eras tour run

Supported by

How Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour Conquered the World

The pop star’s record-breaking, career-spanning show has dominated the summer, commanding attention and whipping up demand at a level thought unachievable in a fragmented age.

Share full article

Taylor Swift, wearing a sparkly costume and knee-high boots and singing into a microphone, in front of a purple and pink fabric backdrop on the stage.

By Ben Sisario

Reporting from Kansas City, Mo., and New York

As Taylor Swift rolled into Los Angeles this week, the frenzy surrounding her record-breaking Eras Tour was already in high gear.

Headlines gushed that she had given $100,000 bonuses to her crew. Politicians asked her to postpone her concerts in solidarity with striking hotel workers. Scalped tickets were going for $3,000 and up. And there were way, way too many friendship bracelets to count.

These days, the center of an otherwise splintered music world can only be Taylor Swift.

The pop superstar’s tour, which is now finishing its initial North American leg with six nights at SoFi Stadium outside Los Angeles, has been both a business and a cultural juggernaut. Swift’s catalog of generation-defining hits and canny marketing sense have helped her achieve a level of white-hot demand and media saturation not seen since the 1980s heyday of Michael Jackson and Madonna — a dominance that the entertainment business had largely accepted as impossible to replicate in the fragmented 21st century.

“The only thing I can compare it to is the phenomenon of Beatlemania,” said Billy Joel, who attended Swift’s show in Tampa, Fla., with his wife and young daughters.

In a summer of tours by stars like Beyoncé, Bruce Springsteen, Morgan Wallen and Drake, Swift’s stands apart, in numbers and in media noise. Although Swift, 33, and her promoters do not publicly report box-office figures, the trade publication Pollstar estimated that she has been selling about $14 million in tickets each night. By the end of the full world tour, which is booked with 146 stadium dates well into 2024, Swift’s sales could reach $1.4 billion or more — exceeding Elton John’s $939 million for his multiyear farewell tour, the current record-holder.

Swift has now had more No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200 over the course of her career than any other woman, surpassing Barbra Streisand. With the tour lifting Swift’s entire body of work, she has placed 10 albums on that chart this year and is the first living artist since the trumpeter and bandleader Herb Alpert in 1966 to have four titles in the Top 10 at the same time.

“It’s a pretty amazing feat,” Alpert, 88, said in a phone interview. “With the way radio is these days, and the way music is distributed, with streaming, I didn’t think anyone in this era could do it.”

But how did a concert tour become so much more: fodder for gossip columns, the subject of weather reports , a boon for friendship-bracelet beads — the unofficial currency of Swiftie fandom — and the reason nobody could get a hotel room in Cincinnati at the end of June?

“She is the best C.E.O., and best chief marketing officer, in the history of music,” said Nathan Hubbard, a longtime music and ticketing executive who co-hosts a Swift podcast . “She is following people like Bono, Jay-Z and Madonna, who were acutely aware of their brands. But of all of them, Taylor is the first one to be natively online.”

Swifties have chronicled the stream of celebrity fans who have turned up each night: Julia Roberts, the New York Jets’ new quarterback Aaron Rodgers, even Flavor Flav of Public Enemy. But Swift has also made each show a news event by adding two “surprise songs,” often with headline-grabbing guests. On the July day that she put out a music video featuring Taylor Lautner, an ex-boyfriend, the actor backflipped across the stage in Kansas City, Mo., and paid Swift effusive tribute — “not just for the singer you are,” Lautner said, “but for the human you are.” The crowd registered its approval with an earsplitting roar.

The Taylorpalooza extends to every level of the news media, which began the coverage cycle by chronicling Swift’s ticketing fiasco last November, when fans — and scalpers’ bots — crushed Ticketmaster’s systems, leading to a heated Senate Judiciary hearing . Since then, seemingly no nugget of Swift news has escaped coverage, from the stars in the stands to oddities like a Seattle concert that, according to one researcher, shook the ground with an intensity equivalent to a 2.3-magnitude earthquake .

Music critics have portrayed the Eras Tour as showing Swift at the top of her game as a media-savvy, big-tent talent, a pop star with a knack for grand spectacle as well as the polished artistry of a classic songwriter.

Shania Twain, the country-pop star whose career in some ways prefigured Swift’s, caught the Las Vegas stop of the Eras Tour, a 44-plus song production that goes as long as three and a half hours. She praised Swift’s “beautiful balance” of high-tech stagecraft and intimate performance segments. “I have to applaud her,” Twain said in a telephone interview. “As a performer, I know that work that goes into it.”

The power of Swift’s fan army — and fear of crossing the star, or even appearing to — has kept nearly all of the press about the tour sunny. Though some fans (and parents) balked at the ticket prices and challenges of securing seats, most frustration was directed squarely at Ticketmaster, not Swift. After a few weeks of headlines romantically linking Swift with a frontman some fans considered to be problematic, reports spread in the celebrity pages that they had split. (Swift’s representatives declined to comment for this article.)

For fans, the shows are a pilgrimage, and a rediscovery of the joys of mass gatherings. Flights are packed with Swifties, and travelers trade stories and compare outfits — drawn from looks associated with Swift “eras” — in stadium corridors and parking lots. In Kansas City, the comedian Nikki Glaser was attending her eighth show, a commitment that she estimated has cost her $25,000.

“This year I decided not to freeze my eggs,” Glaser said. “I’m going to put that money toward the thing I love most in the world, which is Taylor Swift.”

Before Eras, Swift hadn’t been on tour since 2018. And her catalog has grown by seven No. 1 albums since then, fueled in part by three rerecorded “Taylor’s Versions” of her first LPs — a project hailed by Swift’s fans as a crusade to regain control of her music, though it is also an act of revenge after the sale of Swift’s former record label, a move that, she said , “stripped me of my life’s work.”

“Folklore” and “Evermore” expanded her palate into fantastical indie-folk and brought new collaborators into the fold: Aaron Dessner from the band the National and Justin Vernon, a.k.a. Bon Iver, rock-world figures who helped attract new listeners.

The other major tour this year that is enticing fans to book transcontinental flights, and to show up costumed and in rapture, is also by a woman: Beyoncé, 41, whose Renaissance tour is a fantasia of disco and retrofuturism. Like Swift, she is also a trailblazing artist-entrepreneur, maintaining tight control over her career and fostering a rich connection with fans online. Together with Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie,” a critique of the patriarchy told in hot pink, they are signs of powerful women ruling the discourse of pop culture.

But in music, at least, the scale and success of Swift’s tour is without equal. Later this month, after completing 53 shows in the United States, she will kick off an international itinerary of at least 78 more before returning to North America next fall. Beyoncé’s full tour has 56 dates; Springsteen’s, 90. (Recently, Harry Styles wrapped a 173-date tour in arenas and stadiums, grossing about $590 million.)

Outside Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, fans posed for selfies and shared their ticketing ordeals. Esmeralda Tinoco and Sami Cytron, 24-year-old former sorority sisters, said they had paid $645 for two seats. A stone’s throw away, Karlee Patrick and Emily DeGruson, both 18 and dressed as a pair in angel/devil costumes after a line in Swift’s “Cruel Summer,” sat “Taylorgating” at the edge of the parking lot; they said they had paid $100 for parking but couldn’t afford tickets.

As Swift’s opening acts finished, the crowd rushed in. Glaser, the comedian, later said that of the eight shows she had been to, her favorites were the ones where she had brought her mother — and converted her to Swiftie fandom.

“Everyone is in love with her,” Glaser said her mom told her after one show in Texas. “Now I get it.”

Ben Sisario covers the music industry. He has been writing for The Times since 1998. More about Ben Sisario

Inside the World of Taylor Swift

A Triumph at the Grammys: Taylor Swift made history by winning her fourth album of the year at the 2024 edition of the awards, an event that saw women take many of the top awards .

‘The T ortured Poets Department’: Poets reacted to Swift’s new album name , weighing in on the pertinent question: What do the tortured poets think ?

In the Public Eye: The budding romance between Swift and the football player Travis Kelce created a monocultural vortex that reached its apex at the Super Bowl in Las Vegas. Ahead of kickoff, we revisited some key moments in their relationship .

Politics (Taylor’s Version): After months of anticipation, Swift made her first foray into the 2024 election for Super Tuesday with a bipartisan message on Instagram . The singer, who some believe has enough influence to affect the result of the election , has yet to endorse a presidential candidate.

Conspiracy Theories: In recent months, conspiracy theories about Swift and her relationship with Kelce have proliferated , largely driven by supporters of former President Donald Trump . The pop star's fans are shaking them off .

Log in or sign up for Rotten Tomatoes

Trouble logging in?

By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes.

Email not verified

Let's keep in touch.

Sign up for the Rotten Tomatoes newsletter to get weekly updates on:

Upcoming Movies and TV shows
Trivia & Rotten Tomatoes Podcast
Media News + More

By clicking "Sign Me Up," you are agreeing to receive occasional emails and communications from Fandango Media (Fandango, Vudu, and Rotten Tomatoes) and consenting to Fandango's Privacy Policy and Terms and Policies . Please allow 10 business days for your account to reflect your preferences.

OK, got it!

Movies / TV

No results found.

What's the Tomatometer®?
Login/signup

Movies in theaters

Opening this week
Top box office
Coming soon to theaters
Certified fresh movies

Movies at home

Fandango at Home
Netflix streaming
Prime Video
Most popular streaming movies
What to Watch New

Certified fresh picks

Challengers Link to Challengers
Abigail Link to Abigail
Arcadian Link to Arcadian

New TV Tonight

Dead Boy Detectives: Season 1
The Jinx: Season 2
The Big Door Prize: Season 2
Knuckles: Season 1
Them: Season 2
Velma: Season 2
Secrets of the Octopus: Season 1
Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story: Season 1
We're Here: Season 4

TAYLOR SWIFT | THE ERAS TOUR

Where to watch.

Watch TAYLOR SWIFT | THE ERAS TOUR with a subscription on Disney+.

What to Know

TAYLOR SWIFT: THE ERAS TOUR delivers exactly what it promises: A smoothly directed, impeccably performed documentary capturing the concert event of the year.

Whether you're a hardcore fan or a casual listener, it's almost impossible not to get swept up in TAYLOR SWIFT: THE ERAS TOUR .

Audience Reviews

Cast & crew.

Taylor Swift

Executive Producer

Mark Bracco

Linda Gierahn

More Like This

Movie news & guides, this movie is featured in the following articles., critics reviews.

an image, when javascript is unavailable

Taylor Swift Taps Paramore for European Eras Tour Run

Taylor Swift knows we need more — so she’s giving us just that. The singer has added 14 more shows to the European/U.K. leg of her Eras Tour , and announced that Paramore will provide support throughout the trek.

“Really can’t contain my excitement because… we’re adding 14 new shows to The Eras Tour,” Swift wrote on Twitter Wednesday, July 5. “And I get to travel the world doing shows with @paramore !! Hayley and I have been friends since we were teens in Nashville and now we get to frolic around the UK/Europe next summer??? I’m screaming???”

Really can’t contain my excitement because… we’re adding 14 new shows to The Eras Tour. And I get to travel the world doing shows with @paramore !! Hayley and I have been friends since we were teens in Nashville and now we get to frolic around the UK/Europe next summer??? I’m… pic.twitter.com/kl1aijxR2o — Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) July 5, 2023

Last month, Swift added dozens of shows to her Taylor Swift: The Eras stadium tour — bringing the total count of shows to a whooping 104 nights . She also extended her run at Los Angeles’ So-Fi Stadium with a sixth show scheduled for Aug. 7.

The new addition comes after the singer announced shows in Japan, Australia, Singapore, and Europe earlier this week. (See below for the full tour dates.)

“EXCUSE ME HI I HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY 🙋‍♀️,” she wrote on Instagram. “I can’t wait to see so many of you on The Eras Tour next year at these new international dates!”

She also added more dates to her already-announced Latin America tour. After wrapping her U.S. dates in Los Angeles on Aug. 9, Swift will head to Mexico City for four straight shows at Foro Sol starting Aug. 24. She’ll then stop in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and both Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo in Brazil in November.

Editor’s picks

The 250 greatest guitarists of all time, the 500 greatest albums of all time, the 50 worst decisions in movie history, every awful thing trump has promised to do in a second term.

Joining the artist on her Latin America run and shows in Singapore and Australia will be “sweet angel princess” Sabrina Carpenter.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Taylor Swift (@taylorswift)

Swift first announced the tour last October after she completely took over the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 with Midnights . The added dates, which follow the addition of eight new shows last week, were slotted in “due to unprecedented demand,” according to the singer’s camp.

“Good Morning America, it’s Taylor,” Swift said during the announcement. “I wanted to tell you something that I’ve been so excited about for a really long time and I’ve been planning for ages, and I finally get to tell you I’m going back on tour. The tour is called the ‘Eras’ tour, and it’s a journey through all of my musical eras of my career.”

The tour began on March 17 in Glendale, Arizona and extends through Aug. 9, where the singer will wrap with a fifth night at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. Swift still has stops left in Detroit, Minneapolis, Cincinnati, Seattle, and Santa Clara.

She gave us 8 shows last week, honey, but we want ‘em all. 💕 Due to unprecedented demand for tickets to #TSTheErasTour , Taylor has added 17 more shows in the US! https://t.co/ebjX0GgXTu pic.twitter.com/1NQeUZ7vml — Taylor Nation (@taylornation13) November 11, 2022

Carin León Announces International Tour: 'From Hermosillo to Paris'

The old taylor swift is dead — this time for real, machine gun kelly isn't dumb enough to cross taylor swift: i don't 'want any smoke' with swifties.

Across the tour, Swift is being supported in select cities by a combination of special guests including Paramore, beabadoobee, Phoebe Bridgers, girl in red, MUNA, HAIM, GAYLE, Gracie Abrams, and OWENN.

