Emily Eavis Details Glastonbury 2025 Changes: More Space and Fewer Tickets

Emily Eavis shares how Glastonbury 2025 is creating more space and reducing attendance to enhance festival safety and experience.

Making Room for Festivalgoers: The 2025 Space Revamp

Glastonbury Festival is back at Worthy Farm, Somerset, from June 25 to 29, 2025, ahead of its planned fallow year in 2026. With big names like Neil Young, Rod Stewart, The 1975, and Olivia Rodrigo headlining the Pyramid Stage, and Loyle Carner, Charli XCX, and The Prodigy taking the Other Stage, excitement is soaring.

As the festival draws near, Emily Eavis, co-organiser, has revealed some thoughtful changes focused on giving attendees more breathing room. Speaking on the Sidetracked podcast with Nick Grimshaw and Annie Mac, she highlighted efforts to "make as much space as possible" for everyone.

At the heart of this revamp is the south-east Shangri-La area, which is getting a fresh makeover emphasizing nature and open spaces. This year, Shangri-La is "going full trees and green space," shifting completely from previous setups and offering a restful oasis away from the hustle and bustle of stages.

The crowd at Glastonbury 2023, photo by Andy Ford

Introducing The Dragon’s Tail: New Calm Zone

Taking things further, organisers have added an entire field called The Dragon’s Tail to the Shangri-La zone, previously reserved for camping crew. Thanks to the crew’s generosity in freeing this space for the public, festivalgoers now have a quiet hilltop spot with a bar and open field to relax.

Emily describes it as the perfect quick escape from the crowds:

"If you don’t want to go into the busy bits, you can go into Dragon’s Tail and literally sit on a hill and see it all. It’s just space." – Emily Eavis

This addition echoes the success of The Park Field, an area introduced some years ago for just sitting down and chilling out, which Emily calls "the best thing we ever did."

Glastonbury 2023, photo by Andy Ford

Fewer Tickets for a Safer, More Enjoyable Festival

In a bold move, Glastonbury 2025 will sell a few thousand fewer tickets than in previous years to ease crowding during peak times and enhance safety across the site. This decision follows a previous capacity increase in 2020, where numbers went from 203,000 to 210,000 attendees, and now it’s about stepping back to improve comfort.

There’s also more space around the Other Stage, especially important as Charli XCX headlines on Saturday night, expected to draw large crowds. Emily reassures that while more space is being created, festivalgoers should remember there’s plenty happening everywhere, encouraging exploration beyond the busiest spots.

Using Tech to Manage Crowds

Emily encourages everyone to use the official Glastonbury app before and during the festival to mark which artists they plan to watch. This data helps organisers anticipate busy areas and manage crowd safety proactively.

She explains:

"The app was really accurate last year... We can say we have red, orange and green [areas], and if something is looking like it is going to be busy, the field might have to be closed. It’s a normal thing to do when something is busy and it keeps it safe."

Addressing Safety Concerns

Recently, some insiders raised concerns about safety, calling Glastonbury “a ticking time bomb” due to the massive crowds expected. In response, the festival stated there will be a robust, dynamic crowd management plan with safety as a top priority.

Their team works year-round to monitor crowd data and prepare plans accordingly, including using the app data to track act popularity well in advance.

Site Layout Updates: More Facilities and Adjusted Camping

In addition to Shangri-La’s transformation, the Silver Hayes and The Glade areas are expanding. More public camping space is now available at Pylon Ground, complemented by two new toilet blocks at Park Hill for added convenience.

On the flip side, some areas like Oxlyers have been reduced to enlarge the Other Stage Field, and public camping spots have decreased in Bushy Ground, South Park 2, and Pennards.

Looking Ahead: Planting 30,000 Trees During the Fallow Year

As part of the 2026 fallow year initiatives, Eavis announced a large-scale environmental restoration project with the planting of 30,000 trees. This effort aims to revitalize the wild surroundings of the festival site, planting trees and hedges on newly acquired land around the farm.

"It’s the kind of thing you want to do on a fallow year – plant trees, plant hedges and really restore the wild side of the surrounding land." – Emily Eavis

Mystery Acts and Festival Hype

The recently revealed full stage splits and timings have sparked buzz around secret acts, including an intriguing Patchwork slot on the Pyramid Stage Saturday evening. Rumors swirling include Pulp, Ed Sheeran, Yungblud, and Mumford & Sons, with Pulp’s potential return coinciding with the 30th anniversary of their iconic 1995 headline set.

Glastonbury 2025 promises to be a memorable edition that balances legendary performances with thoughtful changes making space and safety a priority. Fancy a sneak peek of the festival magic or want to relive the vibe? Check out some iconic festival images and join the conversation about your favorite acts!

FAQs

• How is Glastonbury creating more space in 2025?
  By revamping Shangri-La with more green areas, adding The Dragon’s Tail field for relaxation, expanding Silver Hayes and The Glade, and reducing ticket numbers slightly.
• Why are fewer tickets being sold this year?
  To reduce crowd density during peak times and enhance overall safety and comfort onsite.
• What is The Dragon’s Tail area?
  A new quiet field in the Shangri-La zone aimed at providing a calm space with a bar and a hilltop view, perfect for breaks from busy stages.
• How will the festival manage crowd safety?
  Through a dedicated, year-round crowd management team using app data to monitor attendee plans and adjust access to busy areas dynamically.
• What environmental efforts are planned for the fallow year?
  Planting 30,000 trees and hedges to restore the natural landscape surrounding the festival grounds.

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