How Glastonbury ticket prices have soared since 1970

Tickets for this year’s Glastonbury Festival cost punters £360, amounting to a rise of £20 on the previous event.

Festival goers who bagged tickets were charged £355 plus a £5 booking fee for standard tickets, with £75 as a deposit and the balance paid by the first week of April.

It is a £20 increase from this year’s event, which cost £335 plus a £5 booking fee, after a £55 price hike from the 2022 price of £285.

Glastonbury has a reputation for being one of Europe's most pricey festivals, but it wasn't always so expensive, as Yahoo News UK's chart shows.

When the very first Glasto was held in 1970, tickets cost just £1, and even included free milk from Worthy Farm.

The 1971 festival, the first to include the iconic Pyramid Stage, was free to enter, as it was supported by a handful of people who felt the festival scene at the time had become too commercialised.

Over the decades crowd numbers grew and prices went up, with tickets now up 35,900% compared to the very first festival.

If tickets stayed in line with inflation from 1970, tickets should now cost about £13.30, according to the Bank of England's inflation calculator.

The festival has changed a great deal since 1970, attracting hundreds of the world's greatest artists, with a crowd size of 210,000 compared to the original 1,500, meaning operating costs have inevitably risen.

Still, many Glastonbury fans have said they are still disappointed that prices have gone up so much for next year, with some saying it is now unaffordable for them.

Others on social media thought it was still worth it, with one person writing: “£175 when I first went in 2009. Increased every year since, but still worth every penny.”

In 2023, organiser Emily Eavis has said “incredibly challenging times” were behind the price hike.

She tweeted: “We have tried very hard to minimise the increase in price on the ticket but we’re facing enormous rises in the costs of running this vast show, whilst still recovering from the huge financial impact of two years without a festival because of COVID.

“And, as always, there will be opportunities for many thousands of people to come as volunteers or as part of the crew.

“In these incredibly challenging times, we want to continue to bring you the best show in the world and provide our charities with funds which are more vital than ever. We are, as always, hugely appreciative of your ongoing support.”

The price rise comes as many businesses and individuals struggle during the cost of living crisis as inflation remains high.

This year singer Dua Lipa, SZA and Coldplay will headline the world-famous Pyramid stage.