The Eras tour follows the cancelation of her planned 2020 Lover Fest tour, which was originally going to see her make stadium stops in Los Angeles, Boston, and New York, along with Brazil, Denmark, Norway, and Poland. “This is an unprecedented pandemic that has changed everyone’s plans and no one knows what the touring landscape is going to look like in the near future,” she wrote in 2021.

Swift last went the road in 2018 for her massive Reputation Stadium Tour , which saw Swift accompanied by the likes of Charli XCX and Camila Cabello across the United States, the United Kingdom, along with Australia, New Zealand, and Japan. The tour was the highest-grossing music tour by a female artist that year.

Since her last tour, Swift has released four albums and two re-releases: Lover , Folklore , Evermore , Midnights , and Taylor’s Version editions of Fearless and Red with additional songs. In total, she’s dropped 90 tracks of new material, not including collaborations with the likes of Haim and Big Red Machine.

Fans have long wondered what music she’ll be performing on the road, with some theorizing that she’d host a residency in Las Vegas or a music festival where she’d perform different “eras” on different nights.

Along with packing her setlist with songs from Reputation in 2018, she surprised each city with an acoustic rendition of fan favorites like “Red,” “Holy Ground,” and “Wildest Dreams.” At select shows, she also brought out special guests. Shawn Mendes, Selena Gomez, Hayley Kiyoko, and Maren Morris were among the artists to be brought out by Swift.

The stadium tour was accompanied by a concert film released on New Year’s Eve that year.

She previously took her 1989 album on the road for 85 dates, where she was accompanied by the likes of Mendes, James Bay, Vance Joy, and Haim. Before then was The Red Tour in 2013 and 2014, and her Speak Now World Tour from 2011 to 2012.

Feb. 16 – Melbourne, AUS @ Melbourne Cricket Ground Feb. 17 – Melbourne, AUS @ Melbourne Cricket Ground Feb. 23 – Sydney, AUS @ Accor Stadium Feb. 24 – Sydney, AUS @ Accor Stadium Feb. 25 – Sydney, AUS @ Accor Stadium March 2 – Kallang, SGP @ Singapore National Stadium March 3 – Kallang, SGP @ Singapore National Stadium

May 9 – Paris, FRA @ Paris La Défense Arena May 10 – Paris, FRA @ Paris La Défense Arena May 12 – Paris, FRA @ Paris La Défense Arena May 17 – Stockholm, SWE @ Friends Arena May 19 – Stockholm, SWE @ Friends Arena May 24 – Lisbon, POR @ Estádio da Luz May 25 – Lisbon, POR @ Estádio da Luz May 30 – Madrid, ESP @ Santiago Bernabéu Stadium June 2 – Lyon, FRA @ Groupama Stadium June 3 – Lyon, FRA @ Groupama Stadium June 7 – Edinburgh, SCO @ BT Murrayfield Stadium June 8 – Edinburgh, SCO @ BT Murrayfield Stadium June 9 – Edinburgh, SCO @ BT Murrayfield Stadium June 13 – Liverpool, ENG @ Anfield June 14 – Liverpool, ENG @ Anfield June 15 – Liverpool, ENG @ Anfield June 18 – Cardiff, WAL @ Principality Stadium June 21 – London, ENG @ Wembley Stadium June 22 – London, ENG @ Wembley Stadium June 23 – London, ENG @ Wembley Stadium June 28 – Dublin, IRL @ Aviva Stadium June 29 – Dublin, IRL @ Aviva Stadium June 30 – Dublin, IRL @ Aviva Stadium July 4 – Amsterdam, NED @ John Cruyff Arena July 5 – Amsterdam, NED @ John Cruyff Arena July 6 – Amsterdam, NED @ John Cruyff Arena July 9 – Zürich, SUI @Letzigrund July 13 – Milan, ITA @ San Siro July 14 – Milan, ITA @ San Siro July 17 – Gelsenkirchen, GER @ Veltins-Arena July 18 – Gelsenkirchen, GER @ Veltins-Arena July 19 – Gelsenkirchen, GER @ Veltins-Arena July 23 – Hamburg, GER @ Volksparkstadion July 27 – Munich, GER @ Olympiastadion Aug. 1 – Warsaw, POL @ PGE Narodowy Aug. 2 – Warsaw, POL @ PGE Narodowy Aug. 8 – Vienna, AUT @ Ernst-Happel-Stadion Aug. 9 – Vienna, AUT @ Ernst-Happel-Stadion Aug. 10 – Vienna, AUT @ Ernst-Happel-Stadion Aug. 15 – London, ENG @ Wembley Stadium Aug. 16 – London, ENG @ Wembley Stadium Aug. 17 – London, ENG @ Wembley Stadium

Taylor Swift The Eras Tour 2022 Latin America Dates (Additional Dates Bolded)

Taylor Swift The Eras Tour Second Round Additional Dates (Latest Addition Bolded) March 17 – Glendale, AZ @ State Farm Stadium March 24 – Las Vegas, NV @ Allegiant Stadium March 31 – Arlington, TX @ AT&T Stadium April 13 – Tampa, FL @ Raymond James Stadium April 21 – Houston, TX @ NRG Stadium April 23 – Houston, TX @ NRG Stadium April 30 – Atlanta, GA @ Mercedes-Benz Stadium May 7 – Nashville, TN @ Nissan Stadium June 4 – Chicago, IL @ Soldier Field June 9 – Detroit, MI @ Ford Field June 16 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Acrisure Stadium June 23 – Minneapolis, MN @ U.S. Bank Stadium June 30 – Cincinnati, OH @ Paycor Stadium July 7 – Kansas City, MO @ GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium July 14 – Denver, CO @ Empower Field at Mile High Aug. 7 – Los Angeles, CA @ SoFi Stadium Aug. 8 – Los Angeles, CA @ SoFi Stadium Aug. 9 – Los Angeles, CA @ SoFi Stadium

Taylor Swift The Eras Tour Additional Dates April 14 – Tampa, FL @ Raymond James Stadium May 5 – Nashville, TN @ Nissan Stadium May 14 – Philadelphia, PA @ Lincoln Financial Field May 21 – Foxborough, MA @ Gillette Stadium May 28 – East Rutherford, NJ @ MetLife Stadium July 23 – Seattle, WA @ Lumen Field July 28 – Santa Clara, CA @ Levi’s Stadium Aug. 3 – Los Angeles, CA @ SoFi Stadium

Billie Eilish Would Like to Reintroduce Herself

Kanye west announces 'yeezy porn' amid reports of adult film company, meet the girthmaster, the onlyfans creator who makes up to $80,000 per month, neil young stuns at 2024 tour launch, unveils lost 'cortez the killer' verse.

This story was updated on June 27 at 11:50 a.m. to include Swift adding a sixth night at So-Fi Stadium in Los Angeles.

This story was updated July 5 at 12:50 p.m. ET with Swift’s additional U.K./European shows, and news that Paramore would open on the tour.

Normani Unleashes First ‘Dopamine’ Single ‘1:59’ Featuring Gunna

By Charisma Madarang

Elle King Cuts Loose on Her 'Baby Daddy's Weekend' in New Song

'Raise a Cup'
By Kory Grow

Belinda Continues Her Bélica Rebrand With Natanael Cano Collab

Corrido Coqueto
By Tomás Mier

Santa Fe Klan Introduces Rich the Kid to His 'Música de Barrio' on New Collab 'Plomo'

After more than two decades in reggaeton, wisin is feeling more adventurous than ever.

LLEGÓ EL FRONTÚ
By Juan J. Arroyo

Most Popular

Anne hathaway says 'gross' chemistry test in the 2000s required her to make out with 10 guys: that's the 'worst way to do it' and 'now we know better', 'the lord of the rings' trilogy returning to theaters, remastered and extended, sources claim hugh jackman’s worrying behavior may have something to do with his breakup, first queen elizabeth ii memorial statue unveiled, with a smile and three corgis, in england, you might also like, variety and sony pictures announce television fyc showcase, dua lipa delivers coquette glamour in custom chanel lace dress at time 100 gala 2024, the best yoga mats for any practice, according to instructors, andrew ahn to direct ‘reimagining’ of ‘the wedding banquet’ starring lily gladstone and bowen yang, ncaa names nil registry partner after five-year process.

Verify it's you

Please log in.

Taylor Swift rewards fans with 44 songs at Eras Tour opener: Inside her triumphant return

GLENDALE, Ariz. – When Taylor Swift says she’s going to bring the eras of her career to the stage, believe her.

Not since the most vigorous days of Bruce Springsteen and his legendary live concerts has a mainstream artist packed so much music into one show. On Friday night at State Farm Stadium near Phoenix, Swift kicked off The Eras Tour with a staggering 44 songs presented over a span of three hours and 15 minutes.

But more than just a roll call of her ubiquitous smash singles and fan-beloved album cuts, Swift’s show is as ambitious as a Broadway musical. Numerous moving set pieces, squads of dancers and backup singers, a quick-change costume parade, confetti, pyro, synchronized blinking wristbands and a gorgeous curved video screen to blanket her always-smiling visage to those in the farthest rafters complemented her songs, while her multifaceted band perched unobtrusively on a corner of the stage.

True to its title, The Eras Tour indeed covered every facet of Swift’s career, from a low-key rendition of her 2006 debut single, “Tim McGraw,” to the set-closing “Karma” from her current “Midnights” album. (Only her 2010 “Speak Now” album received a single representation, the lovely “Enchanted.”)

Swift commented early in the concert that she knew her fans – about 70,000 of them on this night – went through “considerable effort” to attend the show, and through her singing, dancing, storytelling, sweating and strutting both on the main stage and the lengthy catwalk, she rewarded them mightily.

The Eras Tour spans the country for 51 more dates through August, including a second round in Glendale on Saturday. As spunky as Swift is at 33, this is a grueling show that will require enormous stamina for the next five months.

But if any artist can achieve the level of perfection she demands of herself, it’s Swift.

Here are some highlights from Swift’s career overview:

‘Lover’ Era

As Lesley Gore’s 1963 statement song “You Don’t Own Me” blasted through the stadium, a clock ticked the countdown to show time – as if these Swifty disciples needed their anticipation amped.

“Miss Americana & The Heartbreak Prince” served as the opening salvo as Swift, willowy in silver sequined boots and a leotard invoking the pastel color motif of her “Lover” album, rose from underneath the catwalk on a massive platform that would be a frequent set piece throughout the show.

Since Swift never toured behind her 2019 album because of the COVID-19 pandemic, this marked the live debut of “Cruel Summer” and also allowed for a sassy presentation of “The Man” with Swift donning an oversized sparkly jacket to frolic on a sleek office set and a cool remix of “You Need to Calm Down.”

Her joy at returning to the stage for the first time since 2018 was palpable Swift absorbed the adulation for a few moments.

“I don’t know how to address the way this is making me feel right now,” she said, visibly moved.

‘Fearless’ Era

Swift skipped out in a short gold dress and with a matching guitar, spinning through a trio of songs from her 2008 release.

A quartet of band members trailed her in formation as she roamed the catwalk during “You Belong With Me.” She ended the song with her arms slung around her four background singers before rolling into a spirited “Love Story.”

‘Evermore’ Era

A backdrop of trees and a darkly theatrical theme introduced “ ‘Tis the Damn Season,” another live debut.

In a rust-colored flowered frock and forest green cape, Swift sank into a cloud of dry ice for the ethereal “Willow” before edging down the catwalk and twirling as if inhabited by the spirit of Stevie Nicks.

But the highlight from the second of the pair of folk-inflected albums Swift released during the pandemic came with “Champagne Problems,” which she performed sitting at a moss-covered piano. As the emotions in the song escalated, the fervent crowd shouted along with every word, sharing in her gleeful venom.

‘Reputation’ Era

From the first glimpse of a snake on the video screens, it was apparent that Swift would next delve into her polarizing 2017 release and she came equipped with the perfect outfit – a fierce one-legged black and red bodysuit.

These songs have always been embedded with attitude, and Swift and her crew ably snarled and tossed out sultry looks while stomping through "...Ready For It?” Beams of lights encircled Swift as she roared during the pop-metal crunch of the anything-but “Delicate” and a cool display of outfits from throughout her career – worn by her dancers – paired with the electro-goth romp, “Look What You Made Me Do.”

The stage was framed, appropriately, in a crimson hue as Swift cavorted through the carefree vibe of “22” and threw in some mischievous stare-downs against the thundering pulse of “I Knew You Were Trouble.”

But it was the 10-minute version of “All Too Well,” which Swift said she was performing as a thank-you to fans, that captivated while the crowd heartily emoted the words of the labyrinthian story song.

‘Folklore’ Era

Swift plucked seven songs from her Grammy-winning 2020 release, dotting her selections including “Invisible String” and “My Tears Ricochet” with pretty simplicity to match her elegantly flowing purple dress.

While her voice easily swerved from gentle to robust throughout the show, Swift’s vocals on the gripping “Betty,” with its singalong chorus, soared as one of her best of the night.

Perhaps her most consistently perky album, the one named for the year of Swift’s birth contains myriad gems.

The gliding “Style” and the undiminished “Blank Space,” with its epic chorus, unfolded with a wink and a snap as dancers wielding Day Glo golf clubs took their best swings at a car (on video).

Hearing the giddy “Shake it Off” after the thoughtful characterizations from “Folklore” served as the sundae after the meal.

‘Midnights’ Era

Swift followed an acoustic segment – which she said she hopes to change up songs for each show – with an aquatic-themed segue that launched with the woozy feelings of “Lavender Haze” (and yes, she wore a lavender ensemble).

Her recent smash, “Anti-Hero,” positioned itself as another addition to her canon that will be heard on tours for years to come, while Swift and her dancers paid homage to Bob Fosse’s “Chicago” with a slinky chair routine to accompany “Vigilante S---.”

At the close of the show, as confetti rained onto the stage, Swift took her curtain call with her entire performance team before taking a victory lap, solo, to express her gratitude to her devotees one more time.

