Glastonbury, on its last year before the fallow break, was the centrepiece as always. The 1975 provided a nostalgic, eventful and energy filled first headline, whereas Olivia Rodrigo fed crowd pleasers, even bringing the iconic Robert Smith to the stage. It was chaotic and luminous in the way only Glastonbury can be - one of those moments that proves why it is the UK’s biggest festival.
But if 2025 gave us unforgettable performances, it also tested the fragile relationship between festivals and politics. Glastonbury’s West Holts stage became a flashpoint when Bob Vylan launched chants against the Israeli military, followed swiftly by Kneecap, who tore into Keir Starmer and British policy over Gaza. The fallout was immediate: BBC live coverage cut, police investigations opened, and the debate over free expression reignited across headlines. The controversy didn’t silence Kneecap, though - their Glastonbury set went viral through TikTok, amassing millions of views, fuelling their later appearances supporting Fontaines D.C.’s summer shows.
In a year when live music felt politically heavy...
Dance music had its own moment this summer, with Boomtown and Creamfields both doubling down on spectacle. Boomtown returned to its sprawling Winchester site with a new district layout and a dazzling mix of underground electronic, drum and bass, and theatrical storytelling. Creamfields, meanwhile, proved why it’s still the titan of UK dance festivals - pulling in an iconic back-to-back set from current house music superstars Josh Baker and Chris Stussy, which went viral for all the right reasons. Both festivals made it clear that, in a year when live music felt politically heavy, the electronic scene still offered its purest form of release.
Reading and Leeds also carved out new territory in 2025, trialling a reimagined layout after years of criticism about overcrowding and disjointed stages. The twin-site festival shifted its staging system, placing main headliners - Bring Me The Horizon, Hozier and Travis Scott -across rebalanced fields to create more flow and fewer crush points. However, there is debate on the success of the adjustments, as a crowd surge of 400 people still took place at Sammy Virji's Reading Festival set, injuring many. The move was divisive among die-hard attendees, but the energy was still there, as it always is for the controversial yet iconic festival.
Its embrace of unapologetically mainstream pop made a statement...
On the continent, Primavera Sound in Barcelona underlined what many called the “pop girlie” takeover of summer. The lineup leaned fully into the moment, with Charli XCX, Chappell Roan, and Sabrina Carpenter fronting a bill that put women at the cultural centre of the festival’s identity. Primavera has always prided itself on forward-thinking curation, but this year its embrace of unapologetically mainstream pop made a statement: that the “guilty pleasure” label is obsolete, and that pop belongs at the top.
Many UK festivals couldn't withstand 2025's economic struggles.
At the same time, a darker truth revealed itself: many UK festivals couldn’t withstand 2025’s economic struggles. Cambridge Folk Festival’s 60th anniversary was scrapped, alongside Camp Bestival (Shropshire), Sundown, and a string of grassroots gatherings. Britain had almost 900 festivals a decade ago, but this summer only around 600 remained. Rising costs in energy, staffing, and taxes left organisers struggling to survive in a market dominated by companies like Live Nation. For many, the spirit of independence was at risk of being priced out.
Looking ahead, 2026 already promises shifts. Reading and Leeds are rumoured to have locked in two of their headliners, while immersive festivals like Boomtown and Lost Village are expected to rise further as audiences lean towards experience-driven weekends. Glastonbury’s fallow year will leave a gaping hole in the calendar - an opportunity for other festivals to step forward and follow in the footsteps of the 2025 festival season.