Summary

  • Elton John is bringing Glastonbury 2023 to a close with his Sunday headline slot on the Pyramid Stage - the final UK show of his farewell tour

  • People started claiming front-row spots at 04:00 BST

  • Other big names on Sunday's line-up include Lil Nas X, Editors, Blondie, Alt-J and Queens of the Stone Age

  • Earlier, Cat Stevens ended his "legends" slot with his classic Father and Son

  • If you're in the UK, you can pick a stage to watch live at the top of this page

  • We'll also bring you news, reviews, and the Glastonbury sights and sounds on this page

  1. Resplendent Lusk clearly relishing performancepublished at 21:46 British Summer Time 25 June 2023

    Katie Razzall
    Culture editor at Glastonbury

    Jacob Lusk, resplendent in a pink suit, was clearly enjoying dueting with Elton on Are You Ready For Love? Lusk is a natural. This will be the biggest performance of his life so far - and he was clearly relishing it.

    Jacob LuskImage source, Getty Images
  2. Gabriels singer is first surprise guestpublished at 21:45 British Summer Time 25 June 2023

    Paul Glynn
    Entertainment & arts reporter

    Sir Elton was joined by Jacob Lusk of US R&B/soul band Gabriels - who dazzled Glasto crowds themselves on Friday - and the London Community Gospel Choir for a version of Are You Ready For Love.

    He explained beforehand how the song was first released in the UK in 1979 but was re-born in 2003 thanks to a chart-topping remix, which gave him his sixth number one single and brought his music to a fresh audience.

  3. Philadelphia Freedom blasts into Glastonbury nightpublished at 21:43 British Summer Time 25 June 2023

    Jack Burgess
    BBC News Live reporter

    We've just had a barnstorming rendition of Philadelphia Freedom. A huge cheer erupted from the Pyramid Stage crowd as he finished that number and Sir Elton shouted "thank you" to the crowd.

    Elton told the audience he was "inspired by all the great soul music" coming out of Philadelphia in the mid-1970s.

  4. People so focused on Elton they're not even buying beer!published at 21:41 British Summer Time 25 June 2023

    Victoria Bourne
    at Glastonbury

    Laura, Kalisha, Angela and John

    There are massive crowds at the Pyramid Stage.

    Normally the bar is exceptionally busy in the evening but people are focused on one thing and one thing only and that is Sir Elton John.

    Laura, Kalisha, Angela and John have been manning the bar everyday at the festival.

    They all agree this is the quietest they’ve seen it all weekend.

  5. It's Goodbye Yellow Brick Road... but not yetpublished at 21:32 British Summer Time 25 June 2023

    Paul Glynn
    Entertainment & arts reporter

    I thought I was bad at goodbyes but Sir Elton has been doing precisely that since his Goodbye Yellow Brick Road farewell tour began in 2018.

    To be fair to him, he does have a lot of ground to cover globally, such is his popularity, and there was also a pandemic in the middle of it.

    After he belted out the title track of the same name from 1973, the 76-year-old star got up from his piano and did a little jig to acknowledge the loudest cheer of the night (and possibly the festival) so far.

    Elton JohnImage source, Getty Images
  6. Shout out to all Danielspublished at 21:26 British Summer Time 25 June 2023

    Daniel Rosney
    Reporting from Glastonbury

    I’m at the last ever Elton gig in the UK and he’s singing Daniel.

    Lots of friends and family are WhatsApping me right now.

    Shout out to all Daniels everywhere.

    Pyramid Stage
  7. Postpublished at 21:22 British Summer Time 25 June 2023

    People are turning bins upside down to get a better view of Elton John.

    People turning bins upside down to get a better view of Elton
  8. Bitch and Benniepublished at 21:20 British Summer Time 25 June 2023

    Paul Glynn
    Entertainment & arts reporter

    No, it's not the new name for a popular chain of Italian-American restaurants.... it's the names of tracks two and three.

    Sir Elton followed up Pinball Wizard with a stirring rock 'n' roll rendition of The Bitch is Back from 1974, followed by fans favourite Bennie and the Jets.

    "I never thought I'd ever play Glastonbury and here I am," he declared in between,

    He added it may be his last ever UK gig. Notice he said "may", so could this mean that the farewell tour could rumble on yet?

    "I'd better play well and I'd better entertain you," he declared.

    Elton JohnImage source, Getty Images
  9. 'A very emotional night' - Elton Johnpublished at 21:16 British Summer Time 25 June 2023

    Jack Burgess
    BBC News Live reporter

    The crowd that has turned out for Sir Elton John is absolutely huge.

    It looks like most of Glastonbury has turned up to see his final UK show.

    He's been talking to the crowd and saying it's a "very emotional night" for him and he "really appreciates" the support.

  10. Elton off to a flyerpublished at 21:07 British Summer Time 25 June 2023

    Paul Glynn
    Entertainment & arts reporter

    Sir Elton John has begun his last ever UK gig with the track, Pinball Wizard.

    You know, the one about the "deaf, dumb and blind kid" he played in the 1975 film of the same name, as written by The Who's Pete Townshend.

    An insane amount of people are looking on enthralled.

    Loud cheers went up, along with pyrotechnics, when Sir Elton hit his first big piano chord.

  11. Elton John takes to the Pyramid Stagepublished at 21:03 British Summer Time 25 June 2023

    The Rocketman has landed on the main stage to bring Glastonbury Festival 2023 to a close.

    He's just sauntered on stage in a gold suit.

    It will be Sir Elton John's final UK show of his farewell tour.