Paramore and Gayle

Opening the evening at 6:30 sharp was Gayle, who delivered a taut set of melodic rockers including the Grammy-nominated “abcdefu” and a solid cover of Alanis Morissette’s “You Oughta Know.”

The pop-punk-rock stylings of Paramore followed just before 7 p.m., with frontwoman Hayley Williams , sporting red ankle boots and constantly swiveling hips, skipping around the stage and catwalk during their nine-song, 40-minute set.

Singalongs were rampant during “That’s What You Get,” “Misery Business” and set closer, “Ain’t It Fun,” while the band also broke out the swaying ballad – not a favorite of Williams’, she admitted – “The Only Exception.”

A smorgasbord of Swift

Taylor Swift set list: Here are the 44 songs on her epic Eras tour
Meet me at 'Midnight': Taylor Swift's 'Midnights' her most personal album yet
All too well: 75 of Taylor Swift's best lyrics, ranked
Return of 'Red': Rerecorded Taylor Swift album a feast of 30 songs
Best of 2022: Where does Taylor Swift's 'Midnights' rank?
New songs from Swift: Taylor drops four new tracks ahead of Eras tour launch

Taylor Swift Performs 6th and Final Concert of L.A. Eras Tour Run: Here's Every Star Who Attended

Taylor swift ‘eras’ tour finale: best moments, jon gosselin gives update on health journey and future with girlfriend stephanie lebo (exclusive), mark consuelos gasses up kelly ripa as she's named one of 'time's 'most influential people', chrissy teigen's daughters visit her dad in assisted living facility to cook and craft, savannah chrisley slams sister lindsie, says dad todd no longer wants relationship, ‘american idol’ alum fantasia barrino 'would love' to replace katy perry (exclusive), watch maya rudolph get emotional over amy poehler's 'love' (exclusive), nicki minaj treats son papa bear to epic day at chicago aquarium, jeannie mai smiles and laughs with daughter as custody battle with jeezy takes a turn, madison beer's 'make you mine': every 'jennifer's body' reference in the sultry music video, jerry seinfeld explains hugh grant's role as tony the tiger in 'unfrosted' | spilling the e-tea, travis kelce’s mom donna dishes on his and taylor swift's star-studded double date, chris pine sports 'hipster' look at 'poolman' premiere (exclusive), jim carrey’s ‘dumb and dumber’ co-star jeff daniels shares sweet message for 30th anniversary, harvey weinstein’s rape conviction overturned: what we know, reba mcentire dishes on acm awards hosting gig and new sitcom, buckingham palace seemingly trolls meghan markle with jam ad, jennifer aniston producing ‘9 to 5’ remake, 'the mummy' turns 25: watch brendan fraser and rachel weisz's rare on-set interviews (flashback), kendra wilkinson's 14-year-old son hank looks so grown up in proud mom moment, usher says son naviyd stole his phone to dm pinkpantheress, jamie king, who named taylor as her son's godmother, and karlie kloss were among the celebs at the sixth night of the l.a. eras tour..

Taylor Swift rounded out her Los Angeles residency on Wednesday -- and she did not disappoint! On Aug. 3, the 33-year-old "Shake It Off" singer began her 6-night Eras Tour run at SoFi Stadium, and she's received lots of love from her famous friends and fans every single night.

Swift drew a massive number of Swifties to the grand arena, which houses over 100,000 concertgoers, belting out some of her massive hit singles.

The sold-out concerts predictably drew a huge crowd of Hollywood's heavy hitters -- including Jamie King, Selena Gomez, Mindy Kaling, Charlize Theron, Taylor Lautner, Emma Stone, Channing Tatum, Kevin Costner and many, many more. Here's a look at who turned up to Swift's celebrated shows.

Actress Jamie King -- who named Swift as the godmother of her son, Leo Thames, in 2016 -- attended the final show of Taylor's L.A. Eras Tour run on Wednesday. King took to her Instagram Story to share a photo of friendship bracelets, including one that read "godmother" as an ode to Swift!

Karlie Kloss was also spotted at the show amid longstanding rumors that the former best friends previously had a falling out. Multiple fans posted videos to TikTok and Instagram of the 31-year-old model with her husband, Joshua Kushner, in the stands.

"[Karlie] initially was seated in the 200s sections, but at one point in the night, security took her to the VIP section," an eyewitness tells ET. "Fans were very surprised to see Karlie there. Karlie was recording some of Taylor’s performances on her phone and singing along to some songs. She looked like she was having a really good time."

Other notable stars in the building on night six included Kerry Washington, Adam Sandler, Amanda Kloots, Kyle Richards, Hillary Duff, Bru on the Radio, Caelynn Miller-Keyes, and Miles Teller's wife, Keleigh Sperry.

Karlie Kloss

Amanda Kloots

Caelynn Miller-Keyes

Adam Sandler

Kerry Washington

Emily Blunt and John Krasinski

D'Arcy Carden

Abigail Heringer and Noah Erb

Sadie Sink and Anya Taylor-Joy

Kyle Richards

Milo Manheim

Sydney Sweeney

Derek Hough and Hayley Erbert

Emma Stone (Again)

Swift's bestie Selena Gomez stepped out again to see the show with her little sister, Gracie. Additional celebs in the audience included Meghan Markle, Taylor Lautner, Emma Stone, Austin Butler, Adam Scott, Jeff Goldblum, Laura Dern, Mariska Hargitay, Courteney Cox, Savannah Guthrie and Kaia Gerber, to name just a few.

For his part, Lautner was spotted handing out friendship bracelets that read "Uncle Tay" at the Aug. 8 show.

Selena Gomez

Taylor Lautner

Savannah Guthrie

Mindy Kaling took her daughter, Kit, out for her very first concert, gushing that it was "the best first concert EVER." Also in a celebratory mood, Charlize Theron was joined by her daughters as the actress partied the night away on her 48th birthday.

Among the other stars in attendance that night were: Cameron Diaz, Tiffany Haddish, Flavor Flav, Kevin Costner, Colton Underwood, Sophia Bush, Victoria Justice, Ashley Greene, Zoe Saldana, Sofia Richie, Kaitlyn Dever, Dane Cook, Haley Lu Richardson, Camilla Luddington, Noah Beck, Chrishell Stause, Emma Hernan, Sarah Jeffery, Dita Von Teese, Renee Rapp, Michelle Monaghan, and Shannon Beador.

Mindy Kaling

Charlize Theron

Chrishell Stause and G-Flip

Kevin Costner

Tiffany Haddish, Cameron Diaz, and Zoe Saldana (who sported Teva shoes and BaubleBar bracelets)

Tyler Hubbard

Michelle Monaghan

Nights 3 and 2:

Channing Tatum was among the Swiftie Dads in the crowd, rocking an appropriately-themed "Anti-Hero" shirt for the occasion. Meanwhile, Alicia Keys scored cool mom points with her 8-year-old son, Genesis, who received a handwritten note from Swift at the show.

Channing Tatum

Emma Roberts (a guest of Divi Official)

Alicia Keys

Lupita Nyong'o with Zach Braff, Donald Faison, Darren Criss

Ashley Tisdale

Jessica Alba, Cash Warren and Their Family

Hilary Duff

Elizabeth Banks and Amy Adams

Jennie Garth

James Marsden

Woody Harrelson

Jesse McCartney

Paula Abdul and Vince Vaughn

Karamo Brown

Max Greenfield and Hunter Schafer

Lana Condor

Sofia Vergara

James Kennedy and Ally Lewber (who wore coordinating Nadine Merabi looks)

Vanessa Lachey

Kaitlyn Dever

Katherine Schwarzenegger

Alicia Keys

Night 1:

On opening night of Swift's L.A. residency, Aly Raisman, Allison Holker, Heidi and Spencer Pratt, Dylan Mulvaney, Dixie D’Amelio, Danny Pudi, Hayley Kiyoko, Sarah Drew, Lizzy McAlpine, Babyface, Loren Gray, Kathryn Gallagher, Stephanie Styles, Molly Shannon, and Katie Couric were among those in attendance.

Vanessa Bryant took to Instagram to share a photo of the specially decorated ensemble she created to pay tribute to both Swift and her late husband, Kobe Bryant. Her jean jacket featured a photo of the Los Angeles Lakers legend surprising Swift on stage during her concert at the Staples Center in 2015.

Swift also surprised Vanessa and Kobe's 6-year-old daughter, Bianka Bryant, with her "22" hat and a sweet hug from the stage during the show.

Meanwhile, Modern Family alum Jesse Tyler Ferguson and husband Justin Mikita got in on the Swiftie craze by making friendship bracelets to trade with other friends at the concert.

"Justin told me I have to make these for the @taylorswift #erastour tonight," Ferguson captioned a photo of himself wearing several handmade bracelets. "I am 47 years old but I don't want to be underprepared."

The friendship bracelets are a popular trend among Swift's famous fans just as they are among her legion of diehard followers.Apart from Ferguson, many other stars showed off their bracelets on social media, including Sofia Carson, Sarah Paulson, Mindy Kaling, Brie Larson, Madelyn Cline, Sarah Michelle Gellar and Taylor Lautner's wife, Taylor Dome.

@keatkeatonthebeat we’re ready for you taylor ✨ #erastour #erastouroutfits #rarebeauty ♬ original sound - 🤍🎧

The official account for the Eras Tour also shared the news that friendship bracelets had been placed on every single seat in SoFi Stadium for the concerts, so everyone could get in on the fun.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department weighed in on the massive popularity of the shows and the security presence, stating that the "massive influx" of concertgoers required them to increase police presence at metro stations and on public transit.

"The (sheriff's) department, in coordination with LA Metro and the Los Angeles Police Department, will be providing additional law enforcement staffing throughout the Metro system to support the Taylor Swift concert series at SoFi Stadium," the LASD stated . "The department is providing a similar level of visibility as the 2022 Super Bowl in order to ensure the safety of the public throughout the Metro system."

Swift's run in Los Angeles wrapped up her first U.S. leg of her Eras Tour , and it comes to a close just as she recently handed out bonuses to a lot of the people who helped make it all possible.

ET learned earlier this week that Taylor gave $100,000 bonuses to around 50 of her production truck drivers and also gave bonuses to her band members, dancers, lighting and sound technicians, caterers and others -- all to the tune of over $5 million.

TMZ was the first to report on the generous payouts and notes they are "end-of-the-tour" bonuses. Swift kicked off the United States leg of her concerts back in March in Glendale, Arizona, and finishes this weekend in Inglewood, California, before heading to Mexico.

Swift is already one of the highest-paid entertainers in the world, but now it looks like her Eras Tour could be the highest-grossing tour of all time, earning a record-setting $1 billion in sales .

Updates on Celebrity News, TV, Fashion and More!

Taylor Swift Announces '1989 (Taylor's Version)' During L.A. Show

Meghan Markle Attends Taylor Swift Show While Prince Harry Is in Japan

Charlize Theron Dances With Her Kids at Taylor Swift's Concert

Taylor Swift Appears Emotional During Nearly 8-Minute Standing Ovation

Selena Gomez Supports Pal Taylor Swift at 'Eras Tour' Concert in L.A.

Cameron Diaz Dances to Taylor Swift With Tiffany Haddish in Rare Appearance at Concert

Taylor Swift

Latest News

Entertainment

As Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour Hits One Year, Let’s Take a Look at Its Staggering Numbers

O n March 17, it will officially have been one year since Taylor Swift's Eras Tour kicked off in Glendale, Ariz. In the 12 months since that fateful first show, Swift has broken untold records , made history as TIME's 2023 Person of the Year , cultivated a new legion of NFL fans , and announced her forthcoming 11th studio album— The Tortured Poets Department , out April 19—among a litany of other accomplishments.

By the end of 2023—less than halfway through its scheduled 152-show run—the Eras Tour had earned over $1 billion to become the highest-grossing concert tour of all time. During that period, every city where Swift played got a substantial economic boost from the so-called "Taylor Swift effect," a term that refers to the singer's unprecedented ability to influence consumer behavior. Following the inaugural U.S. leg of Eras, the U.S. Travel Association estimated that the tour's total economic impact likely exceeded $10 billion.

In the new year, Swift's staggering popularity seems to somehow still be on the rise. Less than a week after watching her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, win the Super Bowl, Swift played to the biggest concert crowd of her career while performing at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Australia during the first run of 2024 Eras dates, following four shows in Tokyo.

In honor of the first anniversary of the start of the Eras Tour, we're taking a numerical look back at the biggest year of Swift's career to date.

Read More: 2023 Person of the Year: Taylor Swift

Number of Eras shows and cities

Swift will have played 83 shows across 30 cities as of March 17. Of those shows, 53 took place in the U.S. in 20 different cities stateside. The remaining 30 were part of the Latin America and Asia-Pacific legs of the tour. By the end of 2024, Swift is set to play a grand total of 152 Eras shows across 54 cities worldwide.

Number of surprise songs

In addition to her 40-plus-song set list, Swift has played at least two "surprise songs" per Eras show. Taking repeats into account, she has performed 145 different tracks (counting mashups of repeat songs as unique entries) as her 167 surprise offerings.

Number of special guests

From MUNA to Sabrina Carpenter to Haim, Swift's Eras stops have featured 10 different opening acts. She has also brought out eight other special guests, from Maren Morris to frequent collaborator Jack Antonoff, to join her on stage at various shows.

Number of people in attendance at her biggest show to date

Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour - Melbourne, Australia

Swift played three back-to-back shows at MCG on Feb. 16, 17, and 18 that were each attended by a record 96,000 people for a three-day total of 288,000 concertgoers. Ed Sheeran, who drew a crowd of around 109,500 each of the two nights he played at MCG in 2023, still holds the venue's single-night attendance record. But that's largely due to the fact that Swift's stage setup took up more room in the arena, cutting down on the number of available seats.

