Tens of thousands of music fans streamed into Worthy Farm on Wednesday for the return after three years of Glastonbury, the beloved music festival that will feature hundreds of artists from Billie Eilish to Paul McCartney.
The jubilant scenes come as a relief to a live music industry that battled for survival after COVID-19 wiped out all of the 2020 season and a major chunk of 2021, forcing venues to refund tickets and go without any income.
"We're open," Michael Eavis, who founded Glastonbury 52 years ago, told cheering crowds as the first of the 200,000 revellers entered his farm in south-west England. "Absolutely marvellous," he said. "Lovely to see you all."
Those arriving in the sunshine on Wednesday spent the day setting up camp, with a number of smaller stages - particularly dance areas - opening on Thursday, before the main stages get going on Friday.
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