In a new episode of Annie Macmanus and Nick Grimshaw's podcast Sidetracked, Glastonbury organiser Emily Eavis has said she has recently been offered a "really big American artist" who she hopes will headline next year.
"I thought it was kind of taking shape, and then last week I just got a call, and this is what happens if you wait a little longer, because quite often we'll be booked up from July. But this year we're holding out for a little bit longer," she told the hosts.
"And then last week I got a call from [a representative of] a really big American artist saying, 'This person's around next year', and I was like, 'Oh my God, this is incredible. Thank God we held the slot.'"
Explaining the booking process, Eavis said she speaks to an agent or manager. "They'll say, 'Hi I've got such and such around next summer, are you interested?' And it's like, 'Yeah.'"
Discussions over who could headline the 2024 edition of the festival were already heating up after Eavis shared an Instagram update from Madonna’s Celebration world tour at London’s O2 Arena last week.
However, nobody has been officially confirmed at the time of writing.
Eavis posted a picture of Madonna’s opening night performance on Instagram and caption it “She’s back! Incredible!”.
During the podcast episode, Eavis spoke about the show, saying: "It was incredible. I just was blown away by it, to be honest.
"I walked away and I was like, 'I've got a post about this'. I've posted about going to lots of gigs before, but I didn't expect it to be quite such big news.
"Everybody knows that I've always wanted Madonna to play Glastonbury," she continued. "It's not a big news story."
Madge has never performed at Worthy Farm but her 45-year catalogue and stage gravitas would surely make her an instant favourite.
Eavis is reportedly favouring two female headliners after criticism over the all-male leading acts who performed in 2023.
Taylor Swift had been an early rumour but her Eras Tour will clash with the 2024 Glastonbury dates, putting her out of the running barring a logistical miracle.
Here is the full list of runners and riders. All odds provided by Oddschecker on October 16.
Who could headline Glastonbury Festival in 2024?
Coldplay
Odds: 1/2
Coldplay are rumoured to be one of the acts to headline Glastonbury next year, and the Sun has reported the band are in “advanced talks”.
No announcement has been made but the band have a convenient gap in their summer 2024 European tour for when the festival could be held.
If Coldplay do get the nod, it would be their fifth time topping the bill at the Pyramid Stage – reflecting Zane Lowe’s 2011 comment that they are Worthy Farm’s “house band”.
Chris Martin and co-headlined in 2002, 2005, 2011 and 2016. A fifth appearance on the main stage would take the record of headliner appearances from The Cure, who also have had four.
While it would be eight years since they topped the bill, Martin has appeared on stage alongside Stormzy and Kylie Minogue in intervening years,
Coldplay have said they will have a new album, Moon Music, out next year and have been recording on the road using studio equipment they brought with them.
Dua Lipa
Current odds: 1/2
The Albanian singer performed at Worthy Farm in 2017 and had been tipped to perform with Elton John on Sunday. However, John has claimed that she missed his epic Glastonbury headliner set due to a “long-standing commitment in New York”.
Dua returned to Instagram after a break last week, asking fans if they had missed her. She also donned red velvet hair which - in 2023 - suggests a new era of music could be around the corner.
She most recently released second album Future Nostalgia in 2020.
Madonna
Current odds: 4/7
The Queen of Pop Madonna has incredibly never performed at Glastonbury. However, rumours are rife that her time could come in 2024, especially in light of Emily Eavis’s comments about female headliners.
Her 40th anniversary Greatest Hits tour is set to begin on July 15, 2023 and her current schedule is free of June commitments.
Harry Styles
Current odds: 7/1
The former One Direction star was rumoured to be a surprise guest at Elton John’s set on Sunday given that he had a free date during his European tour. However, this did not materialise.
However, one of his hit songs did grace the festival, with Rick Astley covering As It Was during his Saturday set.
Rihanna
Current odds: 6/1
Another Glastonbury virgin is the Barbadian singer Rihanna. However, there are widespread rumours that she could follow in the footsteps of pal Beyoncé in 2011 and set the Pyramid Stage alight with hits including Please Don’t Stop the Music and Umbrella.
Foo Fighters
Current odds: 5/1
The American rockers sparked rumours that they could return in 2024 after their incredible set this year when lead singer Dave Grohl shouted at the end: “We usually sing this song as a goodbye because we don’t like saying goodbye because if you come back, we’ll come back.”
The Foo Fighters had played a secret set under the pseudonym of The Churn Ups.
Sam Fender
Current odds: 10/1
The British star, who filled St James’ Park Stadium in his hometown of Newcastle earlier this month, is surely ready to perform on Glastonbury’s biggest stage again.
He performed on Pyramid Stage in 2022 and, with his third album on the way, could 2024 be the year he comes back to Somerset?
Liam Gallagher
Current odds: 33/1
The Oasis singer is these days a solo star but is set to go on tour in 2024 to celebrate 30 years of the band’s iconic Definitely Maybe album.
Oasis have not performed together since 2009, with the Gallagher brothers taking on solo careers. Last year, Liam sold out the iconic Knebworth House.
His schedule does have a Glastonbury sized hole in it for 2024.
The outsiders
As well as the favourites, OddsChecker has also named the following outsiders for a Glastonbury 2024 headline slot.
Aerosmith
Odds: 25/1
Green Day
Odds: 12/1
Foals
Odds: 40/1
One Direction
Odds: 33/1