Glasto’s Getting Greener—and Less Crowded! Emily Eavis Talks New Festival Changes, Line-Up Buzz, and Birthday Celebrations for Michael

Alright Glasto lovers, grab your wellies and your biodegradable glitter—big changes are brewing for the world’s greatest festival! Organiser Emily Eavis has spilled the beans on the podcast Sidetracked with Annie and Nick, on some juicy tweaks designed to keep the vibes high and the crowds (a little) less hectic this year.

Let’s start with the numbers. Glastonbury usually welcomes around 210,000 festival-goers, but this year Emily and the crew decided to sell “a few thousand less tickets” to avoid a repeat of last year’s squeeze. If you remember the Sugababes at West Holts or Charli XCX at Levels—queues longer than the bar line and people squished like sardines—yeah, Emily’s keen to dial that down. “It’ll be interesting to see if it makes an impact on some of the busier times,” she told the Sidetracked podcast, sounding equal parts curious and determined.

And it’s not just ticket numbers that are getting a rethink. The Other Stage—where Charli XCX is set to headline on Saturday—has had a bit of a glow-up, with more room for all the fans to dance like no one’s watching (but everyone’s definitely watching). Plus, Shangri-La is going all-in on trees and green space this year—yep, they’re swapping neon chaos for leafy chill. Emily says it’s “completely the opposite” to anything they’ve done before. Expect a more serene escape if you need to dodge the party herd.

Speaking of herds, apparently festival-goers have started moving “more in a herd” since Covid, so Emily’s big focus is on encouraging everyone to spread out and discover the site’s hidden gems. “There are like 10 routes to anywhere,” she reminded us. “Use them!”

There’s also a secret treat: a mystery band called Patchwork is set to hit the Pyramid Stage on Saturday. Emily’s lips are sealed tighter than the secret bar’s password, but she teased that she’s been working on them for a whole year because of “logistical reasons.” Pulp? Radiohead? Aliens? The guessing game is ON.

Of course, there’s a price tag for all this magic—Glasto pays an extra £1m every time it rains (so, basically every year) just to keep everyone from sliding around in the mud. And despite paying artists “a lot more than we ever have,” Emily says it’s still nowhere near the cash they’d get at, say, Hyde Park. That’s the Glasto spirit—less corporate, more community.

And let’s not forget the big man himself—Michael Eavis, turning 90 in October, is still very much involved in the festival’s planning. “We want to make this festival a big birthday moment for him,” Emily said.

 So get ready for a greener, more spacious, and totally magical Glastonbury. Bring on the secret sets, the sunshine (please!), and the best birthday bash ever. See you on the farm!