Glastonbury 2023 has come to an end, culminating in a spectacular performance by Elton John, which could potentially be his final show in the UK. The gates of Glastonbury have officially closed, drawing an end to an extraordinary five-day musical extravaganza in the UK.

More than 210,000 revellers flooded into Somerset’s Worthy Farm, for the world’s largest greenfield music festival.

The lineup boasted headliners of Arctic Monkeys, Guns N’Roses, and the iconic Elton John, who graced the stage for a momentous Glastonbury debut, potentially marking his final UK performance. From Lana Del Rey’s set dramatically cut short, to the electrifying surprise performance by the Foo Fighters, the festival brimmed with unforgettable moments.

 If you feel you missed out on the magic, fear not, as we’ve put together a guide on all the major talking points from this year’s festival.

The crowd lifts Capaldi through his set

Scottish vocalist Lewis Capaldi delivered a deeply moving and heartfelt performance, pouring his heart out on stage and persevering through challenges.

Despite canceling all his prior shows due to mental health concerns, there were doubts about whether he would even perform at the festival.

During his Glastonbury set, Capaldi’s struggle with tics caused by Tourette’s syndrome was evident, and he battled with a strained voice.

However, he pushed forward and delivered an incredible and touching performance. Humbly addressing the crowd, he said, “I apologize sincerely. My voice is giving up, but we’ll play two more songs if that’s alright, even if I can’t hit all the notes.”

While singing his chart-topping hit, “Someone You Loved,” an emotionally overwhelmed Capaldi encountered difficulties completing the song, prompting the massive crowd to step in and fill the gaps.

Foo Fighters make a not-so-surprise performance

The legendary Foo Fighters took the Pyramid Stage by storm at Glastonbury Festival on Friday, electrifying the crowd with a barrage of their greatest hits.

Frontman Dave Grohl jokingly remarked, “You all knew it was us from the start, right? It’s great to see your faces again.”

The iconic rock band astounded the audience with an impressive hour-long setlist, marking their return to the festival after six years since drummer Taylor Hawkins’ tragic death last year.

During their performance, Grohl paid tribute to his late friend and bandmate by dedicating their final song, “Everlong,” to him.

Grohl didn’t stop there. He also made additional appearances throughout the weekend, joining The Pretenders on stage the next day and later teaming up with Guns’n’Roses for their headline set.

Lana Del Rey gets cut off

Lana Del Rey’s headline performance at the Other Stage was a memorable one. She arrived 30 minutes late and openly apologized, saying, “I’m sorry. My hair takes so long.” She acknowledged that if the power was cut, so be it, because her hair took a while to do. As midnight approached, the power to her performance inevitably shut off. Left without a microphone, she shouted from the edge of the stage, trying to communicate with her dedicated fans.

But Del Rey didn’t give up. She brilliantly rallied her supporters, urging them to join her for a spontaneous and breathtaking acapella rendition of her breakthrough hit, “Video Games.” The crowd eagerly embraced her invitation, resulting in a beautiful and unforgettable moment.

A toddler steals the show

Central Cee’s set on The Other Stage, packed with delightful surprises and special guests, including fellow UK-rapper Dave, who joined him to perform their number one smash “Sprinter”. 

However, there was one, rather tiny guest, who stole the show. 

Central Cee decided to bring out the adorable toddler who stars in the “Sprinter” music video.

Cate Blanchett gets her boogie on

Oscar winner Cate Blanchett surprised the Glastonbury audience by joining pop-rock duo Sparks on stage. They performed their track “The Girl Is Crying In Her Latte,” for which Blanchett appears in the music video. Frontman Russell Mael called her a great actor and welcomed her on stage. Blanchett appeared in the iconic yellow suit and red headphones from the video and entertained the audience with humorous dance moves.

Max Richter and Tilda Swinton make their Glastonbury debuts

Not only Cate Blanchett, but Tilda Swinton also appeared at the festival. During Max Richter’s performance, Swinton joined him and the orchestra, enthralling the audience with her powerful readings. The concert featured Richter’s renowned “protest” album, The Blue Notebooks, hailed as the greatest European album of the 21st century. In a surprising twist, a naked man tried to disrupt the show, but was quickly removed by security.

Rina Sawayama calls out Matty Healy

During her performance, Japanese/British pop singer Rina Sawayama called out her fellow labelmate, Matty Healy, the lead singer of the band 1975, for his controversial comments on an American podcast in February.

“I wrote this next song because I was sick and tired of microaggressions. So, tonight, this song goes out to a white man who watches [pornography show] Ghetto Gaggers and mocks Asian people on a podcast. He also owns my masters. I’ve had enough,” she said, introducing her song “STFU!”. 

Goodbye yellow brick road

British music legend Sir Elton John made his Glastonbury debut, closing the festival with a sensational performance. Expressing his disbelief, he stated, “I never thought I’d play Glastonbury – and here I am.” Aware of the significance, he emotionally acknowledged that it might be his final show in England. Taking the stage with his signature style, the 76-year-old maestro kicked off his set with “Pinball Wizard” and delivered a string of hits like “Your Song” and “I’m Still Standing.” Collaborating with fellow artists, he enchanted the crowd with Rina Sawayama on “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” and Brandon Flowers of The Killers on “Tiny Dancer.” Paying tribute to the late George Michael, Elton dedicated “Don’t Let the Sun Go down on Me” to his friend.

 This unforgettable performance has secured its place in Glastonbury history. As his farewell tour, “Elton’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road,” continues, he travels internationally since its start in September 2018 in Pennsylvania, USA.