Dua Lipa’s Glastonbury Dream: How She Manifested and Conquered the Pyramid Stage

Dua Lipa commanded the stage with her first-ever headline slot at Glastonbury, delivering a performance that was both ambitious and electrifying. From the moment she stepped onto the Pyramid Stage just after 10 pm, she captivated the audience with a flawless opening sequence of five songs: “Training Season,” “One Kiss,” “Illusion,” “Break My Heart,” and “Levitating.” Each track was accompanied by award-show-level choreography, maintaining an unrelenting pace throughout the night.

The 28-year-old pop sensation dazzled with five costume changes, each embracing a theme of heavy studs and leather. She performed 15 of her top 40 hits, including fan favorites like “Don’t Start Now,” “Physical,” and “New Rules,” along with her collaborations with Elton John (“Cold Heart”) and Mark Ronson (“Electricity”). Surprisingly, she opted not to perform her hit “Dance The Night” live, instead featuring it in a video interlude during one of her costume changes.

Dua’s powerful mezzo-soprano voice resonated through the Somerset air, particularly during the dramatic ballad “Happy For You” and the sensuous “Houdini,” which closed her set. She paid homage to Shakespear’s Sister, one of Glastonbury’s early female headliners from 1992, by wearing a t-shirt with their album cover “Hormonally Yours.”

Throughout the performance, Dua frequently mentioned how she had manifested this moment, dreaming of headlining Glastonbury before even recording her first album. She reflected on her early days, recalling a gig where she performed for just ten people who attended for the free drinks, expressing amazement at the massive audience she now commands.

Almost 100,000 fans watched her perform, filling the area that used to be reserved for campers but was opened up to accommodate the larger crowd. “It’s a lot, innit? A lot to take in,” she remarked, expressing a rare moment of vulnerability in an otherwise meticulously polished performance. Despite the precision and polish, there were genuine, heartfelt moments, such as when she ran down to the barriers to sing with the crowd during “Be The One.”

Dua Lipa was joined on stage by Kevin Parker of Tame Impala to perform “The Less I Know The Better,” showcasing a more relaxed side as she vibed out with him, temporarily stepping away from the strict choreography. “Tonight I get to pretend I’m in Tame Impala,” she beamed.

While the set was tightly controlled and aimed at a global TV audience, it never felt sterile. The show maintained high energy, with even the less familiar new material seamlessly integrated to keep the momentum going.

Lipa’s goal to transform Glastonbury into a nightclub was evident, with her songs receiving sonic overhauls inspired by the 90s rave scene and enhanced with deep sub-bass beats. Her breakout hit “New Rules” was mashed up with “Glue” by Northern Irish dance act Bicep, creating a gritty European nightclub vibe on a grand scale.

Her fashion choices complemented the club theme, blending in with her dancers rather than standing out, and she wore flat shoes to facilitate the intense dancing. With fireworks and confetti throughout the set, Dua Lipa’s performance was a bid for Glastonbury immortality, and she succeeded brilliantly. Other headliners, including five-time performers Coldplay, will have a tough act to follow.