Elton John finale to headline Glastonbury

Elton John will headline Glastonbury 2023, performing the last British show of his lengthy global farewell tour at the renowned music festival on Worthy Farm.

The 75-year-old singer of hits such as Tiny Dancer and Rocket Man said there was no more fitting way to bow out and say goodbye to his British fans than appearing at the music and arts festival.

John is coming toward the end of a Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour which began in September 2018. 

In a career spanning more than 50 years, he has performed more than 4000 shows in more than 80 countries.

John had his first big hit in 1970 with Your Song, the same year the first Glastonbury festival took place in southwest England, when tickets cost one pound ($A1.80) and revellers drank free milk from the farm.

“Every week I speak to new artists on my radio show and Glastonbury is often cited as a pivotal moment in launching their careers – the festival’s genuine, enthusiastic support for the best emerging talent is something I’ve long admired,” he said in a statement.

Glastonbury co-organiser Emily Eavis said the singer and activist would appear on the Pyramid Stage on Sunday, June 25.

“This will be the final UK show of Elton’s last-ever tour, so we will be closing the festival and marking this huge moment in both of our histories with the mother of all send-offs,” she said.

John ended the United States leg of his farewell tour with a star-studded show at the Los Angeles Dodger Stadium in November. 

He performs in Australia and New Zealand in January before starting the British tour in Liverpool in March.