As the sun sets over Worthy Farm on June 27th, 2025, the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury Festival will be illuminated by one of the most anticipated performances in recent memory. The 1975, the Manchester-based band known for their elaborate live shows and emotive indie pop, are set to headline the iconic festival for the very first time. This will be their only live performance of the year, making it a truly special occasion for fans and festival-goers alike.
What makes this headline slot even more remarkable is the scale of investment The 1975 have put into their performance. According to reports from The Telegraph and other outlets, the band has spent four times their actual performance fee on production costs. While Glastonbury is famed for paying artists considerably less than other major festivals—often less than 10% of what they might earn elsewhere—The 1975 are going all out with a specially designed set that promises to be a visual spectacle.
Jamie Oborne, the band's manager, spoke candidly about the significance of the show on The Money Trench Podcast: "It's such a big gig, and it's the only show that we're playing this year. [Matty Healy] thought doing it in isolation would be a really powerful thing. I obviously agreed with him, as I often do." This sentiment captures the weight of the moment for the band, who have not only revamped their visual identity in recent months but are also working on new material, with Oborne confirming, "They're making a record at the moment. I don't know when it will come out, but they're making one." Fans are eagerly awaiting this new chapter, following their 2022 album, Being Funny in a Foreign Language.
The 1975's live shows have become increasingly ambitious over the years. Their last global tour featured a larger-than-life two-tiered house on stage, while a 2023 Finsbury Park gig saw them perform in a sitcom-style living room setup. This Glastonbury performance is expected to continue that trend of theatricality and innovation. Polly Money, who performs live with the band, shared her excitement with NME, calling the headline slot "a dream come true" and "very much a bucket list gig," though she remained tight-lipped about the specifics of the show.
Adding to the interactive nature of the event, The 1975 have invited fans to submit memories—photos and videos—that could be incorporated into a collaborative video during their set. This move not only builds anticipation but also strengthens the connection between the band and their audience.
For those attending Glastonbury or tuning in from home, the band's set will kick off at 10:15 PM BST and run for ninety minutes. UK viewers can catch the performance live on BBC One, BBC Radio One, and via the BBC iPlayer, which is streaming over 90 hours of content from the festival’s five main stages. For fans abroad, a VPN can be used to access the live stream, ensuring no one misses out on what promises to be a career-defining set.
The 1975 are sharing the festival's headline billing with Neil Young and Olivia Rodrigo, who will headline on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. The festival itself has drawn hundreds of thousands of music lovers from around the world, with tickets having sold out in a mere 40 minutes last November. The atmosphere at Worthy Farm has been electric, with early arrivals enjoying a vibrant opening ceremony featuring circus performers and theatre acts, as well as a "ravers to runners" 5k race that braved heavy rain.
Aside from the main stage excitement, Glastonbury 2025 is also notable for its political and social consciousness. Festival founder Michael Eavis, now 89, reaffirmed the event's left-leaning ethos, emphasizing that profits support organizations like Oxfam, WaterAid, and Greenpeace. Former football presenter Gary Lineker is among the speakers slated to discuss unity and kindness in a world increasingly divided by politics and conflict.
Musically, the festival boasts a diverse lineup across multiple stages. On the same night as The 1975, fans can catch performances by Biffy Clyro, Alanis Morissette, Loyle Carner, Wet Leg, Gracie Abrams, Inhaler, Four Tet, and many others. The Woodsies tent, dedicated to alternative pop and indie acts, features a tantalizing mystery slot at 11:30 AM, rumored to include artists such as Lorde, whose new album Virgin drops on the same day.
Perhaps one of the most talked-about mysteries is the Pyramid Stage's 4:55 PM "TBA" slot, widely speculated to be Lewis Capaldi. After a difficult 2023 performance at Glastonbury due to anxiety and Tourette's syndrome, Capaldi has been on hiatus but recently released a new single, "Survive," at midnight on June 27. His potential return to the stage is being met with immense excitement and support from fans and fellow artists alike.
Looking back, The 1975 have played Glastonbury twice before—in 2014 on the Pyramid Stage and in 2016 on The Other Stage—but never as headliners. This 2025 performance marks a significant milestone in their career, underscored by the fact that it will be their only live show this year. The day after their set, they plan to release a live album titled Still... At Their Very Best (Live From The AO Arena, Manchester, 17.02.24), further cementing this period as a defining moment for the band.
As fans eagerly await the evening, the buzz surrounding The 1975's Glastonbury headline performance is palpable. With a carefully crafted set, fan collaboration, and the weight of a year’s only live show, Matty Healy and his bandmates are poised to deliver a memorable night at Worthy Farm that could well be talked about for years to come.