Number of Eras tickets sold

Swift sold an estimated 4.35 million tickets across 60 tour dates within concert trade publication Pollstar's chart year of Nov. 17, 2022 to Nov. 15, 2023. That's an average of 72,500 tickets per show, with each ticket costing an average of $238.95. Using those numbers to extrapolate across shows played since then, Swift has likely now sold around 6.02 million tickets.

Total Eras Tour gross

Based on the approximately $17.32 million in ticket revenue Pollstar estimates Swift earned for each of the first 60 Eras dates, her total tour gross currently sits somewhere around $1.44 billion. By the end of 2024, the tour is expected to have brought in an astronomical $2.165 billion. For comparison, the second-highest grossing tour of all time, Elton John’s multi-year Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour, sold six million tickets over the course of 328 shows to earn $939 million.

Total Eras merch revenue

Taylor Swift Fans Descend On Melbourne Cricket Ground

According to reports from different venues, Pollstar estimates Eras attendees were spending an average of $40 per person on merch at the first 60 Eras shows. That puts Swift's tour merch revenue at an estimated $240.8 million—not including non-concert day purchases—following her first run of 2024 Eras dates.

Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour box-office earnings

Since its Oct. 13 release in theaters, Swift's record-breaking three-and-a-half-hour concert film has grossed $180,756,269 in North America and $261,656,269 globally at the box office. An extended edition of the movie became available to rent via video on demand services on Swift's birthday, Dec. 13, followed by the longest and most complete version of the film, Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour (Taylor’s Version) , arriving on streaming on Disney+ March 14.

Number of new songs

Since the Eras Tour began, Swift has released two re-recorded albums, Speak Now (Taylor's Version) and 1989 (Taylor's Version) , and one new single, "You're Losing Me (From the Vault)," for a total of 45 new songs (including re-recorded songs and vault tracks). In their first week of sales, Speak Now (Taylor's Version) , which featured one Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 hit, and 1989 (Taylor's Version) , which featured seven Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 hits, sold 716,000 equivalent album units and 1.653 million equivalent album units, respectively. "You're Losing Me (From the Vault)" tallied 8.7 million official streams and sold 19,000 downloads in the U.S. in the first two days after its Nov. 29 debut, according to Luminate .

More Must-Reads From TIME

The 100 Most Influential People of 2024
Coco Gauff Is Playing for Herself Now
Scenes From Pro-Palestinian Encampments Across U.S. Universities
6 Compliments That Land Every Time
If You're Dating Right Now , You're Brave: Column
The AI That Could Heal a Divided Internet
Fallout Is a Brilliant Model for the Future of Video Game Adaptations
Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time

Write to Megan McCluskey at [email protected]

Cast & crew
User reviews

Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour

Experience the Eras Tour concert, performed by the one and only Taylor Swift. Experience the Eras Tour concert, performed by the one and only Taylor Swift. Experience the Eras Tour concert, performed by the one and only Taylor Swift.

Taylor Swift
Mike Meadows
Max Bernstein
137 User reviews
38 Critic reviews
82 Metascore
2 wins & 9 nominations

Co-Band Leader …
(as Matthew Billingslea)
Background Vocalist Section Leader
Background Vocalist Dance Captain
Background Vocalist
Dance Captain

All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

More like this

Did you know

Trivia Taylor Swift had the idea for a concert movie in 2022, but no major film distributors showed any interest. Feedback on social media indicated a lot of interest from fans who had never seen her live. Swift decided to distribute the film through her own company at her own expense. The film was a massive box office success worldwide, and her gamble paid off relatively quickly.
Goofs Taylor's hair position changes between shots throughout the whole film. Over shoulder in one shot, behind shoulder in the next jump-cut shot, for example. But like any concert film cut together from multiple performances, this is inevitable.
Crazy credits Credits feature video clips of fans from before the shows & outtakes of things that went wrong on stage throughout the tour, all set to "Long Live (Taylor's Version)".
Alternate versions The Extended Version includes three songs from the tour not shown in theaters: "Long Live", "The Archer", and "Wildest Dreams."
Connections Featured in The Project: Episode dated 13 October 2023 (2023)
Soundtracks Miss Americana & The Heartbreak Prince Written by Taylor Swift & Joel Little Performed by Taylor Swift (c) 2019 Taylor Swift Music (BMI) administered by Songs of Universal, Inc., EMI Blackwood Music Inc. (BMI) All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.

User reviews 137

FinleyKolapo
Oct 14, 2023
October 12, 2023 (United States)
United States
Official Website
Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour (Taylor's Version)
SoFi Stadium, 1001 Stadium Drive, Inglewood, California, USA (SoFi Stadium)
Silent House
Taylor Swift Productions
See more company credits at IMDbPro
$180,756,269
$93,224,755
Oct 15, 2023
$261,656,269

Technical specs

Runtime 2 hours 49 minutes
Dolby Atmos
Dolby Surround 7.1

More to explore

Taylor Swift Announces 2023 ‘Eras Tour’ of U.S. Stadiums

By Chris Willman

Chris Willman

Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic

Taylor Swift’s ‘Tortured Poets’ Becomes First Album to Get One Billion Streams on Spotify in a Single Week 1 day ago
Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour to Release First Album in Nine Years 2 days ago
Neil Young & Crazy Horse, Pearl Jam to Headline Ohana Festival 2024 2 days ago

Taylor Swift announced Tuesday morning her long-rumored return to the road, with an outing dubbed the “ Eras Tour ” scheduled to hit U.S. stadiums beginning in March 2023 and running into August, with international dates set to be revealed later.

The support acts are very much all about the sisterhood, with a host of acts Swift has championed in the past. Opening acts for the U.S. leg of the tour are Paramore , Haim , Phoebe Bridgers , Beabadoobee, Girl in Red, Muna, Gayle, Gracie Abrams and Owenn.

The tour starts March 18, 2023 in what is apparently a sweet spot for Swift, Glendale, Ariz., the same place her last outing, the pre-pandemic “Reputation” tour, began in 2018.

Popular on Variety

As for which album we can consider the tour to be supporting, since she has released four original studios albums since her last tour? All of them. Swift described the tour as “a journey through the musical eras of my career (past and present!),” with a graphic showing her look from different phases of her career.

See the full itinerary, with color-coded graphics indicating which of the nine opening acts got the gigs in which cities:

The public on-sale happens at 10 a.m. local time on Nov. 18. As with all major tours nowadays, there will be an earlier rollout of tickets for credit card members, in this case holders of Capital One cards, beginning Nov. 15 at 2 p.m. through Nov. 17 at 10 p.m. local times.

As with her previous tour, there will be a Ticketmaster Verified Fan program “to ensure tickets get into the hands of fans.” Aspiring ticket buyers can register for the setup now through Nov. 9 here .

Unusually in the modern era of variably priced “platinum tickets” where fans get little information about set ticket prices, Swift has announced the cost of her tickets in advance. They run from $49 up to $449, with VIP packages that start at $199 and go up to $899.

Swift’s announcement promised that international dates are to follow.

There was an attention to detail in the tour announcement even in the graphics signifying the opening acts at different spots in the tour routing, with Bridgers, for instance, being represented by a tiny ghost, in honor of the skeleton costume she’s used on her own headlining tours.

Not accidental, probably, is how that same graphic breaks the tour itinerary down into two columns of 13 dates each. There will be 27 shows in 20 cities. The venues getting a two-night stand are in Los Angeles, Atlanta, Philadelphia and Chicago, as well as Arlington, Texas; Foxborough, Mass.; and East Rutherford, N.J.

The reception for “Midnights” upon its October release left no doubt just how strong the appetite for Swift tickets will be. It had the biggest week since Adele’s “25” album, per Luminate this week, with 1,578,000 album-equivalent units. Additionally, it was announced Monday that for the first time in history, all 10 top slots of the Billboard Hot 100 were filled by a single artist’s songs, with “Anti-Hero” leading the way at No. 1. Fans very much wanted the full album, anyway — of the nearly 1.6 million album units registered for “Midnights,” 1,140,000 were copies purchased in the form of the full album. It became Swift’s fifth album, out of her 10 original studio releases overall, to sell a million-plus copies in the first week out. The figure also represented the best first-week sales for an album by any performer since “Reputation” came out of the gate with 1,216,000.

The “Eras Tour” is being produced in-house by Taylor Swift Touring and promoted by the Messina Touring Group.

The tour’s opening acts expressed their enthusiasm in their own ways, such as the tweet from Muna that declared the group “gay for Tay” and pictured the trio in miniature, resting atop Swift’s lighter on the “Midnights” album cover.

gay for tay 🥺 @taylorswift13 https://t.co/RcKYrfmWFh pic.twitter.com/9gCqvPKnzH — MUNA (@whereisMUNA) November 1, 2022

The full U.S. tour routing:

More From Our Brands

Normani unleashes first ‘dopamine’ single ‘1:59’ featuring gunna, martin short just bought a secluded l.a. home, ncaa names nil registry partner after five-year process, be tough on dirt but gentle on your body with the best soaps for sensitive skin, bridgerton designer explains how color theory aided penelope and colin’s season 3 glow-ups, verify it's you, please log in.

Search Please fill out this field.
Manage Your Subscription
Give a Gift Subscription
Newsletters
Sweepstakes
Entertainment

Taylor Swift's The Eras Tour Concert Film: Everything to Know

From the film's runtime to its streaming release date, here's everything to know about Swift's theatrical event

Mat Hayward/TAS23/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management

If you haven't seen Taylor Swift 's The Eras Tour — or simply want to relive the experience — a film version of the concert was released to capture Swift's career-spanning show in all of its glory.

In the midst of the tour, which launched March 13, 2023 and continues through Dec. 8, 2024, the Grammy-winning superstar's Taylor Swift The Eras Tour concert film was announced, and Swifties instantly scrambled for tickets.

Thousands of AMC Theatres and other participating cinemas across the globe screened the filmed performance throughout fall 2023, and attendees brought the energy from the live show to the movie theater — going all out by wearing the same looks they wore to the stadium. "Eras attire, friendship bracelets, singing and dancing encouraged," posted Swift, 33, on social media when she announced the film in late August.

"The Eras Tour has been the most meaningful, electric experience of my life so far and I’m overjoyed to tell you that it’ll be coming to the big screen soon," wrote the "All Too Well" singer-songwriter.

From the film's run time to its streaming release date and more, keep reading for everything to know about Taylor Swift The Eras Tour concert film.

When did Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour concert film premiere in theaters?

The concert film arrived in theaters across the globe on Oct. 13 — a nod to the pop icon's lucky number, no less. While the theatrical event was originally supposed to only hit cinemas in North American on the date, with dates in other countries to follow, in late September the hitmaker announced that Oct. 13 would officially be the worldwide release date .

“The tour isn’t the only thing we’re taking worldwide…….. 🌎,” Swift wrote on Instagram announcing the news at the time. “Been so excited to tell you all that The Eras Tour concert film is now officially coming to theaters WORLDWIDE on Oct 13!”

The Grammy winner also surprised fans at the film's premiere event held at The Grove's AMC theater in Los Angeles on Oct. 11 when she revealed that there would be special early screenings on Oct. 12 at select cinemas in the U.S. and Canada.

Advanced tickets to the "theatrical concert experience" were originally offered by AMC Theatres, which began by showing the movie four times a day on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, while other participating cinemas followed with their own schedules.

Scott Eisen/TAS23/Getty

How much did tickets for Taylor Swift The Eras Tour concert film cost?

Tickets for the film cost $19.89 (plus tax) for adults and $13.13 (plus tax) for kids and seniors on all screens.

The theatrical concert experience was also available on premium large format screens at AMC, including IMAX and Dolby Cinema, for an additional charge.

Where can fans purchase tickets to see Taylor Swift The Eras Tour concert film in theaters?

Taylor Swift The Eras Tour remains showing in select theaters and anyone who still wants to see it on the big screen can head to AMC Theatres' website to purchase tickets.

When tickets first became available, the demand was extremely high and broke records . At the time, AMC Theatres revealed it had increased its ticket server capacity to handle over five times more traffic than “the current record for the most ever tickets sold in an hour.”

Kevin Winter/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management

Where was Taylor Swift The Eras Tour concert film screened?

Swift's theatrical event was shown at every AMC Theatres location throughout the United States — and there are approximately 950, according to the company's website . However, some theaters showed the concert film on multiple screens, so fans can choose from thousands of options to attend.

Upon its release, the project directed by Sam Wrench was also shown at additional multiplex chains and independent cinemas, as well.

How long is Taylor Swift The Eras Tour concert film's runtime?

The version of the concert movie released to theaters ran at 2 hours and 45 minutes — which is not as long as the actual Eras Tour, which runs for more than 3 hours and 15 minutes. Condensed transitions and song introductions contributed to the shortened run time , as did the exclusion of several songs on the setlist.

As the documentary was filmed during the first three nights of her six-night stop in Los Angeles , when compared to the setlist at the shows, the tracks that didn't make the cut into the film are: "No Body, No Crime" with Haim, "Long Live," "Wildest Dreams,” The Archer" and "Cardigan."

Although some footage was cut from the theatrical release, fans will be able to watch even more material at home. When the "Cruel Summer" singer announced the on-demand release date for Taylor Swift The Eras Tour , she revealed that "The Archer," "Long Live" and "Wildest Dreams" will be added back in, seemingly elongating the run time by about 15 minutes.

Hector Vivas/TAS23/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management

Was merchandise available for Taylor Swift The Eras Tour concert film?

Ticket holders for the concert film at AMC Theatres received a free mini poster of Swift performing on stage alongside the Eras Tour logo. Additionally, special Eras Tour popcorn tubs and collectible cups were available for purchase of either a large popcorn or large fountain drink, respectively, at AMC Theatres while supplies lasted. The popcorn and tub cost $14.99 (plus tax), and the collectible cup and large fountain drink cost $11.99 (plus tax).

