Glastonbury 2025: Neil Young Headlining Announcement Sparks Mixed Reactions

The announcement that Neil Young will headline at Glastonbury 2025 has generated a variety of responses among fans. Some are thrilled about the legendary musician's return, while others express disappointment.

Glastonbury is set to take place at Worthy Farm in Pilton later this summer. Until recently, only Rod Stewart was confirmed to perform, scheduled for the Sunday afternoon Legends Slot.

There was considerable anticipation regarding other acts that might take the headline spots against the backdrop of the festival taking a year off in 2026. Initially, Neil Young had indicated he would withdraw from the festival, citing concerns about it feeling like “a corporate turn-off.” However, just days later, he reversed his decision and confirmed his appearance.

In a new message posted online, Young stated, “Due to an error in the information received, I had decided to not play the Glastonbury festival, which I always have loved. Happily, the festival is now back on our itinerary and we look forward to playing! Hope to see you there!”

After this news was confirmed by festival organizer Emily Eavis, fans took to social media to share their views. Many were excited about the development. One user on X/Twitter expressed relief and happiness, saying, “Woooo hoo. Glad it’s been resolved. Happy days,” while another remarked, “Neil Young pulling a 180 on Glastonbury! Goes to show even legends can change their tune when the facts align. June just got a whole lot more exciting for festival-goers!”

Some fans also pointed to the timing of the announcement with the release of a new Bob Dylan biopic, sharing their enthusiasm for both iconic artists. One fan tweeted, “The Bob Dylan film A Complete Unknown hitting cinemas, and Neil Young confirmed as one of Glastonbury’s headliners. I love that two of the all-time great singer-songwriters are getting such wide exposure in 2025. I’m here for it.”

However, not everyone was pleased. Some fans voiced their disappointment, feeling that Young does not represent a strong enough name for such a key position in the lineup. Comments included sentiments like, “Imagine queuing online for hours, paying obscene amounts of money to then be told that Neil Young is headlining Glastonbury. Fuming,” and “All this stress for Glastonbury tickets and so far we’ve got Rod Stewart and Neil Young.”

Criticism also surfaced regarding the choice of older artists over emerging talent. One critic tweeted, “Glastonbury claiming forward-thinking and 50/50 splits but keep bringing out old men,” with another adding, “Rod Stewart, now Neil Young at #glastonburyfestival this year… It seems old guys do rule.”

Amidst the mixed feelings, some fans expressed their optimism about Young's return. For instance, a fan remarked, “Great to hear Neil Young is playing Glastonbury after all.” Young last performed at the iconic festival in 2009 and was initially scheduled to appear 12 years earlier but had to cancel due to injury.

Currently, only Neil Young and Rod Stewart are confirmed, while Nile Rodgers & Chic have also been mentioned as performers, with some of this being revealed in a past award acceptance speech. Fans are curious about what caused Young’s initial withdrawal, as more details regarding his performance have yet to be unveiled.

Along with Young and Stewart, other rumored headliners include Olivia Rodrigo, Sam Fender, The 1975, Taylor Swift, and Stevie Wonder. The complete lineup for Glastonbury is usually announced in March.

Tickets for Glastonbury 2025 sold out in just 32 minutes at the end of last year, and a new ticket queuing system was implemented. Fans can expect resale tickets to be available in the spring, although these options are likely to sell out quickly.

Glastonbury, NeilYoung, music