Which festival was first called the Pilton Pop, Blues & Folk Festival before becoming Glastonbury?

The festival first called the Pilton Pop, Blues & Folk Festival became the Glastonbury Festival. Its first edition was held at Worthy Farm near Pilton, Somerset, in September 1970.

The event was founded by farmer Michael Eavis, who hosted the festival on his land. Early editions combined live music with camping and other attractions, establishing the rural setting that remains central to the festival’s identity.

The festival later adopted the name Glastonbury Festival and expanded into one of the United Kingdom’s largest and most internationally recognized music and arts events. Its program now includes multiple musical genres, theatre, comedy, dance, visual arts, and environmental initiatives.

Glastonbury is sometimes confused with the town of Glastonbury itself. The main festival is held at Worthy Farm, near Pilton, rather than in the town center. Its unofficial pauses and changing names also make its early history more complicated than the modern annual brand suggests.