When will Taylor Swift The Eras Tour concert film be available on streaming services?

The concert film will officially become available to rent on demand in the U.S. and Canada on Dec. 13 — none other than Swift’s birthday. The singer-songwriter announced the rental release date in late November so fans could join in on her birthday celebrations the following month.

On Instagram she shared, “Well, so, basically I have a birthday coming up and I was thinking a fun way to celebrate the year we’ve had together would be to make The Eras Tour Concert Film available for you to watch at home!”

The hitmaker also revealed that the songs that were cut from the theatrical release of the film for its runtime, including “The Archer,” “Long Live” and “Wildest Dreams,” will be included in the on-demand version.

While Swift revealed that the rental will become available in additional countries soon, it’s yet to be announced when (or if) the film will hit streaming services. In the past, she’s previously released films for The 1989 World Tour on Apple Music, as well as the Reputation Stadium Tour on Netflix. The Miss Americana documentary was also released on Netflix.

How did Taylor Swift The Eras Tour perform at the box office?

The Midnights artist ended up breaking records with the release of her Eras Tour concert film. Even before the movie arrived in theaters, due to advanced ticket sales, it became the biggest concert film debut of all time . By earning $92.8 domestically during its opening weekend , it shattered records and beat out Justin Bieber 's Never Say Never concert film, which grossed $73 million total over the course of its 2011 domestic run.

Celebrate Taylor Swift's incredible career with the new PEOPLE Special Edition Taylor Swift Fearless Superstar, available on newsstands and Amazon.com now.

Manage Account

Everything We Know So Far About Taylor Swift’s ‘Eras Tour’ Concert Film

Coming to theaters near you.

By Hannah Dailey

Hannah Dailey

Share this article on Facebook
Share this article on Twitter
Share this article on Flipboard
Share this article on Pinit
+ additional share options added
Share this article on Tumblr
Share this article on Reddit
Share this article on Linkedin
Share this article on Whatsapp
Share this article on Email
Print this article
Share this article on Comment

Missed the Eras Tour when it came through your city? Don’t worry, you still have a chance to catch it — but this time, on the big screen.

Taylor Swift announced on Aug. 31 that she’d be bringing her massively popular global trek to AMC theaters all across North America, following the conclusion of its first U.S. leg earlier this month. Sharing an 80-second trailer jam-packed with shots from Swift’s career-spanning stage show, the 33-year-old pop star took to social media to announce the exciting news.

Taylor Swift’s ‘Eras Tour’ Is Officially Coming to Theaters: How to…

“The Eras Tour has been the most meaningful, electric experience of my life so far,” she wrote. “I’m overjoyed to tell you that it’ll be coming to the big screen soon 😆 Eras attire, friendship bracelets, singing and dancing encouraged.”

The Eras Tour has been the most meaningful, electric experience of my life so far and I’m overjoyed to tell you that it’ll be coming to the big screen soon 😆 Starting Oct 13th you’ll be able to experience the concert film in theaters in North America! Tickets are on sale now at… pic.twitter.com/eKRqS8C7d1 — Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) August 31, 2023

Just like with the Eras Tour tickets, anticipation for the concert film is so high, Swifties brought down the ticketing app — in this case, the AMC app instead of Ticketmaster — with Swifties tweeting about wait times, and some noting that they couldn’t even get the app to load. Ahead of the concert announcement, the company had even upgraded its website so that it could handle more than five times thelargest ticketing traffic it previously experienced.

“AMC is … aware that no ticketing system in history seems to have been able to accommodate the soaring demand from Taylor Swift fans when tickets are first placed on sale,” the company had said in a statement announcing the concert film, which also warned fans of possible delays and outages of its website.

Keep reading to see everything Billboard knows so far about the Eras Tour concert film, below:

When It Comes Out

The Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour movie arrives in theaters Friday, October 13.

How to Get Tickets

AMC will offer the film in IMAX and Dolby Cinema as well as standard screenings, with fees varying by format and theatre. In anticipation of an expected rush of interest — a.k.a., a repeat of Ticketmaster’s hectic presale roll-out for the U.S. Eras Tour dates — AMC upgraded its website and ticketing engines to handle more than five times the largest influx of ticket-buying traffic ever experienced by the company.

With all that said, standard tickets are $19.89 (plus tax) for adults and $13.13 for children and seniors (plus tax). The film will be available in AMC theaters in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, as well as certain other movie operators that AMC is working as distributor for in those three countries ( Cinemark , Cineplex and Cinepolis).

Every U.S. AMC Theatre location will run the movie at least four times per day on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays while it’s showing.

Tickets are already on sale. Read on for more information on how to get tickets here .

When It Was Filmed, And Where

The Eras Tour film was shot over the course of Swift’s first three shows at SoFi Stadium, where she performed a total of six straight shows in early August. The Los Angeles venue attracted a total of nearly 500,000 fans.

Possible Surprise Songs

The pop star performed a total of six surprise songs during her Aug. 3-5 dates at SoFi, meaning each of them are possible contenders for a featured spot in the film: “I Can See You,” “Maroon,” “Our Song,” “You Are in Love,” “Death by a Thousand Cuts” and “You’re on Your Own, Kid.”

One possible hint as to which of these songs will be included is that the Eras movie trailer shows Swift’s “self-titled” debut as being featured in the film. The sole song from her first album performed at any of the three taped shows was “Our Song,” which cropped up during her acoustic set on Aug. 4.

Plus, against her early tour promise that she wouldn’t repeat any non- Midnights surprise songs, this was Swift’s second time singing “Our Song” during the acoustic section of an Eras show — the first being in Las Vegas in March. Coincidence?

The Runtime

An average Eras Tour concert runs for more than three hours, but Swift’s publicist Tree Paine confirmed to Billboard that the concert film has an official runtime of 2 hours, 45 mins.

It’s unclear what parts of Swift’s show her team may have shaved off to get the movie down to a shorter length.

The Director

The Eras Tour film was directed by Sam Wrench, the filmmaker behind past concert movies like Billie Eilish Live at the O2 and BTS: Permission to Dance . The Grammy-nominated creative specializes in shooting live music content, with a resumé that includes projects for Lizzo, Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, The Weeknd and Mary J. Blige.

There Are Already Easter Eggs

Notice anything odd about those ticket prices?

AMC is charging a standard $19.89 fee (minus tax) for adults, a clear callback to Swift’s 2014 fifth studio album 1989 — which, coincidentally, is also her next “Taylor’s Version” re-record on the docket, with 1989 (Taylor’s Version) arriving this October. Plus, kids and senior tix are priced $13.13, a not-so-subtle reference to Swift’s famous lucky number, 13.

Then, not so much an Easter egg but something worth decoding, Swift included this in her announcement post for the film: “1, 2, 3 LGB!!!! (iykyk).”

Need an explainer? Allow Billboard to translate. Dating back to the Reputation Tour, it’s been a tradition for Swifties to yell “1, 2, 3, let’s go b-tch!” in between the opening refrain and first verse of “Delicate,” which Swift still sings live at the Eras Tour. It all started with a viral video from one fan who originated the phrase, and you can be sure to hear it ripple through the audience in the Eras Tour movie.

It's Going to Be A Full Experience

It seems like Swift is doing her best to make the Eras Tour film viewing experience feel as similar as possible to experiencing an actual Eras Tour concert. That’s because she encouraged fans to engage in all the same festivities as they would at a live show when they hit theaters for a screening: “Eras attire, friendship bracelets, singing and dancing encouraged,” she wrote in her announcement for the film.

Inspired by a lyric in Midnights track “You’re on Your Own, Kid,” Swifties have spent the summer exchanging handmade friendship bracelets at Eras Tour shows — even celebrities have gotten in on the trend!

The Song You Probably Won't See

“‘Tis The Damn Season” is usually a fixture in the Evermore set list, but it probably won’t be included in the Eras Tour concert film. That’s because it was replaced with “No Body, No Crime,” which Swift performed with openers HAIM, in all of the performances that were taped for the movie.

The only way you’ll see the fan-favorite soft jam on the big screen is if it was shot at another one of Swift’s shows without anyone noticing.

It's Not Swift's First Documentary

Swifties may remember that this isn’t the “Anti-Hero” singer’s first time in a feature documentary film, and it certainly isn’t the first time she’s put together a concert film for one of her tours.

Taylor Swift | Eras Tour will follow Swift’s Netflix documentary Miss Americana , which came out in 2020. The Lana Wilson-directed project largely captured the star as she was transitioning from her Reputation era to Lover while finding confidence as an activist.

Prior to that, Swift released concert films for her Reputation and 1989 tours, via Netflix and Apple Music, respectively. She also released DVDs of her first two headlining treks before that: 2010’s Journey to Fearless and 2011’s Speak Now World Tour — Live .

How It Got Around The SAG-AFTRA Strike

The Eras Tour film was created at a time when production on almost every other big screen project was halted by the SAG-AFTRA writers’ strike. Rules of the labor strike, which began in July 2023, mandate that no members are allowed to work on or promote any of their films until their demands are met by production companies — so how did Swift’s come together in that time period?

As it turns out, a source close to the Swift film confirmed to Billboard that the Eras doc obtained clearance under the SAG-AFTRA interim agreement before filming. The agreement green lights individual non-AMPTP (Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers) productions that meet the standards sought by unions involved in the strike, including scheduled breaks, payment for fittings, meal and wardrobe allowances for principal actors and background actors, per diems, rest periods and more.

Billboard also confirmed that the Swift film is included under an assumed name on the list of approved interim agreement projects .

It's Already Breaking Records

AMC announced the morning after tickets went on sale that the film event had already broken its single-day advance-ticket sales revenue records . The haul? An astounding $26 million in just 24 hours. The theater chain noted that its the highest advance sales revenue day in the company’s 103-year history. The previous first-24-hours record for AMC was held by 2021’s Spider-Man: No Way Home , which brought in $16.9 million — an amount that the chain said Swift’s concert film surpassed in the first three hours tickets were on sale.

Get weekly rundowns straight to your inbox

Want to know what everyone in the music business is talking about?

Get in the know on.

optional screen reader

Charts expand charts menu.

Billboard Hot 100™
Billboard 200™
Hits Of The World™
TikTok Billboard Top 50
Song Breaker
Year-End Charts
Decade-End Charts

Music Expand music menu

R&B/Hip-Hop

Culture Expand culture menu

Media expand media menu, business expand business menu.

Business News
Record Labels
View All Pro

Pro Tools Expand pro-tools menu

Songwriters & Producers
Artist Index
Royalty Calculator
Market Watch
Industry Events Calendar

Billboard Español Expand billboard-espanol menu

Cultura y Entretenimiento

Honda Music Expand honda-music menu

Account Settings
The Disney Bundle
Parks & Travel
Walt Disney World
Disney Cruise Line
All Parks & Travel
Movies Anywhere
Disney Movie Insiders
20th Century Studios
Accessories
Disney News
Disney on Broadway
Disney on Ice
Disney Live!
Walt Disney World Resort
Disneyland Resort
Aulani - A Disney Resort and Spa
Adventures by Disney
Disney Vacation Club
D23: The Official Disney Fan Club

Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour (Taylor’s Version)

Concert Film, Music

Experience the exclusive "(Taylor’s Version)" cut of the record-breaking phenomenon concert film "Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour" which contains four additional main show songs not shown in theaters, and an acoustic collection after the credits featuring four unseen performances.

Rated: TV-14 Runtime: 3h 31min

Directed By

'Ready For It' | Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour (Taylor’s Version) | Disney+

'Our Song' | Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour (Taylor’s Version) | Disney+

'You Belong With Me' | Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour (Taylor’s Version) | Disney+

'Blank Space' | Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour (Taylor’s Version) | Disney+

'I Can See You' | Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour (Taylor’s Version) | Disney+

'You Are In Love' | Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour (Taylor’s Version) | Disney+

'cardigan' | Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour (Taylor’s Version) | Disney+

Tonight | Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour (Taylor’s Version) | Disney+

'Death By A Thousand Cuts' | Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour (Taylor’s Version) | Disney+

Maroon | Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour (Taylor’s Version) | Disney+

4 Days | Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour (Taylor’s Version) | Disney+

Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour (Taylor’s Version) | Official Trailer | Disney+

Image of Taylor Swift in a dress from the Disney+ Original special, "Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour (Taylor’s Version)."

Explore More

folklore: the long pond studio sessions

Bono & The Edge: A Sort of Homecoming, with Dave Letterman

Miley Cyrus – Endless Summer Vacation (Backyard Sessions)

Lang Lang Plays Disney

Our Lost Summer | Tomorrow X Together | SOOBIN | YEONJUN | BEOMGYU | TAEHYUN | HUENINGKAI | Disney+ Original | movie poster

TOMORROW X TOGETHER: OUR LOST SUMMER

BTS: PERMISSION TO DANCE ON STAGE – LA

Idina Menzel: Which Way to the Stage?

Encanto at the Hollywood Bowl

Just Love and a Thousand Songs

Elton John Live: Farewell From Dodger Stadium

Happier than Ever: A Love Letter to Los Angeles

A Celebration of the Music from Coco

Black Is King

Disney+ Original Docuseries | Find the power to be heard | Disney | Choir | Disney+ Original

BTS Monuments: Beyond The Star

Hulu | Disney+ | Disney Bundle | Access your favorite stories, Originals, and more from Disney+ and Hulu, with plans starting at $9.99/month. | Get them both. | Terms apply*

*U.S. residents, 18+ only. Access content from each service separately. Location data required to watch certain content. Offer valid for eligible subscribers only. Subject to Disney+ and ESPN+ Subscriber Agreement . For detailed information on billing and cancelation, please visit the Disney+ Help Center .

Taylor Swift's Eras Tour Movie Hits New Milestone

Taylor Swift has again proven that she's a pop culture icon after hitting another impressive milestone with her Eras Tour movie.

Swift embarked on the juggernaut global venture in March 2023 and eventually released a concert movie of it—titled Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour —which smashed box office records after its release in October.

