Glastonbury Festival 2019: Everything you need to know

From Digital Spy

Absence makes the heart grow fonder and a summer without a trip to Worthy Farm has made us even more excited about Glastonbury Festival 2019.

It's still a while away, taking place from Wednesday, June 26 to Sunday June 30, 2019, but it's never too early to start planning.

Below, Digital Spy presents everything you need to know for Glastonbury 2019, from how to get tickets to what the weather will be.

Tickets – Lineup – Rumours – Registration – Travel – Map – Weather – Toilets – Alcohol – Food – Packing – Phone charging – Apps

Glastonbury 2019 tickets

When do tickets go on sale?

Tickets went general sale at 9am on Sunday, October 7, 2018 and sold out just 36 minutes later.

Combined coach + ticket packages went on sale a little earlier, at 6pm on Thursday, October 4, 2018 and sold out in less than half an hour.

If you missed out there'll be a resale in April 2019, so keep your eyes open.

How much do Glastonbury 2019 tickets cost?

The Glastonbury 2019 ticket price is £248 + £5 booking fee.

It was £238 for the last festival in 2017 (up from £228 a year earlier).

That's an increase from £185 in 2010, £87 in 2000, £38 in 1990, £5 in 1979 and just £1 at the first Glastonbury Festival in 1970.

How do I buy a Glastonbury ticket?

If you're 13 or older (12 and unders go free and don't need a ticket), to buy a ticket you must be registered on the Glastonbury registration website. Read how you can do that right here.

The deadline for initial sales was Noon on Monday, October 1, 2018, but you can register now for the resale.

If you're registered, you can only buy a ticket from official seller See Tickets, and each ticket can only be used by the named ticket holder and can't be transferred to anyone else.

When you buy a ticket, you only need to put down a deposit of £50 per person (plus any coach fare if it's a combined ticket). You'll have to pay the balance by the deadline, which is 11.59pm on Sunday, April 7, 2019.

Can I get a refund on my Glastonbury ticket?

If you don't pay the full balance by the April 7 deadline, your ticket is cancelled and your deposit is refunded. Well, part of it. £20 will be kept for "administrative purposes". You'll lose out on an extra tenner if you booked a coach.

When you settle your balance, you can also buy Refund Protection for just over a fiver, so you can get a refund if the reason you can't go is covered by the T&Cs (read them carefully).

Bear in mind that even if you buy protection and you are covered, you can only get a refund up to a set deadline in early May.

When is the Glastonbury 2019 ticket resale?

Some people do have to sadly give up their tickets every year, but their misfortune means that a few extra tickets do go up for resale, only at See Tickets and at face value.

If you miss out, keep your eyes open on the Glastonbury Festival and See Tickets website (and here at Digital Spy) for details for when that happens.

In 2017 it was Thursday, April 20 (coach) and Thursday, April 23 (standard). In 2016, it was April 14 (coach) and 17 (standard).

So expect a resale on Thursday, April 18 (coach) and Sunday, April 21 (standard), or possibly a week either side.

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Glastonbury 2019 line-up

Who is performing at the 2019 Glastonbury Festival?

There'll be over 3,000 acts performing across more than 100 stages, and the first confirmed headliner is Stormzy, who'll be playing the Pyramid Stage on Friday night.

The same sources who tipped the grime superstar to top the bill have also hinted that Paul McCartney and The Cure will headline the main stage, but there's no official confirmation of that just yet.

Michael and Emily Eavis often claim that they have a bunch of bands booked by the time the previous year's festival is all tidied up. Sometimes they may even be telling the truth.

As far back as April 2017, Emily told eFestivals that they had already booked two headliners for 2020.

She more recently confirmed that a non-British woman would be performing in the now regular "Legend's Slot" in 2019/

Dad and festival founder Michael Eavis has hinted that two or three of the bigger acts to play in 2019 have never played the festival before.

Speaking of women, Emily also told Music Week that the festival will strive to get a better gender balance compared to previous years.

Check out our rumours section for who's already being tipped to perform.

Unlike the old days, the headliners do tend to get announced quite a few months in advance, followed by some more names at the end of March and the full lineup before June.

In 2017 the full lineup was confirmed on May 30, and in 2016 on May 31. So expect to know pretty much everything by the end of May 2019.

Of course, there's always time for last-minute changes, cancellations and secret guests to be confirmed up to and including the day of the festival itself.

