Glastonbury 2023 – latest: Elton John says thank-you to festival audience after farewell UK performance

Rocket Man bids farewell as he played what could be his final live show in the UK, with a jaw-dropping, career-spanning set of his greatest songs

Elton John steps out onto Pyramid stage at Glastonbury 2023

Elton John performed what will go down as one of the greatest headline shows in Glastonbury history last night (Sunday 25 June), to one of the biggest crowds the festival has seen in years.

Lil Nas X was the final artist to take to the main stage before the 76-year-old at Worthy Farm, Somerset, after a joyful Yusuf/Cat Stevens entertained fans with songs including “Wild World” and “Father and Son”.

The revered folk singer-songwriter performed with his band in the coveted Legends Slot, a gig previously handed to artists including Lionel Richie, Kylie Minogue and Dolly Parton. He also gave superfan/comedian Ricky Gervais a shout-out on his birthday, before playing his song “Tea for the Tillerman”.

At 9pm, John launched his performance with some of his best-known songs, including his 1975 cover of “Pinball Wizard” and “Benny and the Jets”. From the moment he sat down at the piano, the show was a pure blast of euphoria from one of the world’s greatest living entertainers, with surprise guests including The Killers frontman Brandon Flowers, and Gabriels singer Jacob Lusk.

Glastonbury 2023 highlights

• In pictures: Elton John’s breathtaking headline set on the Pyramid Stage
• What the audience is saying - reactions to Elton John’s set
• Who is Stephen Sanchez? Meet Elton John’s second musical guest
• Meet Elton John’s first surprise guest of the night
• The Killers frontman Brandon Flowers joins Elton for ‘Tiny Dancer'

[26 June 2023 19:30 · Nicole Vassell]

Glastonbury attendees share their favourite pictures

With so much to look at and experience over five days, Glastonbury is the perfect spot to get some impressive pictures that you’ll look back on for years to come.

Festival fan account “Glastobation” (ahem) issued a call-out for some of the best photos from the 2023 event, and the responses did not disappoint...

[26 June 2023 19:00 · Nicole Vassell]

Watch: Love and marriage at Worthy Farm

[26 June 2023 18:00 · Nicole Vassell]

Rick Astley plays AC/DC’s ‘Highway to Hell’ in impressive drum cover

If you thought Rick Astley’s only talent is making a catchy, generation-spanning Eighties hit, you’d be very wrong.

Here’s the “Never Gonna Give You Up” star’s impressive drum cover of AC/DC’s “Highway to Hell” as performed on the Pyramid Stage on Saturday.

[26 June 2023 17:30 · Nicole Vassell]

Elton John: Full setlist for his astonishing Glastonbury headline show

If post-Elton blues are kicking you in the shins right now, here’s a helping hand for you to collate your own playlist of the night’s bangers – the set list, in full, courtesy of Annabel Nugent:

[26 June 2023 17:00 · Nicole Vassell]

Watch: Fans serenade Lana Del Rey with ‘Video Games’ after Glastonbury set cut short

[26 June 2023 16:40 · Nicole Vassell]

Blondie review, Glastonbury 2023: Debbie Harry whips the crowd into a frenzy with this best-of set

Debbie Harry led the rock band to a smashing third-ever set at Glastonbury on Sunday afternoon with a set that featured timeless hits such as “One Way or Another” and “Heart of Glass”.

Here’s Ben Bryant’s full, four-star take:

[26 June 2023 16:20 · Nicole Vassell]

Kelis review, Glastonbury Festival 2023: A sublime, genre-hopping performance that is more party than show

Kelis’s first headline set at Glastonbury went down a right treat on Friday, as she brought all the boys (and girls, and everyone else) to the yard of the West Holts Stage.

With performances of bangers including “Milkshake”, “Caught Out There” and “Bossy”, the 43-year-old popstar and professional chef had the audience in the mood for a party.

Read Kate Hutchinson’s review below:

[26 June 2023 16:00 · Nicole Vassell]

Watch: Rina Sawayama appears to call out The 1975 frontman Matty Healy over podcast controversy

[26 June 2023 15:45 · Nicole Vassell]

Lewis Capaldi devastated as he suffers vocal issues during Glastonbury Pyramid Stage set

ICYMI: Lewis Capaldi performed on the Pyramid Stage on Saturday afternoon, but became visibly frustrated after he began to suffer vocal issues.

The Scottish singer-songwriter told the audience he was beginning to lose his voice ahead of performing his No 1 hit, “Someone You Loved”. Capaldi was also experiencing a series of physical tics.

Luckily, the audience was on hand to sing along in his place while he rested, resulting in one of the most moving moments of Glastonbury 2023.

Louis Chilton reports:

[26 June 2023 15:30 · Nicole Vassell]

How to get tickets for Glastonbury 2024

Whether you were down at Worthy Farm or watching from home, there are plenty of readers currently thinking about how they can be a part of the action next year.

Megan Graye has the lowdown on how to get tickets for Glastonbury 2024: