As speculation grows over who will headline Glastonbury Festival 2027, former Pyramid Stage performers Pulp and Suede have weighed in with their suggestions, including an unexpected pick from drummer Simon Gilbert: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds.
Speaking to Metro at the 2026 Mercury Prize ceremony, where Suede were nominated for their latest album Antidepressants, the band members shared their thoughts on potential headliners and their own connections to Worthy Farm.
Pulp and Suede's Glastonbury History
Between them, Pulp and Suede have played Worthy Farm seven times – eight if counting Pulp's pre-Common People 1994 small stage set. Pulp made a triumphant return last year, disguised as 'Patchwork' on the lineup, to mark 30 years since their debut headline slot.
Suede haven't been on the billing for a decade, but frontman Brett Anderson, 59, lives '10 minutes away' from the farm. 'I can always hear it from mine and my wife's bedroom,' he told Metro.
Surprise Headliner Suggestions
When asked who their ideal headliner would be, Simon Gilbert, 61, joked his bandmate would like 'something quiet'. 'Yeah, Brian Eno doing Music for Airports would be nice,' agreed Anderson with a grin. 'Falling asleep listening to 1/1.'
Also titled Ambient 1, the 1979 album popularised ambient music, described as 'ignorable but interesting'. However, Gilbert's more serious suggestion of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds feels more likely. Nick Cave hasn't headlined Glastonbury before, but he and the Bad Seeds played the Pyramid Stage as the penultimate act on Sunday night in both 2009 and 2013.
The alt-rock post-punk Australian band, formed in the early 80s, is known for hits like Red Right Hand (the iconic theme to Peaky Blinders) and Into My Arms, as well as Nick's duet with Kylie Minogue, Where the Wild Roses Grow.
Advice for Future Headliners
As for Suede themselves, Gilbert dismissed the idea they would join the 2027 rumours with an amused 'no'. Pulp's appearance last year rules them out from a big set next year, but they offered advice for anyone taking on the Pyramid Stage for the first time.
Nick Banks, 61, said: '[You've] got to give the audience what they want basically, if you're going to bring out your jazz fusion record that you're not known for that might be a bad move. You've got a big crowd and you're there to entertain them, aren't you, so try and do that. If you can.'
Jarvis Cocker, 63, recommended getting to Worthy Farm a day early to explore the festival. 'Walk around and see what it's like,' the Disco 2000 singer shared. 'I think then you realise Glastonbury is bigger than any band that plays. It's a phenomenon, and you have to tune into that, then you'll be alright.'
Current Favourites and Mercury Prize Context
Current favourites for potential headliners include rock icons Bon Jovi and 2025 Mercury Prize winner Sam Fender, who both announced UK shows recently. Other names like Harry Styles, Muse, Billie Eilish, and Madonna are rumoured, but there's been no official word from Glastonbury organisers.
Other nominees for the 2026 Mercury Prize included Sir Paul McCartney, Jade, Nia Archives, Kojey Radical, Florence and the Machine, and Knats. Suede's Mat Osman noted the domination of female artists in the music industry, saying: 'I think the future of British music has been female for a long time now. That wave of female rock bands in Britain, I think, is really good. It's just a take on stuff you haven't heard a million times before.'
Ultimately, Raye took home the Mercury Prize for her album This Music May Contain Hope, which featured the hit song Where Is My Husband!. In her speech, the 28-year-old singer shared: 'I made this album not focusing on commercial [success], not focusing on making things cookie-cutter. Some of these songs are seven minutes. They're indulgent. They're maximalist.'
Raye added: 'Hope is a very cheesy word, especially for us British people, we don't do that deep stuff like that, but hope is something we all need … so I hope that message comes across to anyone who needs it.'
