Glastonbury's Pyramid Stage to air in Ultra High Definition for first time

The BBC will broadcast performances live from Glastonbury's Pyramid Stage in Ultra High Definition (UHD) for the first time in the festival's history.

Headline sets from Billie Eilish, Paul McCartney, Kendrick Lamar and Diana Ross in UMD will bring the viewer much closer to the action, aired live on BBC One/Two from June 24-26.

The BBC's celebration of Glastonbury 2022 will start earlier than the years prior to 2019, featuring a special documentary on BBC Two: Glastonbury: 50 Years & Counting. The programme is described as a “kaleidoscopic portrait of Glastonbury and its social and musical history is given through the testimony of its principal curators, Michael and Emily Eavis, as well as artists who have appeared there”.

Contributors on the programme include Aswad, Chris Martin (Coldplay), Dua Lipa, Ed O’Brien, Fatboy Slim, Florence Welch, Johnny Marr, Linda Lewis, Orbital, Noel Gallagher, The Levellers, Thom Yorke and Stormzy.

BBC Radio 6 Music will be the festival’s radio home, delivering all-day Glastonbury coverage from Wednesday, June 22 through until Sunday, June 26.

⚡️ BBC presents Glastonbury 2022
- Catch live sets via @BBCiPlayer and @BBCSounds
- The likes of @laurenlaverne, @jackxsaunders, @jowhiley and Clara Amfo will be live from Worthy Farm
- Special programmes will air ahead of the festival, for more info: https://t.co/IVOWiqcdbe pic.twitter.com/ClD7K4bye3

— BBC Glastonbury (@bbcglasto) May 31, 2022

Lorna Clarke, BBC Director of Music, said in a statement: “I’m very proud of the BBC’s long history of broadcasting from Glastonbury, the highlight of our Summer of Live Music. Our coverage this year will be our most extensive to date, with over 35 hours of programming across BBC One, Two, Three and Four, and over 40 hours on BBC iPlayer – in addition to digital live streams from the five biggest festival stages.

“We’ll also have wall-to-wall coverage on the BBC’s pop radio networks and BBC Sounds – with over 60 hours of broadcasts from the festival itself. For the first time, we’ll be showing sets from the Pyramid stage in Ultra High Definition, a fantastic progression in our Glastonbury story, which aims to help audiences access every epic musical moment.

“Our expert team of presenters will guide audiences around Worthy Farm, whilst BBC iPlayer – with its dedicated Glastonbury channel – and BBC Sounds will allow people to watch and listen on demand, throughout the festival weekend and beyond. Many thanks to Emily and Michael Eavis for once again allowing us to bring their incredible creation to millions of music lovers around the UK.”

Glastonbury festival organiser Emily Eavis said: “It’s a joy to have the BBC and its brilliant team back and broadcasting live from Glastonbury for the first time since 2019 – continuing a special partnership that’s been evolving since 1997.

“I’m looking forward to Worthy Farm being filled with thousands of people once again and for millions more around the country being able to enjoy performances from our stellar line-up, courtesy of the BBC, wherever they are.”

The full line-up and stage times for Glastonbury Festival 2022 were also revealed yesterday.

New additions to the Glastonbury 2022 lineup include AJ Tracey, Jamie T, Ziggy Marley, Kae Tempest, Yungblud, Little Dragon, Pa Salieu, Sea Girls and the Libertines.

Irish acts performing include Fontaines D.C., Róisín Murphy, Inhaler, Joy Crookes, Idles, Bicep and The Waterboys.