We have some exciting news to share with you—the new Glastonbury 2023 festival map is here, and it’s packed with changes that may make your experience quite a bit different than previous years!
Whether you’re a Glasto regular or a first-timer, this year’s map has some surprises in store like some old attractions disappearing and others taking their place, to a shuffle around in camp grounds all over the site.
If you’re a first-timer to Glastonbury, make sure you read the ultimate guide to Glastonbury for first-timers!
Now we are ready to explore ten changes that await you at Glastonbury 2023…
1. Pylon Ground Is No Longer Public Camping
The well loved and first port of call for many festival goers is no more. In the 2023 site changes, staff camping grounds have been removed from other campgrounds like Pennards. They have also expanded the campground out to the west towards bronze parking.
Meaning anyone looking for a quick set up will need to stop in Darble, leading to this campground filling up quickly!
See also: How many stages are at Glastonbury?
2. The Public Footpath Through Pylon Ground is Also No More
This is a big worry for many festival goers coming in on public transport through gate A. This well know and used entry path does not show on the most recent version of the 2023 map for the festival.
Will the detour along the former authorised vehicles road between The Woodsies Hospitality and Pylon Ground become a nightmare bottleneck? Time will tell!
See also: Arriving and queuing at Glastonbury – what you need to know
3. The Former John Peel Stage is Now Woodsies
One change that many expected but not for the same reasons, is the change in name for the former John Peel Stage in to The Woodsies.
Emily Eavis has confirmed to the Guardian that the change in name was ‘part of a push to name stages after the fields they stand in, such as West Holts.
We have no doubt that this rebranding will have no negative impact on the quality of new and upcoming talent on offer in 2023!
4. More Public Camping Space in the Dairy Campground
Dairy Ground now can boast some of the widest open camping grounds in the festival, this is following the removal of the former staff camping ground that used to sit tucked in to the north east corner of dairy ground.
Another well needed addition to Dairy Ground is a market area along a now official path that in previous years did not appear on the map.
But this path did exist in previous years too! marked by tape strung along marker poles. Although with just grass underfoot, it wasn’t heavily enforced and usually disappeared by the second day under late arrival tents.
5. No More Cineramageddon
It’s gone! and the area returned to general needs public camping. So Cineramageddon is no more the “That’s all folks!” Loony Tunes closing credits clip was shared by their official Facebook page to mark this departure in April.
6. Carhenge Takes Over William’s Green
This one may need some explaining, because Williams Green is still there but has a new feature! so here are 5 facts about the new addition that is Carhenge:
- Carhenge is an extraordinary installation at the festival made up of 24 vintage cars transformed into unique works of art by Joe Rush, the founder of the Mutoid Waste Company.
- Carhenge represents the counterculture movement, symbolising liberation from conformity and consumerism. It pays tribute to visionary figures like Quentin Crisp and Hunter S. Thompson, and honours unsung heroes and heroines from the margins of society.
- The Mutoid credo of art from waste, parties, and the open road is embodied in Carhenge. The installation comes to life through a mesmerising light show by Ed Warren.
- Carhenge celebrates the artistic collaboration between Michael Eavis, the founder of Glastonbury, and Joe Rush, the underground artist. It showcases a retrospective of Rush’s work at the festival.
- For the first time in the festival’s history, “Mutoid Wastelands” presents seven major installations by Joe Rush, offering festival-goers a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in his imaginative and awe-inspiring world of art, music, and culture.
But one big positive seems to be the area has been opened up hopefully allowing more room to move, especially when in 2022 there was a particularly concerning crush, with no where to go and no movement in the crowd for quite some time.
7. More Space Around Arcadia
Arcadia has been opened up with the removal the large ‘out of bounds area’ on the west side. This will be a big relief for many festival goers as Arcadia had big issues with crowds and foot traffic in 2022!
Another interesting fact about Arcadia this year is that the pyrotechnics and Arcadia itself will run entirely off renewable energy sources this year, using biofuels to keep the night fires burning!
8. “The Levels”
The Levels stage in Silvers Hayes replaces the former Sonic stage. Looking at the map also shows that the whole stage area will have a completely different feel and look too.
Described as an open air night club with experimental lighting and music and other art forms, we can’t wait to see and hear it!
9. Half of Rivermead is Now Staff Camping
This secluded little public general needs camping spot popular with many, has been partially absorbed by the move around of staff camping.
You will need to access whats left from the path on the east side down the newly opened to the public path in between Pylon Ground and The Woodsies. This path was formally only open to permitted vehicles.
10. Cyclist’s Camping is bigger
Continuing with Glastonbury’s pledge to be as green as possible, Cyclist Camping Ground has been expanded it is now double the size it was in previous years!
Hopefully they can enforce the Cyclists only rule when the masses who usually filled nearby fields like Pylon ground arrive!
Remember to ride safe!
See The 2022 + 2023 Map Changes All Together