It made $92 million in its first weekend and became the highest-grossing domestic concert film of all time just on those opening days. It also made $26 million on the first day of advanced ticket sales . The previous record of $16.9 million was held by Spider-Man: No Way Home in 2021 .

Now it has surpassed $260 million at the box office, grossing $261,656,269 worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo.

Domestically it has made $180,756,269, which is 69.1 percent of the total, and internationally it has raked in $80,900,000, accounting for 30.9 percent.

Newsweek emailed Swift's publicist for comment Wednesday.

The concert movie was shown in AMC , Cinemark and Regal cinemas in the U.S. and was also shown in Canada and Mexico. AMC previously confirmed that tickets for the Eras Tour movie were the highest advance sales in the company's 103-year history.

The entertainment company had already planned to run four showtimes per day on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, but then said "to accommodate this extraordinary demand... AMC already is adding additional auditoriums to play the concert film at numerous theaters throughout the United States."

Now fans can stream the Eras Tour movie online through platforms such as Amazon Prime, Disney+ and Apple TV depending on their location.

This year has already been huge for Swift, who not only became the first person to win Album of the Year four times at the Grammys in February but in January, she became the first person to have five albums each with over 7 billion streams on Spotify.

Swift's Eras Tour previously broke the Guinness World Record for the highest-grossing tour of all time. The 34-year-old singer-songwriter's dates began in March 2023 and are set to conclude in December 2024 after a total of 152 shows worldwide.

The tour's last concert was a sold-out show at the 55,000-seat National Stadium in Singapore on March 9. Swift is taking an extended break before her next concert, in France in May.

"We got to play 6 shows in Singapore for the most wonderful crowds — just want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone who traveled and put so much effort into being at our shows," Swift wrote on Instagram on March 10.

"What an unforgettable way to end this leg of the tour!! See you in May when we get back to the Eras Tour!! In the meantime, I've got an album to release."

Swift's success this year doesn't end there as she sent fans into a frenzy by releasing her highly anticipated album, The Tortured Poets Department (TTPD) on April 19.

Two hours after TTPD dropped, Swift revealed the ultimate bombshell to her legions of fans: she was releasing a secret double album. The second part includes 15 extra songs, bringing the total of newly released tracks to 31.

Within hours, TTPD started smashing streaming records, including becoming Spotify's most-streamed album in one day. TTPD got 300 million streams in 24 hours, Spotify revealed on its social media.

This broke the previous record that Swift also held with her album Midnights which achieved the feat of 185 million listens in a day.

Kansas City Chiefs Make Subtle Gesture to Taylor Swift in New Photo
Divorced Mom's Reaction to Taylor Swift Song Goes Viral
How Kim Kardashian Allegedly Feels About Taylor Swift Diss Track

Start your unlimited Newsweek trial

Taylor Swift performs during "Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour" at the National Stadium on March 2, 2024 in Singapore. Her "Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour" movie has surpassed $260 million at the box office.

Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

US Edition Change

US election 2024
US Politics
UK Politics
News Videos
Rugby Union
Sports Videos
Photography
Theatre & Dance
Culture Videos
Food & Drink
Health & Families
Royal Family
Electric Vehicles
Lifestyle Videos
News & Advice
Simon Calder
Inspiration
City Guides
Sustainable Travel
Politics Explained
News Analysis
Home & Garden
Fashion & Beauty
Travel & Outdoors
Sports & Fitness
Sustainable Living
Climate Videos
Electric vehicles
Behind The Headlines
On The Ground
Decomplicated
You Ask The Questions
Binge Watch
Travel Smart
Watch on your TV
Crosswords & Puzzles
Most Commented
Newsletters
Ask Me Anything
Virtual Events

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in Please refresh your browser to be logged in

Taylor Swift Eras tour: When is the pop star performing in the UK?

Pop star is performing a string of huge shows in the uk and ireland from june, article bookmarked.

Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile

Sign up to Roisin O’Connor’s free weekly newsletter Now Hear This for the inside track on all things music

Get our now hear this email for free, thanks for signing up to the roisin o’connor’s email.

Taylor Swift will soon launch the European, UK and Ireland legs of her record-breaking Eras tour.

Over the past year, the 34-year-old pop star has been performing her career-spanning shows at stadiums around the world, including North America, Tokyo, Melbourne, Sydney and Singapore.

A month after the release of her 11th studio album, The Tortured Poets Society, she will continue the Eras tour with four nights in Paris at the La Défense Arena.

After this, she will perform two shows in Lisbon, Portugal, then a further two nights in Madrid, Spain, and Lyon, France.

UK-based fans (and those travelling to see Swift from overseas) will then get to see her live during three nights from 7 to 9 June at the Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh, Scotland, before she heads to Liverpool and Cardiff.

Swift is booked to perform a staggering eight shows at Wembley Stadium in London, with the first three taking place between 21 and 23 June, before she returns for the final five nights of her UK and Europe tour between 15 and 20 August.

In between those, she will have also played in Dublin, Ireland, in Amsterdam, Zurich, Milan, Gelsenkirchen, Hamburg and Munich in Germany, Warsaw in Poland, and Vienna, Austria.

Ticketmaster recently announced a major update for fans with tickets to see Swift this summer.

See the full UK and Ireland 2024 dates below:

Fri 7 June – Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh

Sat 8 June – Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh

Sun 9 June – Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh

Thu 13 June – Anfield Stadium, Liverpool

Fri 14 June – Anfield Stadium, Liverpool

Sat 15 June – Anfield Stadium, Liverpool

Tue 18 June – Principality Stadium, Cardiff

Fri 21 June – Wembley Stadium, London

Sat 22 June – Wembley Stadium, London

Sun 23 June – Wembley Stadium, London

Fri 28 June – Aviva Stadium, Dublin

Sat 29 June – Aviva Stadium, Dublin

Sun 30 June – Aviva Stadium, Dublin

Thu 15 August – Wembley Stadium, London

Fri 16 August – Wembley Stadium, London

Sat 17 August – Wembley Stadium, London

Mon 19 August – Wembley Stadium, London

Tue 20 August – Wembley Stadium, London

All UK and Ireland dates will be supported by US rock band Paramore.

In a five-star review of the very first show of Swift’s Eras tour , critic Kelsey Barnes wrote how the US star guided fans through more than a decade’s worth of “her best work”.

“Her ‘Eras Tour’ was designed as a journey through that staggering back catalogue of 10 albums, from her earlier country twang on her self-titled debut to the shift to synth-pop on 1989 , then to the subdued folk and alt-rock of Folklore and Evermore ,” she wrote.

“Throughout the opening night of the tour, it frequently feels as though the audience is being caught up with Swift’s past, present and future. In the 44-song setlist that spans three hours and 15 minutes, she shows why the “era” concept is so integral to who she is. Each chapter marks a specific shift in her artistry.”

The Tortured Poets Department, released on 19 April, is the pop titan’s 11th studio album. It appears to have been inspired, in part, by the five stages of grief. Ahead of the release, Swift shared five new playlists that arrange her songs into those stages: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance.

“These songs represent making room for more good in your life,” she says in a brief audio message that accompanied the final playlist, acceptance. “Making that choice. Because a lot of time when we lose things, we gain things too.”

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article

Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.

New to The Independent?

Or if you would prefer:

Want an ad-free experience?

Hi {{indy.fullName}}

My Independent Premium
Account details
Help centre

Three decades after the Soviet era, this Moscow street echoes what was.

And hints where russia is heading., welcome to tverskaya street.

MOSCOW — Thirty years ago, the Soviet Union ceased to be. The flag was lowered for the last time on Dec. 25, 1991. That moment still raises deep questions for the U.S.S.R.’s heirs: “Who were we as Soviets, and where are we going as Russians?”

Many of the answers can be found on Moscow’s main thoroughfare — named Gorky Street, after writer Maxim Gorky, from 1932 to 1990, and renamed Tverskaya Street, a nod to the ancient city of Tver, as the Soviet Union was awash in last-gasp reforms.

It was the Soviet Union’s display window on the bright future that Kremlin-run communism was supposed to bring. It was where the KGB dined, the rich spent their rubles, Vladimir Lenin gave speeches from a balcony, and authorities wielded their power against one of the most famous Soviet dissidents, Alexander Solzhenitsyn.

A view of Tverskaya Street from a top floor of the Hotel National in 1980, and in August. The street’s changes through the decades encompass the shifts in everyday life from the Soviet Union in the 1920s to Russia today.

In the 1990s, Tverskaya embodied the fast-money excesses of the post-Soviet free-for-all. In later years, it was packed with hopeful pro-democracy marchers. And now , under President Vladimir Putin, it is a symbol of his dreams of reviving Russia as a great power, reliving past glories and crushing any opposition to his rule.

Join a tour of Moscow’s famed Tverskaya Street.

Hotel National: Where the Soviet government began

The window in Room 107 at the Hotel National faces Red Square and the Kremlin. It offers a perfect view of Lenin’s tomb — fitting, since he was Room 107’s most famous guest.

The Kremlin was damaged during the Russian Revolution in 1917. So Lenin and his wife moved into Room 107 for seven days in March 1918, making the hotel the first home of the Soviet government.

The Hotel National in Moscow, from top: Artwork in the Socialist Realist style — which artists were ordered to adopt in the 1930s — still adorns the hotel; Elena Pozolotina has worked at the hotel since 1995; the hotel, which contains a restaurant, was built in 1902; the National has hosted notable guests, including Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin, then-Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and actor Jack Nicholson. (Photos by Arthur Bondar for The Washington Post)

The National, built in 1902 during the era of Imperial Russia, also accommodated other Soviet leaders, including Leon Trotsky and Felix Dzerzhinsky, chief of the secret police. The building continued to be used by the Soviet government as a hostel for official party delegates and was renamed First House of Soviets in 1919.

Guests can now stay in the same room Lenin did for about $1,300 a night. In more recent years, the hotel has hosted notable guests including Barack Obama (when he was a senator) and actor Jack Nicholson.

“This hotel feels a little like a museum,” said Elena Pozolotina, who has worked at the National since 1995.

“We have rooms that look onto Tverskaya Street, and we always explain to guests that this is the main street of our city,” Pozolotina said. “This corner of Tverskaya that we occupy, it’s priceless.”

Stalin’s plan: ‘The building is moving’

When Soviet leader Joseph Stalin demanded a massive redevelopment of Moscow in 1935, an order came to transform modest Gorky Street into a wide, awe-inspiring boulevard.

Engineer Emmanuel Gendel had the job of moving massive buildings to make way for others. Churches and monasteries were blown up, replaced by newspaper offices and a huge cinema.

The Moscow Central Eye Hospital was sheared from its foundation, rotated 97 degrees, jacked up, hitched on rails and pushed back 20 yards — with surgeons operating all the while, or so official media reported at the time.

In 1935, Soviet leader Joseph Stalin demanded the widening of the modest road, at the time called Gorky Street. Buildings were moved, as shown in this 1940s photo. Today, the road is a wide boulevard known as Tverskaya Street.

Gendel’s daughter, then about 8, proudly stood at a microphone, announcing: “Attention, attention, the building is moving.” Tatiana Yastrzhembskaya, Gendel’s granddaughter and president of the Winter Ball charity foundation in Moscow, recalls that Gendel extolled communism but also enjoyed the rewards of the elite. He drove a fine car and always brought the family the best cakes and candies, she said.

The largest Gorky Street building Gendel moved was the Savvinskoye Courtyard. The most difficult was the Mossoviet, or Moscow city hall, with a balcony where Lenin had given speeches. The building, the former residence of the Moscow governor general, had to be moved with its basement. The ground floor had been a ballroom without central structural supports.

Moving buildings on Gorky Street in 1940, from left: A mechanic at a control panel regulates the supply of electricity while a house is being moved; a postal worker passes a moving house; a specialist unwinds a telephone cable during a building move to maintain uninterrupted communication; 13 rail tracks were placed under a house, on which 1,200 metal rollers were laid. (Photos by RGAKFD)

Gendel’s skills were used all over the U.S.S.R. — straightening towers on ancient mosques in Uzbekistan, inventing a means to drag tanks from rivers during World War II and consulting on the Moscow Metro.

Like many of the Soviet Union’s brightest talents, Gendel found that his freedom was tenuous. His ex-wife was called by the KGB internal spy agency in 1937 and asked to denounce him. She refused, and he avoided arrest.

The largest Gorky Street building moved was Savvinskoye Courtyard, seen behind the corner building in this photo from 1938, a year before it was relocated; now, it is tucked behind No. 6 on Tverskaya Street.

“I believe he was not arrested and sent to the camps because he was a unique expert,” said Yastrzhembskaya. World War II, known in Russia as the Great Patriotic War, interrupted the Master Plan for Gorky Street.

Aragvi restaurant: A haunt of the KGB

In the 1930s, the head of the elite NKVD secret police, Lavrenty Beria, one of the architects of the Stalin-era purges, ordered the construction of a state-owned restaurant, Aragvi, to showcase food from his home republic of Georgia.

One night, NKVD agents descended in several black cars on a humble Georgian canteen in Moscow that Beria had once visited. The agents ordered the chef, Longinoz Stazhadze, to come with them. The feared NKVD was a precursor to the KGB.

Stazhadze thought he was being arrested, his son Levan told Russian media. He was taken to Beria, who said that he had agreed with “the Boss” (Stalin) that Stazhadze would run Aragvi. Stazhadze had grown up a peasant, sent to work in a prince’s kitchens as a boy.

The Aragvi restaurant was a favorite of the secret police after it opened in 1938. Nugzar Nebieridze was the head chef at Aragvi when it relaunched in 2016.

Aragvi opened in 1938. It was only for the gilded set, a reminder that the “Soviet paradise” was anything but equitable. The prices were astronomical. It was impossible to get a table unless the doorman knew you or you could pay a hefty bribe.

