Glastonbury 2020 was sadly but necessarily cancelled due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. This years’ installment was supposed to mark the 50th anniversary of the world famous festival. Glastonburys’ lawyer, Mark Challis, recently said that the event’s 50th birthday will be staged in June 2021 instead.

Emily Eavis, daughter of Michael Eavis, who founded the legendary festival, recently spoke with the BBC about Glastonbury 2021. Eavis relayed that “We’re doing everything we can on our end to plan and prepare.” 

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Unfortunately, the possibility of Glastonbury 2021 is relatively low, according to Eavis. Eavis said: “I think we’re still quite a long way from being able to say we’re confident 2021 will go ahead.”

Eavis continued, saying: “I can’t tell you how much we’d love to welcome everyone back to the farm…It’s been way too quiet here this year and we want to get people back here as soon as we possibly can.” Eavis added: “Obviously the vaccine news in recent weeks has increased our chances. We’re doing everything we can on our end to plan and prepare, but there are still just so many unknowns and factors which are completely out of our control.”

Eavis expanded on the financial issues the Glastonbury founders have faced this year: “What we definitely can’t afford to risk is getting too far into the process of next year, only for it to be snatched away from us again. We lost millions this year, and we can’t risk that happening again.”

 

 

 

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Glastonbury founder Michael Eavis recently spoke on coronavirus testing, saying that “massive testing arrangements” could be in place for next year’s event. “The testing is going so well now, there could be massive testing arrangements” Eavis said.

Emily Eavis pleaded with the UK government for “direct financial support” for Glastonbury 2021 earlier this month. Despite their reassuring, hopeful statements, Emily and Michael Eavis have said that money is “already getting tight” in the wake of next year’s event. 

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Naturally, insurers remain cautious to offer cancellation cover. Should Glastonbury 2021 be cancelled, organisers could lose millions in revenue, which Michael and Emily Eavis say is something they simply cannot afford.

Glastonbury was founded by Michael Eavis in the year 1970. Year after year, the music festival extraveganza welcomed some of the biggest and best names in music. Last year, Glastonbury saw The Cure and The Killers serve as fantastic headline acts. The 2020 instalment of Glastonbury was supposed to have the likes of Dua Lipa, Sir Paul McCartney and Supergrass perform. Kendrick Lamar and Lana Del Rey and Taylor Swift were also confirmed for the 2020 lineup.

It is unclear whethere these artists will roll over onto the 2021 lineup. We can only hold out hope that the momumental Glasonbury festival will return safely next year.

Although there have been talks of the festival being postponed to September next year, Eavis took to social media today (30th August 2020) to debunk this idea. In a post on Twitter, Eavis reassured Glastonbury’s fans and long standing patrons that “For those who have been asking, we have no plans to move next year’s Glastonbury to September 2021 – we’re still very much aiming for June.”

Naturally, festival-goers are inquisitive about ticket resales for Glastonbury’s 2021 instalment, so Eavis made sure to provide an update on this important topic. Speaking out on Twitter, Eavis wrote that “so few people have asked for a refund.” This comes at no surprise, Glastonbury’s worldwide popularity makes securing a golden ticket near impossible, so to part with one is a rarity from fans. 

Unfortunately for some, this does mean that “next year’s festival remains sold out” and Glastonbury “do not have enough tickets to resell.” Eavis recognises the immense admiration festival-goers have for Glastonbury, adding that ticket re-sales will commence in April 2021. 

In terms of cancellations, Eavis confirmed that “we’ve extended the free cancellation deadline until the end of January”, giving ticket holders more time to make a decision about the important matter. 

Founder Michael Eavis recently divulged some details surrounding Glastonbury’s keenly awaited return. Speaking on ITV News West Country on August 3rd, Eavis relayed some concerns about implementing social distancing at the festival

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Last night, buildings, structures & monuments – including the Pyramid Stage – were lit in red to highlight the plight of the UK events industry and urge the government to support the sector.LightItInRedLetTheMusicPlayWeMakeEvents (Jason Bryant /@fineline_lighting)

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Eavis meditated upon the potential difficulty of social distancing, saying: “500 people is ok isn’t it. But my job, 250,000 altogether is too many people I suppose isn’t it really.” Eavis continued with some words of encouragement, stating “I’m still hoping I’m going to be running next year and I’m going to be moving heaven and earth to make sure that we do.”

Michael Eavis also expanded upon potential safety precautions to take for Glastonbury 2021. Eavis confirmed he has been working with Melvin Benn, the head of Festival Republic, concerning a track-and-trace app for the festival.

Benn, who oversees massive festivals such as Wireless, Reading and Leeds and Latitude, claims the scheme will utilise an NHS tracing app that ticket-holders would show at an additional security gate before safely entering Glastonbury.

Before the coronavirus crisis stopped the world in its tracks, Glastonbury was set to celebrate its fiftieth instalment this year. A massive milestone for the music festival, Glastonbury 2020 was set to welcome the likes of Kendrick Lamar, Taylor Swift, and Sir Paul McCartney as headline acts.

Delivering an otherworldly lineup year after year, fans can only hope that Glastonbury’s gargantuan lineup will roll over into the music festival’s 2021 instalment.