From Kneecap to Jade Thirlwall, Palestine has been Glastonbury's loudest refrain

Artists from across the UK and Ireland spoke out against the Israel-Gaza War at the British festival

Glastonbury Festival has been marked by widespread calls from musicians and audiences alike to end the violence in Palestine. AP

Pro-Palestinian activism was once again a prominent presence at this year’s Glastonbury Festival, with performing artists amplifying calls to end what many describe as a “genocide” in Gaza.

Concluding on Sunday at the UK’s Worthy Farm, the influential festival, which was attended by more than 200,000 people, was marked by widespread calls from musicians and audiences alike to end the ongoing violence.

Social media reaction globally has been dominated by the movement, with many clips of Palestinian flags and “free Palestine” chants going viral across the world.

Here are eight artists who voiced their support.

Nilufer Yanya

Nilufer Yanya displays a banner across the stage calling for a free Palestine. Getty Images

British singer Nilufer Yanya performed at Glastonbury on Saturday, displaying a banner across stage voicing her support for the Palestinian cause.

"More action, more noise, less fear, free Palestine," Yanya's banner read.

Nadine Shah

Nadine Shah performs in front of a large image of Gaza on the Other Stage during day five of Glastonbury festival 2025. Getty Images

British singer-songwriter Nadine Shah displayed images of Gaza behind her during her Other Stage performance on Sunday. Shah ended her set in tears, playing voice notes from Palestinian children over the loud speakers, with many saying: "I'm still alive".

Amyl and the Sniffers

Amy Taylor, right, is the lead singer of Australian rock band Amyl and the Sniffers. EPA

Australian rock band Amyl and the Sniffers performed at the festival's second stage on Saturday. After playing the song Chewing Gum, the band's lead singer Amy Taylor took a moment to speak to the audience.

“I want to take the time to say something political,” Taylor said.

Taylor then lamented the fact that she wasn't educated about situations such as Palestine growing up in Australia.

Ncuti Gatwa

Ncuti Gatwa introduces Jade Thirwall during day four of Glastonbury festival 2025. WireImage

British actor Ncuti Gatwa, who rose to fame playing The Doctor on the long-running BBC series Doctor Who, introduced Jade Thirlwall wearing a neon Choose Love jumper.

The UK charity Choose Love recently initiated an open letter signed by more than 300 public figures, including Benedict Cumberbatch, calling on the British government to cease what they describe as its “complicity in the horrors in Gaza".

Choose Love held a vigil in May outside the UK's houses of parliament in which prominent figures read the names of children of Gaza who were killed during the Israel-Gaza War.

Jade Thirlwall

Jade Thirwall performs during day four of Glastonbury festival 2025. WireImage

Jade Thirlwall, the English singer behind the 2024 song Angel of My Dreams, performed on the Woodsies stage on Sunday.

During her set, she led the audience in a call-and-response in which she denounced the UK government for "justifying genocide" in Gaza.

CMAT

Irish singer CMAT started a 'free, free Palestine' chant after her Glastonbury set. Getty Images

Irish singer Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson, known as CMAT, finished her set on the Pyramid Stage on Friday with a call for solidarity with Palestine.

The artist, 32, is best known for her songs I Wanna Be a Cowboy, Baby! and Stay for Something. Her next album, Euro-Country, is due for an August release.

“Thank you so much, have a great festival and free Palestine,” CMAT said on stage to the roar of the crowd. The artist then started a “free, free Palestine” call-and-response chant before blowing a kiss to to the sizeable audience.

Inhaler

Inhaler's Elijah Hewson, who spoke out for Palestine, is the son of U2 frontman Bono. EPA

Elijah Hewson, lead singer of Dublin band Inhaler and son of U2 frontman Bono and activist Alison Hewson, spoke out against the “genocide” of the Gazan people during his Other Stage set on Friday.

“I'd like to dedicate this next song to the people of Palestine. To any innocent people being starved or bombed or genocided for the sake of some lunatics,” said Hewson, 25.

“I feel like we have to say that because I think our greatest strength is freedom of expression, and there's no better place for it than right here at Glastonbury. So be kind to each other and have a great time.”

Bob Vylan

Bob Vylan's Glastonbury set included numerous calls for a 'free Palestine'. Getty Images

Bobby Vylan of the English punk duo Bob Vylan (consisting of two members with the same name) was the most vocal activist of the night, delivering a long speech during his Saturday set on the West Holts stage in support of Palestine.

Vylan said on stage: “We're seeing some messed up things happening in the world. We're seeing the UK and US being complicit in war crimes and genocide happening over there to the Palestinian people.

“I know we're on the BBC so we don't want to say anything crazy. But we have seen, unfortunately, a strange reaction to people that come out and voice support for Palestine. Even though anybody with any kind of moral compass can surely tell that what is happening over there in Gaza is a tragedy.”

Vylan also led the crowd in numerous pro-Palestinian chants, dedicating the set to acts who are “losing their platform to speak up for the Palestinian people and speak against the crimes that Israel and the UK and the US and much of the western world are complicit” in.

“This is for Murder Capital, this is for Kneecap, this is for Amyl and the Sniffers. Every single band out there using their platform to speak up for the Palestinian people. Because we must pray, hope and wish for a day when the Palestinian people are liberated and free from the tyranny of the Israeli government.”

Some of Vylan's other on-stage comments sparked controversy, leading Glastonbury organiser Emily Eavis to issue a statement condemning the bandmember's more inflammatory statements.

Eavis wrote: “As a festival, we stand against all forms of war and terrorism. We will always believe in – and actively campaign for – hope, unity, peace and love.

“With almost 4,000 performances at Glastonbury 2025, there will inevitably be artists and speakers appearing on our stages whose views we do not share, and a performer’s presence here should never be seen as a tacit endorsement of their opinions and beliefs.

“However, we are appalled by the statements made from the West Holts stage by Bob Vylan yesterday. Their chants very much crossed a line and we are urgently reminding everyone involved in the production of the festival that there is no place at Glastonbury for antisemitism, hate speech or incitement to violence.”

Kneecap

Mo Chara of Kneecap, which released a video of public figures speaking out against the pro-Palestinian group. EPA

Irish rap group Kneecap performed on the West Holts stage on Saturday, overcoming an alleged secret campaign from UK music industry professionals to remove the group from the line-up.

While the performance was not aired part of the BBC's live broadcast of the event, their set was well attended and featured an impassioned audience waving dozens of Palestinian flags.

“There's no hiding it. Israel are war criminals. It's a genocide. Free Palestine,” said Kneecap member Mo Chara on stage.

Hours later, the group released their introduction video compiling clips of politicians and public figures speaking out against them on their social media channels, saying “the crowd was so big, a good few heads couldn't see it so here you go”, adding a popcorn emoji.

Jordan Stephens

The Rizzle Kicks musician invited his mother to the stage, who was wearing a keffiyeh and holding a Palestinian flag. Getty Images

English musician Jordan Stephens, best known as one half of the group Rizzle Kicks and as the presenter of the ITV2 panel series Don't Hate the Playaz, invited his mother to the stage to dance during his Other Stage performance on Friday.

His mother both wore a keffiyeh and waved the Palestinian flag, which received a strong response from the audience.