Aragvi, at No. 6 Tverskaya, was a favorite of the secret police; government officials; cosmonauts and pilots; stars of theater, movies and ballet; directors; poets; chess masters. Beria reputedly dined in a private room. Poet Sergei Mikhalkov said he composed the lyrics of the Soviet national anthem while sitting in the restaurant in 1943.

It was privatized in the 1990s and struggled, before closing in 2002. It reopened in 2016 after a $20 million renovation. But the new Aragvi closed abruptly in 2019 amid reports of a conflict between its owner and the building managers.

“You put your entire soul into cooking,” said the former head chef, Nugzar Nebieridze, 59, celebrated for his khinkali, a meaty dumpling almost the size of a tennis ball. He was devastated to find himself unemployed. But other doors opened. He now prefers to travel, giving master classes around Russia.

Stalin’s funeral: A deadly street crush that never officially happened

On March 6, 1953, the day after Stalin died of a stroke, an estimated 2 million Muscovites poured onto the streets. They hoped to catch a glimpse of his body, covered with flowers and laid out in the marbled Hall of Columns near Red Square.

Yulia Revazova, then 13, sneaked from her house with her cousin Valery without telling their parents. As they walked toward Pushkin Square, at one end of Gorky Street, the procession turned into a scene of horror. They saw people falling and being trampled. Some were crushed against metal fences. Valery, who was a few years older, grabbed Yulia by the hand and dragged her out of the crowd.

In March 1953, Soviet officials, including Nikita Khrushchev and Lavrenty Beria, followed the coffin of Soviet leader Joseph Stalin in a processional in Moscow.

“He held my hand really tight and never let it go, because it was pure madness,” she recalled recently. “It took us four or five hours to get out of there. People kept coming and coming. I couldn’t even call it a column; it was just an uncontrollable mass of people.”

“I still have this feeling, the fear of massive crowds,” added Revazova, 82. “To this day, if I see a huge group of people or a really long line, I just cross the street.”

Neither Revazova nor her cousin knew about Stalin’s repressions.

“People were crying. I saw many women holding little handkerchiefs, wiping away tears and wailing,” she recalled. “That’s the psychology of a Soviet person. If there is no overarching figure above, be it God or Lenin, life will come crashing down. The era was over, and there was fear. What will we do without Stalin?”

Officials never revealed how many people died that day. The Soviet-approved archival footage of the four days of national mourning showed only orderly marches and memorials.

No. 9: The ruthless culture minister

The Soviet culture minister, the steely Yekaterina Furtseva, was nicknamed Catherine the Third, after the forceful Russian Empress Catherine the Great. Furtseva destroyed writers, artists or anyone else who challenged Soviet ideas. She lived at an elite 1949 apartment building for government officials at No. 9 — an ultra-prestigious address with a view of the Kremlin.

Furtseva, a former small-town weaver, made sure that No. 9 was only for the cream of party officials and other notables, such as famous Soviet actress Natalia Seleznyova, scientists, conductors and architects.

Riding the coattails of Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev, Furtseva was the only woman in the Politburo and later became the Soviet Union’s cultural gatekeeper despite her provincial sensibilities. She once infamously mixed up a symphony with an opera, and critics were quick to notice.

In the late 1940s, No. 9 was being constructed; today, the building is home to apartments, shops and offices.

“She had little in common with the artistic leaders of her country except a liking for vodka,” Norwegian painter Victor Sparre wrote in his 1979 book on the repression of dissident Soviet writers, “The Flame in the Darkness.”

Furtseva was famous for previewing performances and declaring anyone even subtly critical of Soviet policies as being anti-state. Director Yuri Lyubimov described one such visit to Moscow’s Taganka Theater in 1969, when she turned up wearing diamond rings and an astrakhan coat. She banned the play “Alive,” depicting a cunning peasant’s struggle against the collective farm system. She “was livid, she kept shouting,” he told L’Alternative magazine in 1984. She stormed out, warning him she would use her influence, “up to the highest levels,” against him.

He was expelled from the party and in 1984 was stripped of his citizenship. She vehemently denounced Solzhenitsyn, and banned the Bolshoi Ballet’s version of “Carmen” in 1967 over prima ballerina Maya Plisetskaya’s sensual performance and “un-Soviet” costumes that did not cover enough leg.

“The ballet is all erotica,” she told the dancer. “It’s alien to us.” But Plisetskaya, whom Khrushchev once called the world’s best dancer, fought back. The ballet went on with some excisions (the costumes stayed) and became a legend in the theater’s repertoire.

Furtseva was nearly felled by scandal in 1974, ordered to repay $80,000 spent building a luxurious dacha, or country home, using state labor. She died months later.

Where Solzhenitsyn was arrested

The Nobel Prize-winning Solzhenitsyn exposed the Soviet system’s cruelty against some of its brightest minds, trapped in the gulag, or prison camps.

Solzhenitsyn was given eight years of hard labor in 1945 for privately criticizing Stalin, then three years of exile in Kazakhstan, a Soviet republic at the time. His books were banned. After release from exile in 1956, he was allowed to make only 72-hour visits to the home of his second wife, Natalia, at 12 Gorky St., Apt. 169. Solzhenitsyn had to live outside the city.

“People knew that there were camps, but not many people, if any, knew what life was like in those camps. And he described it from the inside. He had been there himself, and that was shocking to a lot of people,” said Natalia Solzhenitsyna during a recent interview at the apartment, which became a museum in 2018.

“Many people say that he did make a contribution to the final fall of the Soviet Union.”

Solzhenitsyn, who died in 2008, called Russia “the land of smothered opportunities.” He wrote that it is always possible to live with integrity. Lies and evil might flourish — “but not through me.”

The museum displays tiny handwritten copies of Solzhenitsyn’s books, circulated secretly; film negatives of letters smuggled to the West; and beads made of compacted bread that he used to memorize poems in prison.

“He spent a lot of time here with his children. We were always very busy. And we just enjoyed ourselves — being together,” Solzhenitsyna said. They had three sons.

No. 12 Gorky St., from top: Natalia Solzhenitsyna lived in the apartment for years, and her husband, Soviet dissident Alexander Solzhenitsyn, was allowed only short visits; the site now houses a museum displaying items connected to him, such as negatives containing a copy of a novel he wrote; another exhibit includes Solzhenitsyn’s clothes from when he was sent to the gulag and beads made of compacted bread that he used to memorize poems; the Nobel Prize-winning writer’s desk is featured at the museum. (Photos by Arthur Bondar for The Washington Post)

Because of KGB bugs, if the couple were discussing something sensitive, they wrote notes to each other, and then destroyed them. Two KGB agents usually roosted in the stairwell on the floor above, with two more on the floor below.

“The Soviet authorities were afraid of him because of his popularity among intellectuals, writers, people of culture and the intelligentsia.”

Her favorite room is decked with black-and-white photos of dissidents sent to the gulag, the Soviet Union’s sprawling system of forced labor camps. “It’s dedicated to the invisibles,” she said, pointing out friends.

Sweden planned to award Solzhenitsyn’s 1970 literature prize in the Gorky Street apartment, but the writer rejected a secret ceremony. A Swedish journalist in Moscow, Stig Fredrikson, was Solzhenitsyn’s smuggler. He carried Solzhenitsyn’s Nobel lecture on tightly rolled film disguised as a battery in a transistor radio, and he took other letters to the West and transported photos taped to his back.

“I felt that there was a sense of unfairness that he was so isolated and so persecuted,” Fredrikson said in a recent interview. “I got more and more scared and more and more afraid every time I met him.”

In 1971, the Soviet Union allegedly tried to poison Solzhenitsyn using a secret nerve agent, leaving him seriously ill. Early 1974 was tense. The prosecutor subpoenaed him. State newspapers railed against him.

The morning of Feb. 12, 1974, the couple worked in their study. In the afternoon, he walked his 5-month-old son, Stepan, in the yard below.

“He came back here, and literally a minute later, there was a ring at the door. There were eight men. They immediately broke the chain and got in,” his widow said. “There was a prosecutor in his prosecutor’s uniform, two men in plainclothes, and the rest were in military uniform. They told him to get dressed.”

“We hugged and we kept hugging for quite a while,” she recalled. “The last thing he told me was to take care of the children.”

He was deported to West Germany. The couple later settled in Vermont and set up a fund to help dissident writers, using royalties from his book “The Gulag Archipelago.” About 1,000 people still receive money from the fund, according to Solzhenitsyna.

When the writer and his wife returned to Russia in 1994, they traveled across the country by train. Thousands of people crushed into halls to hear him speak.

Solzhenitsyn abhorred the shock therapy and unchecked capitalism of the 1990s and preferred Putin’s tough nationalism. He died of heart failure at 89 in August 2008, five months after a presidential election in which Putin switched places with the prime minister, Dmitry Medvedev, in a move that critics saw as a ploy to get around constitutional term limits.

No. 6: ‘Feasts of thought’

Behind a grand Stalin-era apartment block at 6 Gorky St. sits an ornate 1907 building famous for its facade, art nouveau glazed blue tiles, elegant arches and baroque spires. Once a monastery dormitory, it was a staple of pre-Soviet postcards from Moscow. But in November 1939, the 26,000-ton building was put on rails and pushed back to widen the street.

Linguists Lev and Raisa Kopelev lived in Apt. 201 on the top floor. Their spacious dining room became a favored haven for Moscow’s intelligentsia from the 1950s to the 1980s.

During the Tverskaya Street reconstruction, the Savvinskoye building, where Apt. 201 was located, was pushed back into the yard and blocked by this Stalin-era apartment block, shown in 1966 and today.

“People gathered all the time — to talk. In this apartment, like many other kitchens and dining rooms, at tables filled more often than not with vodka, herring and vinaigrette salad, feasts of thought took place,” said Svetlana Ivanova, Raisa’s daughter from another marriage, who lived in the apartment for nearly four decades.

Solzhenitsyn and fellow dissident Joseph Brodsky were Kopelev family friends, as were many other artists, poets, writers and scientists who formed the backbone of the Soviet human rights movement of the 1960s.

As a writer and dissident, Kopelev had turned his back on the Communist Party and a prestigious university position. The onetime gulag prisoner inspired the character Lev Rubin in Solzhenitsyn’s novel “In the First Circle,” depicting the fate of arrested scientists.

“The apartment was a special place for everyone. People there were not afraid to speak their mind on topics that would be considered otherwise risky,” Ivanova said. “A new, different spirit ruled in its walls.”

Eliseevsky: Pineapples during a famine

The Eliseevsky store at No. 16 was a landmark for 120 years — born in czarist Russia, a witness to the rise and fall of the Soviet Union, a survivor of wars, and a bastion during eras of shortages and plenty. It closed its doors in April.

Eliseevsky fell on hard times during the coronavirus pandemic, as international tourists dwindled and Russians sought cheaper grocery-shopping alternatives.

In the palace-like interior, two chandeliers hang from an ornate ceiling. Gilt columns line the walls. The front of the store, looking out at Tverskaya Street, has a row of stained glass.

The Eliseevsky store, which opened in 1901, is seen in April, with a few customers and some archival photos, as it prepared to close as an economic victim of the coronavirus pandemic. (Photos by Arthur Bondar for The Washington Post)

Denis Romodin, a historian at the Museum of Moscow, said Eliseevsky is one of only two retail spaces in Moscow with such pre-revolutionary interiors. But Eliseevsky’s level of preservation made it “one of a kind,” he said.

The building was once owned by Zinaida Volkonskaya, a princess and Russian cultural figure in the 19th century. She remodeled the house into a literary salon whose luminaries included Russia’s greatest poet, Alexander Pushkin.

St. Petersburg merchant Grigory Eliseev opened the market in 1901. It quickly became a hit among Russian nobility for its selection of European wines and cheeses.

In 1934, the Eliseevsky store is seen next to a building that is being constructed; in September, the market, a landmark for 120 years, was empty, having closed in April.

Romodin said it was Russia’s first store with price tags. Before Eliseevsky, haggling was the norm. And it was also unique in having innovative technology for the time: electric-powered refrigerators and display cases that allowed goods to be stored longer.

Even in the Soviet Union’s hungriest years, the 1930s famine, Eliseevsky stocked pineapples.

“One could find outlandish delicacies here, which at that time seemed very exotic,” Romodin said. “It was already impossible to surprise Muscovites with wine shops. But a grocery store with luxurious interiors, and large for that time, amazed and delighted Muscovites.”

The First Gallery: A glimpse of openness

In 1989, in a dusty government office by a corner of Pushkin Square, three young artists threw off decades of suffocating state control and opened the Soviet Union’s first independent art gallery.

That April, Yevgeny Mitta and two fellow students, Aidan Salakhova and Alexander Yakut, opened First Gallery. At the time, the Soviet Union was opening up under policies including glasnost, which gave more room for public debate and criticism.

Artists were ordered to adopt the Socialist Realist style in 1934, depicting scenes such as happy collective farmworkers. Expressionist, abstract and avant-garde art was banned. From the 1970s, underground art exhibitions were the only outlets to break the Soviet-imposed rules.

The First Gallery, from top: Yevgeny Mitta, Aidan Salakhova and Alexander Yakut opened the Soviet Union’s first independent art gallery in 1989 and received media attention; Mitta works on a painting that he displayed at his gallery; Mitta recalled recently that he “felt we had to make something new”; an undated photo of Mitta at his gallery in Soviet times. (Photos by Arthur Bondar for The Washington Post and courtesy of Yevgeny Mitta)

“I just felt we had to make something new,” recalled Mitta, 58, who kept his interest in contemporary expressionism a secret at a top Moscow art school in the 1980s.

“It was like nothing really happened in art history in the 20th century, like it stopped,” he said. “The Socialist Realism doctrine was invented and spread to the artists as the only one, possible way of developing paintings, films and literature.”

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, artists had to “learn how to survive, what to do, how to work and make a living,” he said.

