Glastonbury founder Michael Eavis has warned the festival may not be able to return until 2022, but said he will be “moving heaven and earth” to make sure it comes back next summer.
Glastonbury was forced to abandon its plans for a 50th anniversary edition this June in light of the pandemic. Paul McCartney, Taylor Swift and Kendrick Lamar were among the acts set to play at Worthy Farm.
Speaking to ITV News West Country, Eavis said: “500 people is ok, isn’t it. But my job, 250,000 all together is too many people I suppose, really.
“I’m still hoping I’m going to run next year. I’ll be moving heaven and earth to make sure that we do. But that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going to happen. That’s just wishful thinking, really.”
Asked whether he’s concerned about the future of the festival, Eavis said: “No, I do not worry at all. I’m so confident that it’s going to survive. The only certainty, I think, is the year after, 2022, to be perfectly candid.
“I’m still hoping, and we’re fighting and we’re working at it all the time to make it happen next year.”
A number of major UK festivals have already confirmed their line-ups for 2021, with Isle of Wight, Download and Latitude among them.
Glastonbury hosted its first ever edition in 1970 — known then as the Pilton Pop Folk and Blues festival — and has since become one of the most famous music events on the planet, welcoming almost a quarter of a million people each year.
