Glastonbury Festival maintained its booked lineup amid political pressures to cancel controversial acts such as Kneecap and Bob Vylan, reaffirming its commitment to artistic freedom and resisting external demands for censorship.

Following a performance by English rap punk duo Bob Vylan at Glastonbury Festival, the U.S. State Department revoked the band's visas, citing hate-inciting chants during the performance as a political provocation. This incident raised questions about the festival's oversight of politically charged content on its stage.

Performers and organizers at Glastonbury Festival have openly criticized political interference in the festival lineup, reiterating the event's long-standing commitment to progressive values. The criticism follows calls from political figures to remove controversial acts such as Kneecap, a move that the festival and its supporting artists have rebuffed by emphasizing their historical left-leaning stance.

Glastonbury Festival is integrating a suite of advanced technologies such as surveillance drones, RFID wristbands, facial recognition, smart turnstiles, and IoT sensor networks to manage crowds and enhance safety during the event. This approach aims to improve crowd monitoring and rapid response in emergencies while raising questions about privacy and potential surveillance overreach.

The article details the long-standing history of Glastonbury Festival’s engagement in progressive politics, highlighting its role as a platform for left-wing debates and anti-fascist activism. It recounts instances where the festival hosted debates on topics ranging from environmental issues and worker rights to resistance against authoritarian measures, as well as politically charged performances. The event underscores the festival's continued commitment to fostering political dialogue and supporting marginalized voices.

Glastonbury Festival issued an Anti-Slavery Statement outlining its commitment to combat modern slavery and human trafficking by ensuring fair wages, direct worker engagement, and ethical oversight of its supply chain. The statement details that all employees and workers are guaranteed at least the National Living Wage and includes measures such as due diligence on labor providers and direct hiring when necessary.

A report by the entertainment union Bectu revealed that a significant portion of festival staff at Glastonbury are working in unsafe, unhygienic conditions with extremely long hours and below minimum wage, contributing to adverse physical and mental health impacts.

A union survey by Bectu collected responses from 100 UK festival staffers, revealing excessively long hours, unsafe working conditions, verbal abuse, and insufficient pay during the 2024 festival season. The report details extended shifts (up to 18-20 hours), unsanitary conditions, lack of adequate water and safety measures, and overall neglect towards worker health and rights at Glastonbury Festival.