Glastonbury 2023 lineup: Possible headliners from Taylor Swift to Elton John – Reuters

The musical spectacle will return to the hallowed fields of Worthy Farm from June 21-25 next summer, with tickets going on sale in November – head here for all the details.

This means the rumor mill is now fully operational, churning out shoddy claims as to who may or may not be on the roster for 2023. This happens every year, and the vast majority of rumors turn out to be nothing more than empty hearsay. But it’s fun all the same, isn’t it?

Here, we’ve rounded up some of the most believable suggestions, selecting artists whose headline spot on Pyramid Stage is eminently plausible.

Elton John

Here’s a good quiz question: When was the last time Elton John played at Glastonbury? Not sure? It’s a trick – he never did! Incredibly, for an artist of his stature and longevity, the yellow brick road never led to Worthy Farm. But he’s one of the most persistent rumors for 2023, largely because his farewell tour currently has a big Glasto-sized gap, with shows in Paris on June 21 and 27, but nothing in between. of them. Of all the rumours, this one makes the most sense – and what an incredible set it would inevitably be.

Taylor Swift

The pop music titan was set to headline the Pyramid Stage in 2020, then, according to reports, turned down the opportunity to perform earlier this summer due to some scheduling conflicts. So could 2023 be the one? She released a new album in October, which means a tour will likely follow – which, in turn, means she could be on this side of the pond around June.

Harry Styles

Mr. Styles is basically as big a celebrity as he gets – stadium salesman musician, Hollywood movie star, fashion icon – and so it wouldn’t seem impossible for him to settle on Glasto’s biggest stage. Rumors of a secret set dominated the Chinese whispers that roamed Worthy Farm in June, but it never materialized. There are some minor gaps in his 2023 tour dates – particularly Friday and Glastonbury Sunday – and his June 21 show is in Cardiff. It’s not beyond the realm of possibility.

Beyonce

Queen Bey delivered one of the greatest headlining sets of all time at Glastonbury in 2011. The first black solo artist to ever take the top spot, it was groundbreaking quality, enough to make silence the “real music” bores whining about her booking in the first place, and all the more impressive considering she was pregnant at the time. With news of a new tour seemingly imminent, eyes will immediately turn to this final weekend in June.

Sam Fender

There’s no better way to prove you’re worthy of the Pyramid Stage by getting on it and absolutely owning it – and that’s exactly what Sam Fender did in 2022. His driving set was a highlight indisputable weekend, and the spontaneous crowd singing followed by a rendition of Seventeen Going Under was one of those indelible Worthy Farm moments. With plenty of big-stage experience now under his belt (that explosive Finsbury Park gig included), you wouldn’t be completely shocked to see him back as a headliner next summer.

Arctic Monkeys

It’s a select group of artists who have graced Glastonbury on several occasions – Coldplay currently hold the record with four appearances in the lead – and Arctic Monkeys feel like they have the clout to smash their way into this pantheon. Undoubtedly one of the greatest British bands of the 21st century, they have already closed the Pyramid Stage twice, in 2007 and 2013. A decade later, could they return? They’ve just announced a UK and Ireland tour for 2023 and luckily there’s an obvious five-day gap between their last two gigs on June 20-25…

And what about the slot of legends?

The Sunday afternoon slot on the Pyramid stage is part of the legend. Kylie Minogue, Lionel Richie, and Dolly Parton have all filled it in recent years, and it’s usually one of the first line-up parts to be announced. There’s nothing concrete yet, but Roxy Music has been widely talked about for 2023, as have 10cc and Spice Girls (Robbie Williams also said he’s excited).