each.
As an Amazon Associate we may earn from qualifying purchases, at no cost to you.