    People started claiming front-row spots to see the show at 04:00 BST this morning.

    Anticipation has been building all day and it looks like he could draw the biggest crowd Glastonbury has ever seen. We could be about to see something quite special indeed.

  12. Coming right uppublished at 20:58 British Summer Time 25 June 2023

    Paul Glynn
    Entertainment & arts reporter

    It's time to choose your headliner folks. Time for the last big push of the weekend for another year.

    • Elton John (and friends, no doub) at the Pyramid Stage - now
    • Alt-J at the Park Stage - 21:15
    • Phoenix at the Woodsies Stage - 21.30
    • Rudimenal at the West Hols Stage - 21:45
    • Queens of the Stone Age at the Other Stage - 21.45
  13. Could Elton John give a platform to future headliners?published at 20:50 British Summer Time 25 June 2023

    Mark Savage
    Music correspondent at Glastonbury

    A quick thought on Elton's special guests.

    Over the last couple of years - and throughout his career, really - he's been incredibly vocal about supporting new British talent, whether that's Ed Sheeran and Sam Fender or Dua Lipa and Rina Sawayama.

    What if he uses the platform of the Pyramid Stage to boost some future headliners, instead of cramming his set full of globe-straddling pop stars who've got every chance of being here next year anyway?

  14. Elton John's set shaping up to be busiest Glastonbury's ever seenpublished at 20:48 British Summer Time 25 June 2023

    Mark Savage
    Music correspondent at Glastonbury

    "Glastonbury, we are very busy this evening, so it's standing room only," comes an announcement on the PA at the Pyramid Stage.

    "Please pack up your chairs and put away your blankets."

    This is shaping up to be the busiest set the festival has ever seen. You do have to feel sorry for the acts on the other stages.

  15. Caroline Polachek joined by Weyes Bloodpublished at 20:46 British Summer Time 25 June 2023

    Paul Glynn
    Entertainment & arts reporter

    Caroline Polachek
    Image caption,

    Caroline Polachek

    Caroline Polachek is one of the more interesting, alternative and progressive pop stars out there currently and she's not short of famous admirers either.

    Last month during her Coachella set she was joined on stage by UK indie-pop star Charli XCX.

    She's currently delighting everyone inside the Woodsies tent with beautifully wonky tracks like Bunny is a Rider and I Believe, which she dedicated to the late music producer Sophie.

    She's also just brought out another talented friend, fellow US folk-pop singer, Weyes Blood, to duet on a celestial version of Butterfly Net from her recent album.

    Lovely stuff this.

  16. The War on Drugs rock out as the sun goes downpublished at 20:35 British Summer Time 25 June 2023

    Paul Glynn
    Entertainment & arts reporter

    Adam Granduciel of The War on DrugsImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Adam Granduciel of The War on Drugs

    You could not get an act that is further away from the high octane Lil Nas X in style, than The War on Drugs.

    The Philadelphia guitar band barely moved, bar their long hair blowing in the wind.

    But they seemed to have the crowd at the Other Stage tranfixed with their brand of luscious stoner rock.

    Adam Granduciel's distorted whiskey voice sounded almost (late) Dylan-esque.

    They have two UK top 10 albums to their name.

  17. It's nice to know Elton supports me - Gabriels frontmanpublished at 20:24 British Summer Time 25 June 2023

    Katie Razzall
    Culture editor

    Jacob Lusk

    Gabriels frontman Jacob Lusk has been telling me why he loves Elton John.

    His songs "speak to the soul", Jacob told me backstage.

    "His voice is bigger than life and the way he tickles those keys with his fingers is like nothing I've ever seen," Jacob told me backstage.

    Elton John has championed Gabriels, who performed here on Friday, from the beginning.

    Jacob says: "It was everything. It's just nice to have someone of that calibre support you."

  18. Glastonbury's last day: a recappublished at 20:21 British Summer Time 25 June 2023

    Lil Nas XImage source, PA Media
    Image caption,

    Lil Nas X

    Just tuning in? Here's what you've missed on the final day of a sweltering Glastonbury festival:

    • Yusuf aka Cat Stevens played the Legends slot on the Pyramid state this afternoon. He treated us to a lovely cover of Here Comes the Sun and later wrapped up his set with a rendition of perhaps his best known song, Father and Son
    • The Bristol Reggae Orchestra and Windrush Choir entertained crowds with a set to mark the 75th anniversary of the first Windrush generation passengers arriving in Britain from the Caribbean
    • Becky Hill held a daytime rave at the Other Stage
    • Debbie Harry belted out some of Blondie's greatest hits to an adoring crowd
    • And Lil Nas X brought high energy to the Pyramid Stage as the crowd gathers for the big final - Elton John at 21:00
  19. Jack Harlow joins Lil Nas X for big finishpublished at 20:12 British Summer Time 25 June 2023

    Paul Glynn
    Entertainment & arts reporter

    Lil Nas X is living his best life right now.

    He's just delighted the crowd while belting out hits like That's What I Want and Industry Baby (which contained a sample of Michael Jackson's Beat It) surrounded by hunky dancing ancient soldiers.

    Fellow US rapper Jack Harlow even joined for a few bars.

    It's an impossible job to warm up the crowd for Elton John's last ever UK gig but that's as close to completing it as you can get.

  20. Lil Nas X isn't reigning his set in at all...published at 20:00 British Summer Time 25 June 2023

    ...he's going all-out on the Pyramid Stage and has been riding the Glastonbury vibe on a giant horse.

    Lil Nas X performing on the Pyramid Stage at the Glastonbury FestivalImage source, Yui Mok/PA Wire