Future of Glastonbury Festival secured after permanent planning permission granted

The long term future of England's Glastonbury Festival has been secured, following months of uncertainty.

Glastonbury Festival Events Ltd. (GFEL) has had a rolling temporary planning permission contract since 2010, allowing for the GFEL to hold the festival and other events on Worthy Farm.

In 2021, the Mendip District Council warned that an extension of the contract – which was set to expire in 2024– would not be allowed, advising that it was “contrary to best planning practice” as laid out by British central government.

GFEL applied for permanent planning permission, to "provide more certainty and additional flexibility" in the years to come. GFEL met with the council's planning board March 29th, and were approved near unanimously, with one abstention by Councillor Francis Hayden, who had worked with GFEL during the festival.

The Glastonbury Festival is now cemented in a permanent position annually, alongside the hosting of the Pilton Party, and camping events during festival days. The land can also now be used for agricultural purposes outside of the festival season.

Here is the first Glastonbury Festival 2023 line-up poster, which includes our final two Pyramid Stage headliners: @ArcticMonkeys (Friday) and @gunsnroses (Saturday).

Many more acts and attractions still to be announced. pic.twitter.com/dMnppdSf1U

— Glastonbury Festival (@glastonbury) March 3, 2023

The festival, however, must continue to comply with previously laid out regulations, including limits to noise levels and crowd capacity.

Any future plans regarding the festival's licensing or planning permissions will be held by the new founded Somerset Council, which officially assumed control Saturday.

This year's Glastonbury Festival will take place between June 21st and 25th. It will feature artists including Arctic Monkeys, Guns N' Roses, Elton John, Lizzo and more