From the moment Taylor Swift’s “Eras” tour crashed Ticketmaster, the world knew it would be the biggest concert event of the year. Now, almost two years after the tour began, it has come to an end – with historic earnings and as the largest pop event of its kind. A true legacy.
Swift not only played to sold-out stadiums, but also to thousands of fans who lined up in front of the venues without tickets or followed the spectacle on social media. Throughout the tour, she continued to exceed fans’ expectations with surprises, big announcements, celebrity guests and memorable performances that made the experience even more memorable.
In celebration of this monumental tour, and in chronological order, here are the best moments from the “Eras” tour.
We find out the show is 3 hours long
In addition to the thousands of fans who flocked to State Farm Stadium in Glendale for the Eras Tour premiere, there were even more who watched the show via Instagram and TikTok Lives. Swifties around the globe had no idea what to expect from the pop star’s new live show; Since her last tour in 2018, she had released four albums of original music, as well as re-recorded versions of two previous albums. Would she focus on 2022’s Midnights? Would “Folklore” and “Evermore” also work in a stadium? Everyone was on edge as the evening unfolded into 3.5 hours, during which Swift played through sets from every album except her debut album (which got some love during the surprise song portion of the evening). It felt like a fever dream for fans and made the Ticketmaster debacle worth even more than anyone could have imagined. -Brittany Spanos
Her first “Bridge of the Evening” speech
To seal our fate, Taylor made the “Cruel Summer” bridge a celebration every night this summer. As she announces just a few minutes into the show: “We’ve arrived at the very first bridge of the evening! Now I want us to cross it together!” A perfect invitation from a songwriter who has always specialized in the Middle Eight. There’s another highlight later in the show when she sings the bridge of “Illicit Affairs” – not the rest of the song, just the “Don’t call me kid!” Don’t call me baby!” chants in the middle. Who else could get away with that? We can’t wait for Taylor’s “Bridges Tour” – just four hours of her Bridges. -Rob Sheffield
“Cruel Summer” becomes a Top 10 hit
Any artist can have a hit during a tour. But catapulting a 2019 fan favorite into the top ten is a feat. Fans always wondered why “Cruel Summer” was never a single – it sounded like the lost summer hit of Lover, the summer hit that could have been. But a year later, the world was in “folklore” mode, and “Cruel Summer” was forgotten – a hit that slipped away like a bottle of wine. Until now. It was finally released as a single just in time for the “Eras Tour”. “Cruel Summer” became her 41st top ten hit in July, reaching No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 on the Pop Airplay chart. A very Swiftian redemption arc for this perfect pop song – isn’t that the worst thing you’ve ever heard? —RS
Taylor’s speech in defense of “Evermore”
“Evermore” is often compared to “Folklore” and viewed as the less popular sister album. However, hardcore fans of “Evermore” passionately defend the album, “champagne problems” and all. Fans were absolutely convinced that Swift didn’t like “Evermore” when she didn’t acknowledge the album’s one-year anniversary on social media. But Taylor always listens and wasted no time in dispelling this rumor, directly addressing it on the first night of the Eras tour in Glendale, Arizona. “We’re in the middle of the ‘Evermore’ album right now,” she told the crowd after “Marjorie.” “An album that I absolutely love, no matter what some of you say on TikTok.” How about that to end? —Angie Martoccio
The long standing ovation after “Champagne Problems”
Every evening, Taylor sits alone at the piano to play “Champagne Problems” – her first solo performance of the evening. And every time it ignites euphoria in the audience. It’s a moment where the audience literally stops the show to scream for minutes, leaving Taylor no chance to continue. In LA last week the applause lasted eight minutes. (Never stop, LA – you’re the Dorothea of cities.) Since she doesn’t take a traditional encore break, this is an opportunity for the audience to take the mic and express themselves to the fullest – an unorthodox but completely organic moment. Like so many details of the Swiftian live experience, it’s a fan-made phenomenon that takes on a life of its own. It’s also proof that, in the context of the Eras tour, “Evermore” is actually more era than any other era. —RS
Marcus Mumford sings “Cowboy Like Me” in Las Vegas
Taylor knew “Cowboy Like Me” was special the moment she wrote it – who else could come up with a line like “Some tent-like thing” and make it sound magical? She knew she was sitting on a 21st-century “desperado,” beloved by everyone from Maya Hawke to Maggie Rogers. The Western Lullaby was recorded at Marcus Mumford’s Scarlet Pimpernel Studios, and he even provided background vocals. So it was only right that he joined her at the live premiere of the “Evermore” track at the start of the tour on March 25 in Las Vegas. “Would you sing ‘Cowboy Like Me’ with me?” she asked. Mumford, who had played the song over 50 times on his own tour, readily agreed. —AM
Taylor replaces “Invisible String” with “The 1”
In Swiftworld, hardly anything happens without a reason, hidden or obvious. When the fated ballad “Invisible String” disappeared from the Eras tour setlist and was replaced by the perfectly wistful masterpiece “The 1,” it really should have caused more of a stir at that moment. Instead, it took certain headlines about Swift’s personal life a week later to fully understand the very welcome change. —Brian Hiatt