Michael Eavis Reflects on His 90th Birthday and the Legacy of Glastonbury Festival

Michael Eavis, founder of the Glastonbury Festival, celebrates his 90th birthday reflecting on the journey of the event that started in 1970 as the Pilton Pop, Folk and Blues Festival. Initially a struggling dairy farmer hoping the festival would clear his overdraft, Eavis has seen it grow into the world’s largest greenfield festival, attracting about 200,000 attendees and raising millions for charity, including £5.9m in 2025 alone. Despite early controversies involving local residents, authorities, and concerns over drug use and gatecrashers, Eavis persevered and transformed Worthy Farm into a vibrant cultural hub. Honored with a knighthood for services to music and having contributed significantly to his community—such as building over 50 social houses in Pilton—Eavis remains a beloved figure. His daughter Emily now organizes the festival, but Eavis continues to perform annually with his band. For his 90th, he plans a local celebration featuring a secret three-song performance. His story is marked by persistence, community impact, and a passion for music that sustains him to this day.