In what year did David Bowie headline the Glastonbury Festival for the first time? The answer is 2000.
Bowie first headlined Glastonbury on Sunday night, 25 June 2000, at the festival's new Pyramid Stage. His performance formed part of his Mini Tour and became one of the most celebrated sets in the festival's history.
The appearance had added historical resonance because Bowie had first played at Glastonbury in 1971, when the event was still a much smaller gathering. According to festival accounts, he stayed at Worthy Farm and performed at dawn. Nearly three decades later, he returned as one of the world's most influential performers, playing songs from across his career.
A frequent confusion concerns Bowie's first Glastonbury appearance versus his first headline slot. He appeared at the festival in 1971, but did not headline until 2000. That year's other main headliners were Travis and the Chemical Brothers. Bowie's set included major songs such as "Life on Mars?", "Changes", "Heroes" and "Ziggy Stardust", helping establish the performance as a landmark moment in the festival's modern era.