Glastonbury announces big change to ticket booking

The Glastonbury Festival has announced significant changes to its ticketing system, aiming to improve the process for fans hoping to attend the 2025 event. The new system, which will feature an automatic queue, eliminates the need for users to constantly refresh their browser pages, a common source of frustration in previous years.

The New Automatic Queue System

Under the new system, fans will need to be logged in and ready when ticket sales open on November 14 and 17. Instead of manually refreshing the page to secure a spot, attendees will be “randomly assigned a place in the queue” as soon as the tickets go live. Those who join after the sale begins will be placed at the back of the line, and the queue will progress in a fair, randomized manner. This system is designed to ease the strain on the website, reduce lag, and hopefully speed up the overall process.

The automatic queue system is similar to those used by major artists like Taylor Swift, Coldplay, and Oasis for their concert ticket sales. These high-demand events have adopted this method to make the purchasing process smoother for fans while avoiding the overload that comes with a manual refresh system.

Ticket Prices and Sales Process

The 2025 Glastonbury Festival tickets will cost £373.50, with an additional £5 booking fee. As with previous years, fans who successfully reach the front of the queue can purchase a maximum of six tickets. However, tickets will only be available after payment has been processed, which requires a minimum deposit of £75 per ticket.

The ticket sale process will take place in two phases. The first, for combined ticket and coach packages, will open at 6 pm GMT on Thursday, November 14. General admission tickets will go on sale at 9 am GMT on Sunday, November 17. Those who are eligible to buy tickets must have pre-registered on the Glastonbury website in advance.

High Demand for 2025

The 2025 Glastonbury Festival is expected to see high demand, partly due to the fact that the event will take a fallow year in 2026. This means that fans will have a limited window to attend before the festival takes a break. The 2024 festival sold out in record time, with general admission tickets vanishing in just 58 minutes. As a result, competition for 2025 tickets will be fierce, and the introduction of the new queue system aims to provide a more efficient and fair experience.

Public Reaction to the Change

Since the announcement of the new system, there has been a mixed reaction from fans. Some have expressed concerns, drawing comparisons to other high-profile ticket sales that used similar automated systems in the past.

One fan posted on X.com (formerly Twitter), expressing frustration with previous experiences using automated systems: “This screams problems. I got through for Oasis then was kicked out after trying to pay. Cannot bear that this is a possibility for Glastonbury now.” Another user criticized the system, saying, “This is just a ballot by the back door. Awful.”

Others have been more supportive, saying the system might actually level the playing field. “At least the old system rewarded persistence,” one Reddit user observed, “Now anyone can join and have an equal chance, including people who would usually get frustrated and leave after a few minutes of refreshing.” Others agreed that the change rewards those who are organized and prepared. “I’m okay with this change,” wrote one user. “At least this way you don’t waste the whole morning agonizing over it.”

However, there were also those who reserved judgment until the actual sale days, stating that their opinions would depend on whether or not they secured a ticket. “I’m going to reserve judgement on this until ticket day,” said one of the most upvoted comments on Reddit.

Key Guidelines for Ticket Buyers

The festival has also issued several guidelines to help fans increase their chances of success during the ticket sale. One key piece of advice is to avoid using multiple devices or refreshing the page repeatedly, as this can trigger anti-bot software and reduce the chances of securing a spot in the queue. Additionally, once you reach the front of the queue, you’ll have just 10 minutes to complete your purchase before the session expires.

Looking Ahead to 2025

The changes to the Glastonbury ticketing system represent an attempt to improve what has often been a stressful and time-consuming process for fans. While some are concerned about the fairness of the new system, others believe it will help streamline the experience and ensure that the most dedicated festival-goers have a better shot at getting tickets.

As the 2025 Glastonbury Festival draws nearer, anticipation continues to build, with fans eager to secure their place at what is sure to be a memorable event—especially given that it will be the last opportunity to attend before the festival takes its break in 2026. Whether the new queue system will ease or heighten the stress of ticket buying remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: demand will be as high as ever.