What are the full Glastonbury 2019 stage times?

As well as including the programme in your ticket price, Glastonbury announces full stage times in advance so you can get planning away.

We recommend having a look at Clashfinder once all the info is out there to help your planning, but remember how big the festival site is from one end to the other and that it's not just about seeing bands.

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Rumours

That non-British female confirmation has already got people guessing. Kylie Minogue, Diana Ross and Cher are three of the names being bandied about.

Beyond talk of Macca and The Cure, other headliners in the mix include everyone from Arctic Monkeys and Paul McCartney to Fleetwood Mac, Madonna and Taylor Swift.

Other acts being tipped to perform across the weekend include Liam Gallagher, Beach Boys, Kendrick Lamar, The Streets, Chromeo, and the almost ever-present Fatboy Slim.

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Registration

Am I registered for Glastonbury 2019 already?

You can check if you're already registered by popping your email address into the Registration Lookup here.

If you registered before 2010, you'll have to re-register as all those pictures of you looking young and beautiful are now out of date.

It's recommended you update any photo registration that's more than two years old.

How do I register for a Glastonbury 2019 ticket?

If your registration has expired or if you've never registered, you'll have to get that sorted by the deadline, which is Noon on Monday, October 1, 2018.

To do that you have to go to the registration website and upload a passport-style picture from your computer in jpg format, sort the orientation and get it cropped.

They'll get back to you to let you know if your picture is okay, give them your address and you're all sorted.

Your ticket will have your face printed on it and be checked by security on the way in, so make sure the picture actually looks like you.

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Travel

How do I get to Glastonbury?

If you have a coach + ticket package, you're halfway there. Just make sure you're at the right stop on time with all your details to hand.

If you're driving and leaving your car there, you'll need a car park ticket. The car parks usually open on the Tuesday night before the festival (at 9pm in 2017).

Car park tickets should be bought in advance for around £50, but if your plans change last minute you can usually buy parking on the gate, but only in cash.

Check out the car park map for 2017 here.

If someone else is driving you they can leave you at the drop and collect point.

Either way, only use your Satnav to get to the festival signs, then follow those signs rather than the little dot on your screen.

You can save money and reduce your carbon emissions by going for a car share.

Check travel info on the way by using the Festival website, and when you're within 25 miles you can tune in to Worthy FM (87.7FM). As well as getting you in the mood, they'll let you know about any traffic issues.

Otherwise, there's National Express or private coaches from across the country to the festival gate, and trains to Castle Cary Station (with a free shuttle bus to the festival).

There are also buses from Bristol (376 then GF1 from Glastonbury), Bristol Temple Meads (GF3), Bath (174, then GF2 from Shepton Mallet), Wells Coach Station (GFS).

You can also get to the festival by bike or motorbike.

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Map

Can I look at the 2019 Glastonbury Festival site map in advance?

The 2019 Glastonbury Festival Map hasn't been released yet, but it'll probably be pretty similar to the 2017 site which you can get right here.

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Weather

What will the weather be like at Glastonbury 2019?

Anyone telling you that they'll know the weather for Glastonbury with any sort of accuracy more than a few weeks in advance at most is lying.

The weather does have a massive influence on your festival experience, and it's important to be prepared for rain and sun.

So pack a poncho and suncream no matter what, and nearer the time you can keep refreshing at The Met Office, BBC News, AccuWeather, netweather, the weather outlook, metcheck and the weather network and hoping for good news.

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Toilets

Are the infamous Glastonbury toilets really that bad?

Regular festivalgoers will know that no, the toilets aren't as bad as legend would have, at least not these days.

It's not as lovely as your loo at home, and things can get a little messy when it's muddy, but don't do anything daft like dosing up on Immodium for the weekend.

And don't wee in the bushes, no matter how long the queue is at your nearest toilet. It's bad for the wildlife and just gross all round.

Instead use one of the the 2,000 odd long drops, 1,300 compost loos, the ever-decreasing plastic portable toilets, or urinals and shepees for a quick wee.

There are locked wheelchair-accessible loos on viewing platforms near the bigger stages, so get in touch with the fest in advance if you'll need access.

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Alcohol

Can I bring my own booze to Glastonbury?

Yes. Unlike many festivals you're allowed to bring your own beer, whisky, vodka, absinthe, wine, cider and so on.

But remember, you can only bring enough for "reasonable personal use"... so no setting up your own bar out the back of your tent.

