Emily Eavis has lifted the lid on what to expect at Glastonbury 2025 in a wide-ranging chat with Sidetracked with Annie and Nick on BBC Sounds.
While refusing to confirm the identity of the mysterious “Patchwork” listed for Saturday night’s Pyramid Stage slot, she revealed it’s been in the works for over a year. “I’ve been working on Patchwork for a long time,” she said, adding the reasons were mainly “logistical”.
Among the confirmed changes this year are reduced ticket numbers, redesigned areas and a big focus on green spaces. “Shangri-La have got a new creative this year which is exciting,” Emily explained. “They’re going full trees and green space!”
She said the team is interested to see what effect “a few thousand less” attendees will have on the site’s flow and crowd dynamics.
A special celebration is also planned for her father, festival founder Michael Eavis, who turns 90 in October. Emily shared: “We’re planning a party for him, and we want to make this festival like a big birthday moment as well because 90 is amazing.”
Looking ahead to Glastonbury’s fallow year in 2026, Emily revealed they plan to plant 30,000 trees and restore local wildlife habitats. “A fallow year reminds everyone it’s a farm and a family,” she said.
Emily also spoke openly about the financial pressures of keeping Glastonbury independent, revealing the festival lost £10 million during the pandemic. “Last year we gave £5.9 million to charity — it’s the best part of the job,” she said.
Three special bonus episodes Sidetracked by Glastonbury are now available on BBC Sounds, with video on iPlayer.
