Over 90 hours of live performances from Glastonbury 2024, plus archive content to be available across 10 live streams on the BBC iPlayer. The biggest moments will also be shown on BBC One and BBC Two.
- Build-up coverage starts on Monday 3rd June, with up to 10 Glastonbury streaming channels available.
- New Glastonbury II channel to be available via the BBC iPlayer.
- Music festival will have to fight for space on BBC One and BBC Two schedules due to Euro 2024 and General Election coverage.
The BBC announces “its longest celebration” of the Somerset-based music festival, with six weeks of build-up and coverage from Monday 3rd June – Sunday 14th July across TV, BBC iPlayer, radio and BBC Sounds. The main three days of live Glastonbury coverage are Friday 28th, Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th June 2024.
Both the BBC iPlayer and BBC Radio will have 90 hours of live coverage from the festival, with BBC One and BBC Two screening the main moments, plus highlights.
Since Glastonbury returned after the pandemic, the BBC moved its supplemental live coverage from the Red Button to BBC iPlayer. Here, viewers will be able to access live coverage from the Pyramid Stage in UHD on one of the up to ten iPlayer streaming channels available to music fans.
Returning for a second year is the Pyramid Stage – Signed channel, which allows viewers to watch performances from the Pyramid Stage with in-vision BSL signing.
Coverage on traditional broadcast channels
For viewers tuning in via the BBC’s traditional channels, this year’s music festival will have to compete for timeslots against Euro 2024 and news coverage of the final days before the UK General Election. The BBC says it will confirm more details about its TV coverage on 12th June.
However, some details of BBC TV’s coverage have already been confirmed. For example, BBC Two will follow the journeys of artists including Dua Lipa and Coldplay, from the first time they set foot on Worthy Farm, right up to performing on the Pyramid Stage this year. Each of the 30 minute episodes will see these artists talk about their Glastonbury stories, alongside archive of their key performances from over the years, as well as some of the other artists they’ve enjoyed.
In addition, BBC Two will broadcast Reel Stories: Shania Twain, which sees Shania in conversation with Radio 2’s Dermot O’Leary about her life and career. The channel then opens live proceedings with its first show from Worthy Farm on Thursday 27th June, warming viewers up for the festival and looking ahead at what’s to come. On BBC One, The One Show will be live from Glastonbury on Friday 28th June.
Finally, BBC Two will screen a highlights programme at the end of this year’s festival.
Who is performing at Glastonbury 2024?
Headliners include Dua Lipa, Coldplay, SZA, Shania Twain, as well as (in alphabetical order): Anne-Marie, AURORA, Baxter Dury, Black Pumas, Brittany Howard, Declan McKenna, Dexys, Ghetts, Headie One, IDLES, James, Jordan Rakei, Justice, Kenya Grace, Kim Gordon, NewDad, Nia Archives, Nitin Sawhney, Nothing But Thieves, Olivia Dean, Otoboke Beaver, Paloma Faith, Remi Wolf, Soccer Mommy, Soft Play, Squid, Tems, The Mary Wallopers, The Vaccines, Yard Act and more.
BBC streaming channels for Glastonbury 2024
The streaming channels via the iPlayer replace the former Red Button service that was only available to satellite and cable viewers. For full details on how to access the streams, see below.
- Glastonbury Channel Live: The best live performances and highlights (Friday 28th June – Sunday 30th June)
- Glastonbury Channel II: Catch-up on live performances and moments (Friday 28th June-Sunday 30th June)
- Pyramid Stage – Signed: A return of the channel offering BSL signing for a selection of performances on the Pyramid Stage (Friday 28th June-Sunday 30th June)
- Five live streams from each of the main festival stages – Pyramid, Other, West Holts, Woodsies and The Park (Friday 28th June-Sunday 30th June). Pyramid stage coverage will be available in UHD.
- Classic Glastonbury Channel: Highlights from recent Glastonbury festivals including Kylie Minogue’s legends slot (2019), Ed Sheeran (2017) and Elton John (2023). Available Monday 10th June.
- Glastonbury Highlights Channel: A 24 hour stream offering highlights from this year’s festival (Monday 1st July-Sunday 14th July)
How to watch
If you have a compatible connected TV or device, including Sky Q, Sky Stream, EE TV, Virgin Media 360 or Stream, Freeview Play, Freely or Freesat 4K, you’ll be able to press red to access the iPlayer and the Glastonbury channels on your TV.
Coverage will be available in HD (subject to the speed of your internet connection). However, the Pyramid Stage channel will also be offered in UHD.
Who is presenting?
Broadcasting from Glastonbury across the BBC’s platforms are: Annie Macmanus, Arielle Free, Cerys Matthews, Clara Amfo, Craig Charles, Danny Howard, Deb Grant, Dermot O’Leary, DJ Target, Emily Pilbeam, Huw Stephens, Jack Saunders, Jamie Laing, Jamz Supernova, Jo Whiley, Katie Thistleton, Lauren Laverne, Matt Everitt, Nathan Shepherd, Nick Grimshaw, Sarah Story, SHERELLE, Tom Ravenscroft, Vick Hope, Zoe Ball and more.
Where to listen to Glastonbury 2024 coverage on BBC Radio
All Day Glastonbury coverage will run on BBC Radio 6 Music from Wednesday 26th June until Monday 1st July.
BBC Radio 1, 1 Dance and 1Xtra will also be live from the event. Radio 1 and 1Xtra will combine at 9pm on Sunday 30th June to bring live coverage of SZA’s Pyramid Stage set.
Meanwhile, Radio 2 will be the home of Coldplay’s Saturday evening performance and Shania Twain’s legends slot on Sunday teatime.
By: Marc Thornham | Image: BBC