“Glastonbury will probably take one of its periodic fallow years in 2026”

[broken monkey]

The Sidetracked podcast with Emily Eavis dropped this morning. Biggest news coming out of it is that the next fallow year will most likely be 2026. 
 

BBC news article here:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cz99nvngzdwo.amp
 

Soundtracked podcast:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0gfmzbn

[CharlotteB]

Interesting. I thought they'd press on a bit longer while the going is good, to be honest. Or maybe they've already made up for their COVID losses.

[al_coholic]

I thought they would have a fallow year in 2028 because of the Euros so this is a big surprise

[parsonjack]

Nah...it'll be 2027 as previously stated by GFL.  Unless there's something else in play none of those reasons from Emily actually stack up.....the ground recovers far better after a festival than a year without it, the only people cashing in, or losing out, are the local landowners who run their off site camping (unless you count the charities who will definitely lose out), and I don;t think the cows are actually that fussed.

 

Let's not forget we're only 5 months from the 2025 sale so Emily knows only too well that threat of a 2026 fallow boosts demand for next year. 

[Ayrshire Chris]

Quite surprised by that. After two enforced covid fallow years I had thought a run of at least five festivals.  I still reckon 2027 or 2028.  Doesn’t the licence say it should be five then a fallow? 

[kemosabe]

Maybe her and the family fancy a break? 

[gherkin8r]

4 minutes ago, Ayrshire Chris said:

Quite surprised by that. After two enforced covid fallow years I had thought a run of at least five festivals.  I still reckon 2027 or 2028.  Doesn’t the licence say it should be five then a fallow? 

There were effectively 3 fallow years out of 4 between 2018 and 2021. Not sure how much difference this makes if they then have 4 consecutive years with festivals, perhaps not much.

[broken monkey]

Just listened to the podcast over breakfast. Emily mentions at the end that they're planning the headliners for next year, and then 'might take a fallow year' the year after. Sounds like nothing is set in stone but would be a shame to only have 4 festivals in this cycle. 

[Crazyfool01]

That might rule out my 50th on the farm … although depending on this year I might be doing that anyway 

[svphie]

I was convinced it was next year and ive told so many people that 😆 I can't remember why...

[Havors]

About time they just did away with fallow years in my opinion. 

[gooner1990]

1 minute ago, Havors said:

About time they just did away with fallow years in my opinion. 

Why?

[HotChipWillBreakYourLegs]

I wish I could have a fallow year.

[northernangel]

1 hour ago, parsonjack said:

Nah...it'll be 2027 as previously stated by GFL.  Unless there's something else in play none of those reasons from Emily actually stack up.....the ground recovers far better after a festival than a year without it, the only people cashing in, or losing out, are the local landowners who run their off site camping (unless you count the charities who will definitely lose out), and I don;t think the cows are actually that fussed.

 

Let's not forget we're only 5 months from the 2025 sale so Emily knows only too well that threat of a 2026 fallow boosts demand for next year. 

 

To be honest, cashing in might be in the element of the cost of parking now, without the cost of campers etc and the actual ticket cost that by the would no doubt be around £380/385. For example, based on this year any higher than that would would have to be seen as paying for the sake of it a little bit. 2026 I think for me would be an ideal break, it also allows to go to Rock Werchter 50th year without this a week before.

1 hour ago, gherkin8r said:

There were effectively 3 fallow years out of 4 between 2018 and 2021. Not sure how much difference this makes if they then have 4 consecutive years with festivals, perhaps not much.

2018 was just a set plan without knowing 2020/21 would come. Hard to call them effective fallow years in a time when people were fallowed, jobs lost and people couldn't male ends meat.

Edited June 10 by northernangel

[westholtschic]

1 hour ago, Crazyfool01 said:

That might rule out my 50th on the farm … although depending on this year I might be doing that anyway 

It will mean my 60th at the farm as missed my 50th in 2018 😁

[Avalon_Fields]

44 minutes ago, Havors said:

About time they just did away with fallow years in my opinion. 

I wish they would, on a personal level the more I can get to before age catches up on me the better! 

[gherkin8r]

1 hour ago, northernangel said:

 

To be honest, cashing in might be in the element of the cost of parking now, without the cost of campers etc and the actual ticket cost that by the would no doubt be around £380/385. For example, based on this year any higher than that would would have to be seen as paying for the sake of it a little bit. 2026 I think for me would be an ideal break, it also allows to go to Rock Werchter 50th year without this a week before.

2018 was just a set plan without knowing 2020/21 would come. Hard to call them effective fallow years in a time when people were fallowed, jobs lost and people couldn't male ends meat.

Yeah I'm talking about the effect on the farm and the land. Surely the land recovers just as well regardless. I don't think mother nature gives a flying f**k about the economy. 

[gigpusher]

I'd prefer a 2026 fallow year to 2027 as my 50th is in 2027 and I'd love my slightly early birthday party to be on the farm.

[shuttlep]

I'd like it sooner than later 

 

I can only really do one festival a year, I am not missing out a Glastonbury so I actually like a fallow year to do something new.

[Justcalledtosay]

Was hoping next year might be a tad easier for tickets with the weather and line up but that announcement has just kiboshed that thought...it's like she knows what she's doing. I mean she reiterated the most deposits paid line again...maybe i'm just being cynical.

[MrZigster]

11 minutes ago, Justcalledtosay said:

Was hoping next year might be a tad easier for tickets with the weather and line up but that announcement has just kiboshed that thought...it's like she knows what she's doing. I mean she reiterated the most deposits paid line again...maybe i'm just being cynical.

No. I think you and @parsonjackhave nailed it. Time will tell.

[Lubic]

Im very surprised. Thought with the covid cancellations we would be waiting a while for the next fallow.  With the increasing costs and people like Nadine Shah openly criticising the fee, I hope they aren’t starting to struggle putting the whole thing together. We’ve already seen how a lot of smaller festivals have cancelled / decided to have fallow years this year. 

[northernangel]

37 minutes ago, gherkin8r said:

Yeah I'm talking about the effect on the farm and the land. Surely the land recovers just as well regardless. I don't think mother nature gives a flying f**k about the economy. 

 

In that respect yes. There definitely isn't a case of a worry etc or the festival not selling out and like any promoter, she is going to drum up interest. Definitely by 2027 though I see it. I don't see this being said and then it being two years after. 

 

I do think there is an element though that it is getting more difficult to get what they want, and in turn putting on an overall lesser lineup. I mean the festival at night overall probably looks better than the day. But there are things like a rest and knowing who they might want isn't available and it's such as effort to try and do what they want.

30 minutes ago, shuttlep said:

I'd like it sooner than later 

 

I can only really do one festival a year, I am not missing out a Glastonbury so I actually like a fallow year to do something new.

 Me too. My mate has messaged me as well saying that if they do have a year off in 2026 we might call it a day.

Edited June 10 by northernangel

[Johnnyseven]

Fallow in 2026 would be a result for me, my wife's friend us getting married on the possible Glasto weekend that year so I very probably won't be able to go anyway.

[CharlotteB]

2 hours ago, broken monkey said:

Just listened to the podcast over breakfast. Emily mentions at the end that they're planning the headliners for next year, and then 'might take a fallow year' the year after. Sounds like nothing is set in stone but would be a shame to only have 4 festivals in this cycle. 

 

She probably woke up on the wrong side of the bed that morning 🤣