Glastonbury Reduces Attendance for 2025 and Expands Site Layout

Venue Expansion

Speedily released site maps highlight expanded zones, including:

• Silver Hayes & Shangri‑La: multiple new stages, greater public space, enhanced bar areas like Dragon’s Tail.
• Arcadia, The Glade & The Other: larger audience areas thanks to campsite reductions – especially Oxylers – and improved facilities like more toilets and camping space.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Glastonbury Festival (@glastofest)

Learnings for Event Organisers

Quality Over Quantity

Fewer tickets can translate into a better attendee experience and potentially stronger brand equity among fans. Evaluate whether controlled capacity could boost satisfaction and long-term reputation at your event.

Use Space Thoughtfully

By reallocating room from campsites to stages and amenities, Glastonbury balances crowd control with experience. Promoters of events on a smaller scale can explore flexible layouts to achieve the same results, adding chill-out zones, seating areas, or lounges instead of simply scaling down ticket numbers.

Improve Crowd Flow and Facilities

Upgrading access, adding toilets, and optimising entry points reduces congestion and improves reviews. Even small festivals benefit hugely from anticipating pinch points and expanding support infrastructure (Check out our free-to-use RapidScan feature to help with easing congestion at entry points).

Smart Trade-Offs Pay Off

By offering fewer tickets at a better experience, Glastonbury aims to maintain premium pricing and boost brand perception. Why not consider a similar model – sell fewer high-value tickets (VIP, fast-track, premium viewing) instead of overselling standard passes.

Communicate Strategy Clearly

Glastonbury framed the change as a premium, thoughtful service upgrade, not just a numbers tweak. If you plan to mimic this move, be sure to clearly explain capacity or layout changes as enhancements, and keep messaging positive and community-focused.

Skiddle’s Take

Glastonbury’s capacity realignment – cutting ticket volume while expanding space and quality – is a bold market statement and strategic pivot. For promoters on Skiddle, there’s a compelling lesson: sometimes less is more. By fine-tuning capacity, layout, and experience, you can meaningfully elevate your event brand, reduce risk, and generate stronger long-term returns.

Need help implementing these ideas at your own events? Check out our expansive index of FAQs and find tips on event listing at help.promotioncentre.co.uk

Keep an eye on the Skiddle Promotion Centre Blog, our Skiddle Promoters Instagram page, and LinkedIn for all the latest event news and updates.