Spotting Counterfeit Glastonbury Festival Line-ups: A Guide

In what has become an annual ritual for music enthusiasts, Glastonbury Festival’s lineup has once again been subject to premature circulation online, highlighting the persistent challenge organizers face in controlling information about one of the world’s most celebrated music events.

The phenomenon of leaked festival lineups is far from unprecedented. Back in 2017, festival-goers already knew that Ed Sheeran, Foo Fighters, and Radiohead would headline the iconic Pyramid Stage, but anticipation remained high for the full roster of performers scheduled to appear across Glastonbury’s numerous venues.

Amid this speculation, a regional news outlet published what it claimed was the official festival poster, suggesting confirmations of an eclectic mix of artists. The alleged lineup featured New Zealand art-pop sensation Lorde, British indie band Blossoms, and the legendary Motown group The Jackson 5, alongside pop superstar Lady Gaga and critically acclaimed indie electronic duo The XX.

However, eagle-eyed fans quickly identified a critical error that undermined the poster’s authenticity. The unauthorized announcement listed the festival dates as June 24-26, when the actual 2017 event was scheduled for June 23-25. This discrepancy served as a telling indicator that the information had not come from official channels.

“These inaccuracies are often the first sign that a lineup announcement isn’t legitimate,” explains music industry analyst Sarah Bennett. “Official communications from major festivals like Glastonbury undergo rigorous verification processes before release precisely to avoid such errors.”

The incident underscores the importance of source verification in an era when misinformation can rapidly circulate across social media platforms. Glastonbury Festival, which draws approximately 200,000 attendees to Worthy Farm in Somerset each year, has established clear protocols for lineup announcements, typically revealing headliners months in advance before gradually unveiling the full artist roster through official channels.

This meticulous approach to information management reflects the festival’s substantial economic impact. Glastonbury contributes an estimated £100 million annually to the UK economy, according to tourism industry figures, while tickets—priced at £355 for 2024—routinely sell out within minutes of going on sale, long before any lineup is announced.

The pressure to be first with festival lineup information has intensified in recent years as music blogs and social media accounts compete for audience attention. This race often leads to the circulation of unverified information, creating confusion among potential attendees and frustration for organizers who prefer to control the timing and presentation of their announcements.

Festival founder Michael Eavis and his daughter Emily, who now co-organizes the event, have repeatedly emphasized the importance of waiting for official confirmations. The Glastonbury team typically announces performance schedules through their website and verified social media accounts, where information has been thoroughly vetted.

Music industry insiders note that premature or incorrect lineup announcements can create complications beyond simple misinformation. Artists whose names appear on unauthorized posters may face questions from fans about performances that were never confirmed, while negotiations still in progress might be jeopardized by presumptive announcements.

For fans eagerly awaiting festival lineups, the lesson remains clear: verification matters. Official festival websites, verified social media accounts, and established music publications that confirm information with organizers remain the most reliable sources for accurate lineup details.

As anticipation builds for each year’s Glastonbury Festival, the occasional appearance of unauthorized lineup posters serves as a reminder that in the digital age, the ability to distinguish between official announcements and speculative information has become an essential skill for music fans.