McDonald’s: ‘We were not used to smiling’

In the Soviet Union’s final years, a mania raged for all things Western. Estée Lauder opened the first Western-brand shop on Gorky Street in 1989, after meeting Raisa Gorbachev, the wife of reformist Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, in December 1988.

The Soviet Union’s first McDonald’s, located across Pushkin Square on Gorky Street, opened on Jan. 31, 1990 — a yellow-arched symbol of Gorbachev’s perestroika economic reforms. Pizza Hut opened later that year. (In 1998, Gorbachev starred in a commercial for the pizza chain.)

Karina Pogosova and Anna Patrunina were cashiers at the McDonald’s on opening day. The line stretched several blocks. Police officers stood watch to keep it organized.

The Soviet Union’s first McDonald’s opened in 1990 and eager customers lined up to enter; Karina Pogosova, left, and Anna Patrunina were cashiers at the fast-food restaurant on Gorky Street then, and they are senior executives with the company today. (Photos by Peter Turnley/Corbis/VCG/Getty Images and Arthur Bondar for The Washington Post)

“The atmosphere was wonderful. The first day I had to smile the entire day and my face muscles hurt,” Patrunina said. “This is not a joke. Russians do not smile in general, so we were not used to smiling at all, not to mention for more than eight hours straight.”

Pogosova and Patrunina were students at the Moscow Aviation Institute when they learned McDonald’s was hiring through an ad in a Moscow newspaper. Interview questions included: “How fast can you run 100 meters?” It was to gauge if someone was energetic enough for the job.

Pogosova and Patrunina are still with the company today, as senior vice president of development and franchising and vice president of operations, respectively.

“I thought that this is the world of opportunities and this new world is coming to our country, so I must be in this new world,” Patrunina said.

The smiling staff wasn’t the only culture shock for customers. Some had never tried the fountain sodas that were available. They were unaccustomed to food that wasn’t eaten with utensils. The colorful paper boxes that Big Macs came in were occasionally saved as souvenirs.

McDonald’s quickly became a landmark on the street.

“I remember very well that the street and the entire city was very dark and McDonald’s was like an island of light with bright signage,” Pogosova said. “The street started to change after McDonald’s opened its first restaurant there.”

Wild ’90s and a missing ballerina

The end of the Soviet Union uncorked Moscow’s wild 1990s. Some people made instant fortunes by acquiring state-owned enterprises at throwaway prices. Rules were being written on the fly. The city was pulsing with possibilities for those with money or those desperate to get some.

“It was easy to get drunk on this,” said Alex Shifrin, a former Saatchi & Saatchi advertising executive from Canada who lived in Moscow from the mid-1990s until the late 2000s.

It all was on full display at Night Flight, Moscow’s first nightclub, opened by Swedish managers in 1991, in the final months of the Soviet Union, at Tverskaya 17. The club introduced Moscow’s nouveau elite to “face control” — who merits getting past the rope line — and music-throbbing decadence.

The phrase “standing on Tverskaya” made its way into Russian vernacular as the street became a hot spot for prostitutes. Toward the end of the 2000s, Night Flight had lost its luster. The club scene in Moscow had moved on to bigger and bolder venues.

Decades before, No. 17 had been famous as the building with the dancer: a statue of a ballerina, holding a hammer and sickle, placed atop the cupola during Stalin’s building blitz.

The statue of a ballerina, holding a hammer and sickle, could be seen atop the building at No. 17 in this 1943 photo; today, the dancer is missing.

Muscovites nicknamed the building the House Under the Skirt.

“The idea was to have Gorky Street as a museum of Soviet art. The statues represented a dance of socialism,” art historian Pavel Gnilorybov said. “The ballerina was a symbol of the freedom of women and the idea that, before the revolution, women were slaves. It is as if she is singing an ode to the regime.”

The crumbling statues were removed by 1958. People forgot them. Now a group of Muscovites, including Gnilorybov, are campaigning for the return of the ballerina.

“It’s an idea that we want to give the city as a gift. It’s not political,” he said. “It’s beautiful.”

Pushkin Square: For lovers and protesters

Pushkin Square has been Moscow’s favorite meeting place for friends, lovers and political demonstrations.

In November 1927, Trotskyist opponents of Stalin marched to the 27th House of Soviets at one end of Tverskaya Street, opposite the Hotel National, in one of the last public protests against the Soviet ruler.

A celebration to say goodbye to winter at Pushkin Square in February 1987.

In December 1965, several dozen dissidents gathered in Pushkin Square to protest the trials of two writers. It became an annual event. People would gather just before 6 p.m. and, on the hour, remove their hats for a minute.

In 1987, dissidents collected signatures at Pushkin Square and other locations calling for a memorial to those imprisoned or killed by the Soviet state. The movement evolved into Memorial, a leading human rights group. Memorial was declared a “foreign agent” in 2016 under Putin’s sweeping political crackdowns.

In January 2018, left, and January 2021, right, protesters gathered at Pushkin Square. (Photos by Arthur Bondar for The Washington Post)

Protests in support of opposition leader Alexei Navalny were held at Pushkin Square earlier this year. And it is where communists and liberals rallied on a rainy September night to protest 2021 parliamentary election results that gave a landslide win to Putin’s United Russia party despite widespread claims of fraud.

Nearly 30 years after the fall of the U.S.S.R., Putin’s Russia carries some echoes of the stories lived out in Soviet times — censorship and repressions are returning. Navalny was poisoned by a nerve agent in 2020 and later jailed. Many opposition figures and independent journalists have fled the country. The hope, sleaze and exhilaration of the 1990s have faded. Tverskaya Street has settled into calm stagnation, waiting for the next chapter.

Arthur Bondar contributed to this report.

Correction: A map accompanying this article incorrectly spelled the first name of a former Soviet leader. He is Vladimir Lenin, not Vladmir Lenin. The map has been corrected.

About this story

Story editing by Robyn Dixon and Brian Murphy. Photos and videos by Arthur Bondar. Archival footage from the Russian State Documentary Film and Photo Archive at Krasnogorsk; footage of Joseph Stalin’s funeral from the Martin Manhoff Archive, courtesy of Douglas Smith. Photo editing by Chloe Coleman. Video editing by Jason Aldag. Design and development by Yutao Chen. Design editing by Suzette Moyer. Maps by Dylan Moriarty. Graphics editing by Lauren Tierney. Copy editing by Melissa Ngo.

2018 Primetime Emmy & James Beard Award Winner

R&K Insider

Join our newsletter to get exclusives on where our correspondents travel, what they eat, where they stay. Free to sign up.

A History of Moscow in 13 Dishes

Featured city guides.

IMAGES

Taylor Swift anuncia "The Eras Tour 2023" (¿llega a México?)
Andrew Thornton Viral: Taylor Swift Eras Tour Setlist Night 1
Taylor Swift's Eras Tour at MetLife Stadium: Best Moments of Night 1
Taylor Swift's 'Eras' tour heads to NRG Stadium in Houston
The Eras Tour Run (Two Part Event), United Athletics Fitness
Taylor Swift Extendes London Eras Tour Run With 2 New Shows Featuring

COMMENTS

Tour
Don't miss the chance to see Taylor Swift live on The Eras Tour, a spectacular show that celebrates her musical journey from her debut album to her latest re-recordings. Find out the dates and locations of her international concerts and get your tickets now. You can also shop for exclusive merchandise, such as vinyls, CDs, hoodies, and snow globes, from her official store.
Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour
Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour is a 2023 American concert film produced by the singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. Directed by Sam Wrench, ... The Eras Tour became the highest-grossing concert film of all-time, earning $261.7 million in its limited theatrical run worldwide. It received acclaim from critics, most of whom praised the direction ...
The Eras Tour
The Eras Tour is the ongoing sixth concert tour by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift.Consisting of 152 shows across five continents, the tour commenced on March 17, 2023, in Glendale, Arizona, United States, and is set to conclude on December 8, 2024, in Vancouver, Canada.With a global cultural impact, in 2023, the Eras Tour became the first tour to surpass $1 billion in revenue ...
How Taylor Swift's Eras Tour Conquered the World
Leer en español. As Taylor Swift rolled into Los Angeles this week, the frenzy surrounding her record-breaking Eras Tour was already in high gear. Headlines gushed that she had given $100,000 ...
Taylor Swift's The Eras Tour Is a 3-Hour Career-Spanning Victory Lap
Taylor Swift performs onstage for the opening night of "Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour" at State Farm Stadium on March 17, 2023 in Swift City, ERAzona (Glendale, Arizona).
TAYLOR SWIFT
Nov 8, 2023. Apr 8, 2024. Rated: 3/4 • Apr 7, 2024. Rated: 4/5 • Apr 2, 2024. The cultural phenomenon continues on the big screen! Immerse yourself in this once-in-a-lifetime concert film ...
Taylor Swift's Eras Tour Triumph
May 29, 2023. Taylor Swift performs onstage at MetLife Stadium on May 26, 2023, in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Griffin Lotz for Rolling Stone. "Jersey, welcome to the Eras Tour!". Taylor ...
Taylor Swift Eras Tour: Breaking down the epic setlist and surprise songs
The Eras Tour encompasses 44 songs across Taylor Swift's 10 albums over a three-hour set. Taylor Swift opened The Eras Tour, her first tour concert since 2018, on March 17 in Glendale, Arizona ...
Taylor Swift Taps Paramore for European Eras Tour Run
Before then was The Red Tour in 2013 and 2014, and her Speak Now World Tour from 2011 to 2012. Taylor Swift The Eras Tour 2023 Europe, Asia, Australia (new dates in bold) Feb. 7 - Tokyo, JPN ...
Taylor Swift's Eras Tour is a triumph: Inside the 3-hour, 44-song show
On Friday night at State Farm Stadium near Phoenix, Swift kicked off The Eras Tour with a staggering 44 songs presented over a span of three hours and 15 minutes. But more than just a roll call of ...
Taylor Swift's L.A. Eras Tour Run: Here's Every Star Who Attended
Actress Jamie King -- who named Swift as the godmother of her son, Leo Thames, in 2016 -- attended the final show of Taylor's L.A. Eras Tour run on Wednesday. King took to her Instagram Story to ...
Taylor Swift Eras Tour Anniversary: By the Numbers
That puts Swift's tour merch revenue at an estimated $240.8 million—not including non-concert day purchases—following her first run of 2024 Eras dates. Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour box-office ...
Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour (2023)
Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour: Directed by Sam Wrench. With Taylor Swift, Mike Meadows, Max Bernstein, Paul Sidoti. Experience the Eras Tour concert, performed by the one and only Taylor Swift.
Taylor Swift
The Eras Tour has broken many records such as generating approx. $1 billion, making it the most successful show ever. Also in her newest movie for the show on Disney+ named "Taylor Swift: The ...
Taylor Swift Announces 2023 'Eras Tour' of U.S. Stadiums
They run from $49 up to $449, with VIP packages that start at $199 and go up to $899. ... The "Eras Tour" is being produced in-house by Taylor Swift Touring and promoted by the Messina Touring ...
Taylor Swift's The Eras Tour Concert Film: Everything to Know
If you haven't seen Taylor Swift 's The Eras Tour — or simply want to relive the experience — a film version of the concert was released to capture Swift's career-spanning show in all of its ...
Taylor Swift's Eras Tour Concert Film: Everything We Know So Far
An average Eras Tour concert runs for more than three hours, but Swift's publicist Tree Paine confirmed to Billboard that the concert film has an official runtime of 2 hours, 45 mins.
Taylor Swift
TV-14. Runtime: 3h 31min. Genre: Concert Film, Music. Experience the exclusive " (Taylor's Version)" cut of the record-breaking phenomenon concert film "Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour" which contains four additional main show songs not shown in theaters, and an acoustic collection after the credits featuring four unseen performances. Directed By.
Taylor Swift's Eras Tour Movie Hits New Milestone
Swift's Eras Tour previously broke the Guinness World Record for the highest-grossing tour of all time. The 34-year-old singer-songwriter's dates began in March 2023 and are set to conclude in ...
Taylor Swift
The Eras Tour Dates. 42. The Eras Tour Outfits. 43. The Eras Tour Intro (It's Been a Long Time Coming) 44. The Eras Tour Special Guests. 45. The Eras Tour Surprise Songs Mashups. 46.
Taylor Swift Eras tour: When is the pop star performing in the UK?
Taylor Swift will soon launch the European, UK and Ireland legs of her record-breaking Eras tour. Over the past year, the 34-year-old pop star has been performing her career-spanning shows at ...
Moscow Metro
The Moscow Metro is a metro system serving the Russian capital of Moscow as well as the neighbouring cities of Krasnogorsk, Reutov, Lyubertsy and Kotelniki in Moscow Oblast.Opened in 1935 with one 11-kilometre (6.8 mi) line and 13 stations, it was the first underground railway system in the Soviet Union.. As of 2023, the Moscow Metro, excluding the Moscow Central Circle, the Moscow Central ...
Welcome to Tverskaya Street
Behind a grand Stalin-era apartment block at 6 Gorky St. sits an ornate 1907 building famous for its facade, art nouveau glazed blue tiles, elegant arches and baroque spires.
A tour along Arbat Street, the most famous street in Moscow
1. Arbat, the most charming street in Moscow. The Arbat Quarter or District is a historic district in Moscow where the famous Arbat Street (or Old Arbat) is located, about a 20-30 minute walk west of Red Square, or 15 minutes from the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, to mention two central landmarks.. Located in the historic center of Moscow between Arbatskaya and Smolenskaya-Sennaya Squares ...
Walking Tour: Central Moscow from the Arbat to the Kremlin
This tour takes you from one of Moscow's oldest streets to its newest park, hitting the Kremlin, some illustrious shopping centers, architectural curiosities, and some of the city's finest snacks. ... The ground floor is a privately-run museum, ... which date back to the Tsar Alexander III era. (Late 19th century, for you Tsar-buffs.) For ...