Also, no glass bottles. The cows don't like it, and neither do the Eavises. Remember to decant all your spirits and wine into plastic bottles before you get to the festival (there's talk of a total plastic bottle ban for 2019, but given the ban on glass, we're not entirely sure how that will work).

How expensive is the booze at the Glastonbury bars?

Even if you have your "reasonable" personal allowance in your tent or car, you won't always want to go back there for a top-up, and there's nothing quite like a cold drink straight from the tap (or fridge).

The on-site bars are run by the Workers Beer Company and Avalon bars, and the prices are "equivalent to London pub prices". That's not cheap, but it's not completely unreasonable either.

What ID do I need to buy booze at Glastonbury?

If you're lucky enough to look younger than 21, you'll need to prove that you're over 18 to buy booze on site.

You'll need to bring either a UK Driving Licence, valid passport, or Pass ID card.

If you're not keen about carrying that around with you, you can show your valid ID and get a Challenge 21 wristband from the property lockups where you can safely stash your valuables.

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Food

Can I bring my own food to Glastonbury?

Yes, you can. Remember that without a fridge/freezer fresh stuff only lasts so long so if you're bringing anything likely to go off quickly in the sun or a warm tent you should probably eat it pretty quickly or reconsider your options. Tins, packets and dry food are probably your friends.

Can I have my own Glastonbury barbecue?

You can, but do read through all the official safety advice carefully.

What food can I buy when I'm actually at Glastonbury?

Forget the clichés. It's not just burger and chips and it's not just mung beans and lentils either.

There are over 250 food stalls across the festival ranging from the super cheap to this-is-so-expensive-this-is-silly.

The more money you have the more options you'll have, of course, and while most cash machines onsite charge a few quid for withdrawals, more and more outlets take card payments these days (including contactless).

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Packing

What should I take in my Glastonbury packing list?

As much as you need, but as little as you can get away with.

Remember you'll need to carry everything from your car to your tent (and back), or further if you're taking public transport.

The more money you're willing to spend, the less you'll need to carry, and be prepared to go without a few comforts if it means schlepping a bit less gear around.

The festival has its own packing list, but this is what we'd recommend as absolute essentials in order of importance.

• Ticket

• Medical info/medication

• Money/cards

• Phone

• Tent

• Sleeping bag

• Wellies/boots

• Loo roll

• Suncream

• Sun hat

• Waterproofs

• A jumper (even if it's hot, it can get freezing at night)

• Wet wipes

• Water bottle

• Clothes

• Torch

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Phone Charging

Can I charge my phone at Glastonbury?

Of course you're not going to be that person annoying everyone by filming the entire Pyramid Stage lineup through their mobile, when the whole thing is on the BBC in sparkling quality anyway.

But mobile phones make festivals better. You can take pics of your friends, meet people somewhere better than "near the Jordan Pickford flag and the alien on a stick" and stay on top of any secret sets and the like.

But many modern mobiles barely last a day of use, so can you charge your phone without a plug socket in your tent?

Yes, and for free too. In previous years, EE has provided free mobile phone charging at their recharge tent, and you don't have to be on EE to take advantage.

Last year you could also buy a Juice Tube Power Bank, which you can swap once a day for a fully-charged one.

HOWEVER

Lots of people will likely be doing the same. And there will be queues queues queues. Do you really want to waste your precious five days in a line for your mobile or for a power bank?

We'd strongly recommend buying your own high-capacity power bank (or three) and keeping your phone switched off for chunks off the day when you don't need it, so the free recharge tent (or those entrepreneurs charging for charging) only need to be used as a backup.

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Apps

What Glastonbury Festival apps should I download?

Like many festivals, Glastonbury now has an official app. Unlike some though, the Glastonbury one is actually pretty useful.

You can use it to build your own weekend line-up, and if you and your friends connect it to Facebook, you can have a look at their plans too.

So far, so Clashfinder, but there's also an INTERACTIVE MAP where you can drop and share pins, so much less trundling about in the dark looking for your tent or your best mate.

Plus, there's also festival news via notifications to keep you in the loop on any last minute changes or secret sets.

Beyond that, we'd recommend just sticking to the essentials: you don't want to miss out on everything going on around you because you've got your face in your handset all weekend.

So probably just WhatsApp to stay in touch, and Twitter or Facebook to (very occasionally) show off about who you're seeing.

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