Glastonbury Festival 2025, one of the world's largest music events, transformed into a particularly charged antisemitic arena with calls of "Death to the IDF" and "Free Palestine" from the main stages during BBC live broadcasts. The scenes drew condemnation from the British government and Israel's embassy in London, leading to widespread controversy on social media where many labeled the event an "antisemitic festival." Local police announced they are reviewing footage from the stages to determine whether criminal offenses occurred that would justify opening an investigation.
The Embassy of Israel in the United Kingdom is deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival.
Freedom of expression is a cornerstone of democracy. But when speech crosses into incitement, hatred, and advocacy of ethnic…
— Israel in the UK 🇮🇱🤝🇬🇧 (@IsraelinUK) June 28, 2025
Once considered a symbol of musical freedom, openness, and universal calls for peace and brotherhood, Glastonbury was a festival that united genres, audiences, and a universal message of protest against wars wherever they occurred.
British Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy contacted the BBC chief executive demanding explanations after the British public broadcaster transmitted live the performance of British punk band Bob Vylan, during which "Death to the IDF" chants were heard shouted from the stage before a massive audience. Her office clarified that the secretary condemned the statements and inquired with BBC management what content review was conducted before the broadcast.
Israel's embassy in London also published a sharp condemnation statement against normalizing incitement on a public stage: "Freedom of expression is a cornerstone of democracy. But when speech crosses into incitement, hatred, and advocacy of ethnic cleansing, it must be called out, especially when amplified by public figures on prominent platforms. Chants such as "Death to the IDF" and "From the river to the sea" are slogans that advocate for the dismantling of the State of Israel and implicitly call for the elimination of Jewish self-determination. When such messages are delivered before tens of thousands of festivalgoers and met with applause, it raises serious concerns about the normalisation of extremist language and the glorification of violence."
Beyond official condemnations, a massive storm also erupted on social media. Hundreds of users attacked the festival organizers for turning one of the world's largest cultural events into a stage for a "circus of hatred" and "anti-Israeli incitement."
Karen, an Israeli who attended this year's festival, said she did not recognize the spirit of past Glastonbury events. "I knew where I was going, but I didn't believe these would be the intensities," she said. According to her, it felt like a massive pro-Palestinian demonstration disguised as a music festival. "Palestinian flags were everywhere, and the atmosphere was one of coordinated chants where anyone who didn't join was almost ostracized – if you're not shouting Free Palestine, you don't belong."
Others on social media accused the festival of providing a platform for direct calls to violence. According to them, calls like "Death to the IDF" are not protests against wars in general, but an explicit call for the deaths of Jewish soldiers.
The controversy was not limited to Bob Vylan's performance. Irish band Kneecap also sparked sharp reactions after taking the West Holts stage, attacking British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for "arming Israel," and leading the audience in chants of "F*ck Keir Starmer" and "Free Palestine."
Additionally, Australian punk band Amyl and the Sniffers dedicated a significant portion of their performance to a speech in which singer Amy Taylor spoke about her support for Palestinians, accused Western governments of indifference, and said this was "the disgusting truth" in her words.
Festival critics argue that this is no longer a general protest against wars or a call for peace, but rather a one-sided targeting of only one country. Many claimed the event became a clear anti-Israeli stage, without mentioning or addressing other wars in the world, such as Russia-Ukraine, the massacre in Sudan, or the situation in Congo and Iran.
While festival organizers have not published any apology or distancing from the calls and performances, it appears the controversy surrounding Glastonbury 2025 will not disappear soon. The debate over the boundaries of freedom of expression, political protest, and incitement is expected to continue occupying British and international public opinion.
