Lorde has emerged as the first secret headliner at Glastonbury Festival this weekend, performing material from her new album, Virgin.
Rumours quickly emerged that the “TBA” act was indeed the 28-year-old pop star, with fans clamouring to the Woodsies stage. Glastonbury announced at 11.38am, eight minutes after her set began, that access to the stage had been closed due to mass footfall.
The 1975 are headlining the Pyramid Stage at tonight, with artists including Alanis Morissette, Lola Young, CMAT and En Vogue also due to perform.
Hundreds of performances are taking place across the weekend, including from Irish hip-hop trio Kneecap, British pop stars Charli XCX and RAYE, Grammy-winning rapper Doechii, pop singer Gracie Abrams, and rock bands Wolf Alice, The Libertines and Wet Leg.
Another “TBA” act is scheduled for 4.55pm at the Pyramid Stage. It could be Scottish singer-songwriter Lewis Capaldi making a triumphant comeback, after he was forced to cut his set short in 2023, joking that he “hoped the Eavises will have me back”. He released a brand new single today called “Survive”.
On Thursday (26 June), Andrew Garfield made an appearance at the festival’s on-site cinema for a Q&A, in which he left the crowd flustered by reading out sexual tweets shared about him.
The actor, who is a regular Glastonbury attendee, appeared on stage after a screening of the weepy romcom We Live in Time.
Yesterday, the BBC confirmed it would not be livestreaming Neil Young’s headline set on Saturday, at the artist’s request. Olivia Rodrigo is headlining Sunday night, with British rocker Rod Stewart in the teatime Legends Slot.
Follow live updates below.
Lorde review – ★★★★
After two days of giddy but slightly directionless build-up, Glastonbury 2025 jump-starts Friday’s musical festivities with a surprise set from Lorde. New Zealand’s ethereal alt-pop hitmaker strides onto the Woodsies stage on the day her fourth album, Virgin, is released, and proceeds to play the whole record, front to back. (I suppose you might call it extra-Virgin.)
“This may be a one of one,” she says. Alternating between smouldering cool and feral, arm-flailing catharsis, Lorde exudes an absolute confidence in her own stage presence. Tracks that seem dispensable on record take on fresh power on stage, while the standouts – such as “What Was That”, the album’s chart-topping lead single – are explosive. The end of the set sees two concessions to the familiar (“Ribs” and “Green Light”) and the crowd duly erupts. If Virgin is the work of someone still navigating their place in the world – a characteristically personal dive into everything from heartbreak to the elastic complexity of gender – then musically, at least, Lorde seems to have everything figured out.
Louis Chilton27 June 2025 12:43
Lorde closes with her 2017 hit ‘Green Light’
Ellie Muir27 June 2025 12:22
Glastonbury has closed access to Woodsies after Lorde crowd influx
Glastonbury has said online: “No access to Woodsies. Please head to another area of the site.”
Ellie Muir27 June 2025 11:53
Lorde is onstage!
Lorde has arrived on the Woodsies plastic-covered stage, opening with her song “Hammer”, from her new album Virgin.
She’s the first secret act to perform this weekend.
Ellie Muir27 June 2025 11:37
How to watch the BBC’s live coverage of festival
Ellie Muir27 June 2025 11:29
Queues building up for Lorde’s secret set at Woodsies
Pictures posted online show crowds flocking towards the tent…
Ellie Muir27 June 2025 11:13
Lorde secret set confirmed – and it’s soon
It’s a big day for singer-songwriter Lorde: not only is her new record released, but she is confirmed to be performing not-so-secret set on the Woodsies stage today at 11.30am.
Here’s our review of her new album.
Jacob Stolworthy27 June 2025 10:07
Glastonbury founder Michael Eavis’ message to those who disagree with festival’s politics
Glastonbury Festival founder Sir Michael Eavis stated that those who disagree with the event’s political leanings “can go somewhere else.”
His remarks came as the iconic festival opened its gates on Wednesday morning, with Sir Michael, 89, and his daughter, organiser Emily Eavis, seen counting down and cheering as a brass band played.
The festival has long been characterised by its strong political undercurrent, with dedicated stages such as Left Field and Green Fields’ Speakers Forum regularly hosting politicians, pundits, and celebrities to discuss a wide array of topics, from feminism to fascism.
Jacob Stolworthy27 June 2025 10:00
VIDEO: Glastonbury installation takes aim at Elon Musk with eye-catching billboard
Roisin O’Connor27 June 2025 09:33
Neil Young’s Glastonbury controversy
Before walking back the decision to headline this year’s festival, the :Heart of Gold”singer-songwriter said he was turning down a headline slot at the 2025 festival because it was under the ‘corporate control’ of the BBC. He wasn’t exactly wrong – but it’s complicated.
Jacob Stolworthy27 June 2025 09:15
