Glastonbury organiser Emily Eavis has confirmed that the festival's three headline acts for its 2027 return are already booked, while directly ruling out weeks of speculation linking Madonna to the slot. Speaking to Katie Razzall on BBC Radio 4's PM programme, Eavis said the line-up is coming together well even as she declined to confirm any names.
Asked pointedly whether Madonna would finally make her Glastonbury debut next summer, Eavis was unambiguous.
No, it's definitely not Madonna, I'll tell you that.
But we have got three [other] headliners and we're very excited about it - it's all coming together really well.
Pressed further on whether Taylor Swift might feature, Eavis laughed off the question and said she preferred not to say any more about the bill.
Where did the Madonna rumours come from?
The speculation traces back to June 2026, when Madonna appeared to hint at UK plans for the summer of 2027 during a televised conversation with Graham Norton. That same interview, in which she also discussed feelings of jealousy toward Kylie Minogue, her forthcoming album Confessions II, and family matters, is detailed in our earlier coverage of Madonna's revelations to Graham Norton and in our report on the broader star-studded Norton special featuring Kylie Minogue. According to a festival ticketing outlet, that hint was enough to fuel the current wave of headliner guessing. Bookmakers moved quickly afterwards, and according to a betting-odds analysis site, Madonna briefly became the odds-on favourite to headline before Eavis's denial.
Eavis addressed the wider pattern of unfounded reports directly, noting how rarely such rumours prove accurate.
Pretty much 95% of the stories [about Glastonbury] you read are not true, and rumours are pretty much always wrong.
But the good news is that we've got our headliners and we're cracking on, and we just can't wait to get back.
Despite Eavis's denial, other outlets have continued floating alternative venues and names. According to a tabloid entertainment report published on 9 August, one version of events suggests Madonna could instead be planning a record-breaking three-night run at London's Hyde Park, though this remains unconfirmed. That same 9 August report also says the guessing game for Glastonbury's actual 2027 headliners has widened to include Harry Styles, Robbie Williams and Shakira, with no official announcement yet made.
Who else is being talked about for the 2027 bill?
Beyond the artists already named, speculation has grown to include a long list of possible acts. A lineup preview published on 5 August and cited by a Billboard-style entertainment outlet listed Oasis, Sabrina Carpenter, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Chappell Roan, Eminem, Florence + The Machine, Fred again.. and Taylor Swift among those under discussion. A separate roundup from the same date, published by Billboard, named Madonna, Harry Styles, Sam Fender, Oasis, Olivia Dean and Robbie Williams as among the strongest candidates being floated. The same tabloid report from 9 August also suggested Sam Fender could return to headline the Other Stage if the timing aligns with the release of his new album in August 2026.
Notably, the festival's own official website still displays only generic stage and category listings rather than any confirmed acts, according to Glastonbury's official site, reinforcing that none of the names currently circulating have been formally verified by organisers.
Oasis's continued presence in headliner speculation also connects to other recent festival news. In a separate development, promoter SJM Concerts was granted an events licence for Knebworth shows ahead of the 30th anniversary of the band's landmark 1996 concerts there, keeping the band in the conversation for major UK bookings even as questions persist about any full reunion.
Why does arts funding matter to Eavis right now?
Eavis used the interview to press newly installed Prime Minister Andy Burnham to back music education and support struggling small venues, describing the latter as
