Glastonbury suffers losses of £3.1million after it was cancelled last year because of Covid, but says this year’s festival – with Billie Eilish headlining – is set to go ahead in June

  • The weekend festival is expecting to fork out ‘significant costs’ to ensure Covid safety measures are in place
  • Young superstar Billie Eilish will headline Friday while legend and disco diva Diana Ross is to play on Sunday
  • No other acts have been confirmed yet but the rumours suggest Sir Paul McCartney and Aerosmith could play
  • Under current coronavirus restrictions, events of 10,000-plus must require the NHS Covid Pass to enter  

Glastonbury lost more than £3.1million last year after it was cancelled for the second time in a row due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Figures revealed by the festival’s boss Michael Eavis show the much-loved event was only able to cover its losses thanks to profits made in previous years. 

There are no plans to pull this year’s festival, however, which has already announced Billie Eilish as its headline act – while disco diva Diana Ross is set to play on the Sunday. 

But the weekend event, held every June at Worthy Farm, in Somerset, is expecting to fork out ‘significant costs’ to ensure extra Covid safety measures.  

Financial papers seen by the Sun read: ‘Plans for the 2022 festival are under way and the directors and staff are in liaison with the relevant authorities to proactively plan for the festival to take place in June 2022.

‘The directors are aware there are likely to be significant costs related to necessary Covid-19 measures.’ 

Billie Eilish (pictured) is headlining this year’s Glastonbury, taking place on June 22 to 26 at the usual Worthy Farm in Somerset

Diana Ross (pictured) revealed in November that she will be playing Glastonbury while in the UK for her Thank U tour 

Michael Eavis curates the line-up with his daughter Emily (pictured together), who had previously teased there would be ‘a hell of a lot of surprises’ for the festival in 2021, before it was cancelled for a second time

Miley Cyrus performed on the Pyramid Stage the last time the festival was held in 2019

The event had to be cancelled last year, costing the festival £3.1 million (Pictured: Glasto main stage in pre-pandemic years)

Figures revealed by the festival’s boss Michael Eavis show the much-loved event was only able to cover its losses thanks to profits made in previous years

Most live music events, including Glastonbury, were wiped out last summer by the pandemic. Pictured: Festival-goers enjoy Glastonbury in 2019

Who’s playing at Glastonbury this year? 

Billie Eilish has been announced as the headline act at Glastonbury this year and will play on the Friday. 

Following the 20-year-old will be Diana Ross, who will be leading the ‘legends’ slot on the Sunday. 

No other acts have been revealed for this year’s ‘Glasto’, taking place from June 22 to 26 – but the rumour mill suggests Aerosmith and Sir Paul McCartney could make an appearance. 

Aerosmith accidentally leaked an email last year which had their tour dates for the year, with Glastonbury Festival listed for June 25.

Meanwhile Sir Paul was set to play at last year’s event. 

Other big names are also touring the UK this summer – and many have a gap in the diary for the weekend of Glastonbury, fuelling the rumour mill, reports the Somerset County Gazette.  

Those who will be free to squeeze in a performance include Elton John, Pet Shop Boys (who were due to play in 2020), Celeste, The Weeknd, Sinead O’Connor, Fontaines DC, and Orbital, Deadmau5, Foals, Doves, Rag n Bone Man, Madness, Pearl Jam, The Orb, David Gray, Sam Fender, Manic Street Preachers, Stereophonics, Rage Against The Machine, Guns n Roses, Michael Buble, Dionne Warwick and more. 

Organiser Emily Eavis teased there will be more news ‘soon’ in an Instagram post this week. 

‘We can’t wait to be back in June and will bring you festival news soon to kick off the build up,’ she said.  

Under current rules any event with more than 10,000 attendees must request the NHS Covid Pass as a condition of entry.

It is not known what other measures Glastonbury will be putting in place, but some festivals which went ahead last year erected on-site Covid testing centres.  

No other acts have been revealed for this year’s ‘Glasto’, taking place from June 22 to 26 – but the rumour mill suggests Aerosmith and Sir Paul McCartney could make an appearance.  

Mr Eavis curates the line-up with his daughter Emily, who had previously teased there would be ‘a hell of a lot of surprises’ for the festival in 2021, before it was cancelled for a second time. 

People who put down deposits for the 2020 festival have had their tickets rolled over to this year. 

She told reporters: ‘We’re rolling two festivals together for 2021. 

‘We’ve got a hell of a lot of surprises and things that we were planning for the 50th (anniversary) and we’re going to try to get those things going for next year.’

It means this year’s is likely to be the most celebratory yet, following a two-year hiatus. 

Emily promised more news ‘soon’ in a post on Instagram this week, writing: ‘Thank you to every one of you for your loyalty throughout this year.  

‘All your letters, comments, messages of support and solidarity are appreciated so much by us all. 

‘We can’t wait to be back in June and will bring you festival news soon to kick off the build up.’

It comes after 2020 marked the 50th anniversary of Glastonbury, and had been set to see Sir Paul McCartney, Taylor Swift and Kendrick Lamar perform. 

Speaking following the first cancellation, Mr Eavis insisted that, even if they had to wait an extra year, Glastonbury would survive in spite of the financial impact.

Asked if he was concerned about the legendary event’s future, he said: ‘No I do not worry at all, I am so confident that it will survive.’

This year will be harder than ever to get a ticket as the only ones available will be those returned by people who had booked for 2020.

There will be a rush to purchase the returned tickets, which typically become available via re-sale in April.   

While Billie Eilish will headline on Friday night, the only other act to be announced officially is disco legend Diana Ross. 

The Upside Down singer will follow in the footsteps of Dolly Parton and Lionel Richie when she leads the Sunday afternoon ‘legends’ slot.   

Ms Ross will already be in the UK as part of her world Thank U tour. 

Other big names are also touring the UK this summer – and many have a gap in the diary for the weekend of Glastonbury, fuelling the rumour mill, reports the Somerset County Gazette.  

Those who will be free to squeeze in a performance include Elton John, Pet Shop Boys (who were due to play in 2020), Celeste, The Weeknd, Sinead O’Connor, Fontaines DC, and Orbital, Deadmau5, Foals, Doves, Rag n Bone Man, Madness, Pearl Jam, The Orb, David Gray, Sam Fender, Manic Street Preachers, Stereophonics, Rage Against The Machine, Guns n Roses, Michael Buble, Dionne Warwick and more.  

Meanwhile iconic rock band Aerosmith accidentally leaked an email last year which had their tour dates for the year, with Glastonbury Festival listed for June 25.  

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