Glastonbury founder Michael Eavis says there may be "massive coronavirus testing arrangements" at 2021 festival

Michael Eavis has spoken about the possibility that Glastonbury Festival might put "massive testing arrangements" in place for the next festival.

This past August, both festival founder Michael and co-organiser Emily Eavis spoke about the likelihood that the festival will go ahead in 2021. Michael admitted at the time that he was uncertain it would occur, given the pandemic. The planned 50th anniversary festival was cancelled in March due to Covid-19, and ticket holders were guaranteed a spot at Glasto 2021.

At a Q&A event at Wells Cathedral School on October 21, as part of the Wells Festival of Literature, Eavis noted that there was the potential for extensive testing arrangements by the festival, if the pandemic is still ongoing at the time Glastonbury 2021 is set to take place.

Eavis’ comments on mass testing come after comments made by Reading & Leeds organiser Melvin Benn, who said that they may not need a vaccination “because we can work through the problem with a really good testing regime”.

“It will probably be the government’s version of the Full Capacity Plan, which is even bigger than what mine was,” Benn continued. “There will be some sort of test. By the time August 2021 comes around, it will take 10 minutes. You can see the kids outside doing it – who can neck a pint quickest, who can do a test quickest?”

Although dates for Glastonbury 2021 have yet to be confirmed, Emily Eavis said in August that the festival are “still very much aiming for June [2021].”