There’s no doubt that Taylor Swift‘s The Eras Tour will go down as one of the most memorable music events in history, but these 10 moments are especially unforgettable for me. As someone who attended two of Swift’s shows on The Eras Tour, one near the beginning and one near the end, those two nights obviously stand out as special to me, but there were much larger things that occurred during other stops on the tour. These were moments experienced and felt not just by those in the audience, but also by those who observed in other ways.

Even those who didn’t tune into The Eras Tour, whether it be via livestream or live updates on social media, still recognize many of the moments listed below. The Eras Tour became a massive cultural event during its tenure, making it practically inescapable – whether you were a Swiftie or not. The following 10 moments are those that managed to transcend just the Swiftie audience, blending themselves seamlessly into pop culture in ways that make them utterly unforgettable.

10. Taylor Swift Yells At A Security Guard During “Bad Blood” In Philadelphia

Fans Still Sing This Rendition Of The Song Today

One of Swift’s performances of “Bad Blood” during her 1989 set on The Eras Tour in 2023 managed to… well, create some bad blood, in a way that made this moment viral – particularly on TikTok. Swift was in the middle of interacting with the crowd during “Bad Blood”, the last song in the 1989 era, on night 2 of her Philadelphia performances when she caught sight of a security guard acting more aggressive towards fans than necessary. In the middle of singing her lines, Swift began to say “She’s fine, she wasn’t doing anything,” before having to yell “Hey, stop!”

This moment was, of course, caught on camera, and immediately it went viral. It became a trending sound on TikTok for a while, and to this day, many fans will still replace the lyrics of “Bad Blood” with those Swift skipped out on in favor of defending her fans. This was a comical moment certainly, but also a true testament to Swift’s loyalty to her fans, not only interrupting her own show to defend them, but also not being afraid to call out the security guard in front of the entire audience in the process.

9. Swift Debuts The “I Can See You” Music Video With Its Stars

Including Taylor Lautner (& His Backflip)

Swift had many surprises in store for her fans over the course of The Eras Tour, including music video premieres – though the first will always be the most memorable, thanks to its cast. On the night of Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)‘s release, Swift had a concert in Kansas City, where she aired the music video for the vault track “I Can See You.” Starring in this music video was none other than Joey King and Presley Cash, who both previously starred in Swift’s original video for “Mean”, and Taylor Lautner, who Swift dated whilst writing the original Speak Now.

What made this moment so memorable were a few different factors, but most notably, it was all three of these stars joining Swift on stage – with Lautner completing a backflip while he made his way to Swift downstage. This became something of a meme amongst fans, and the mere fact that Lautner was there was certainly a cultural event. Even better is the fact this all happened in Kansas City, during the string of concerts that the Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce would attend – eventually launching his and Swift’s relationship.

8. Fans Gather On A Hill In Munich To Watch The Eras Tour

Even Swift Acknowledged These Fans

Perhaps one of the most iconic things about The Eras Tour before it even began was the ticket war that fans had to win in order to see it, due to the extremely high demand Swift had as an artist. That forced many fans to get creative about how they engaged with the tour, as many of them still wanted to experience it somehow even if they couldn’t have a ticket to the event. While most resolved to join livestreams from those inside the venue, Swift fans in Munich, Germany had a unique chance to witness Swift’s Eras Tour.

At Swift’s venue in Munich, there was a hill positioned at the edge of the stadium, making it possible for those without tickets to gather there and see inside. This led to a massive group of fans collecting on that very hill, watching the concert from afar. Photos of this, particularly when the hill lit up the same way the stadium did for Swift’s performance of “marjorie”, instantly became a testament to the power of The Eras Tour – with Swift herself acknowledging them by including them in her Munich Instagram post.

7. The Eras Tour Has A Full-Circle Rain Show At Gillette Stadium

Swift’s First Rain Show Ever Was Also At Gillette Stadium

Those who are fans of Swift know how much she loves a rain show, and she had several over the course of The Eras Tour. Perhaps the most memorable of these, however, was her rain show at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough. It took place the same month as The Eras Tour’s first rain show in Nashville, but the rainfall was arguably much heavier at Gillette Stadium, even affecting her piano during the Surprise Songs set at her show the following night. What was most notable about this rain show, however, was how full circle it really was for Swift.

Swift’s first-ever rain show took place at Gillette Stadium during Swift’s Speak Now tour over a decade earlier. It was that night inside the stadium that sealed her adoration of rain shows, so to have another one at that very same stadium while celebrating her entire career made it extremely meaningful. All rain shows are truly memorable, but this one in particular will always stand out for how full-circle it truly is.

6. Swift Announces Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) In Nashville

Her First Major Announcement On Tour

Speaking of Nashville, this city was the home of Swift’s first major announcement during The Eras Tour: the release date of Speak Now (Taylor’s Version). Anticipation of this announcement was being built up by Swift over time, and given the fact that Nashville once served as Swift’s home long ago, it seemed inevitable that she would take the opportunity to announce her next rerecording in that city. It was on the third night that Swift teased the announcement with a brand-new purple dress for the Speak Now era, and officially announced it during her Surprise Songs set.

The Taylor Swift album release order was complicated by the onset of her Taylor’s Version series, but it represents the artist reclaiming her legacy.

This way of announcing Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) felt extremely intimate for the fans, both those who were present and those who joined via livestream. This was especially true when Swift walked out during her Speak Now set in a purple dress, proving to her fans just how far her own dedication to this moment really went. It also set the stage for arguably the bigger announcement of her Taylor’s Versions on tour, though this one was special in its own right, especially as she played “Sparks Fly” with the cover art displayed in the background.

5. Swift Sings The First “Karma Is The Guy On The Chiefs”

Her First Acknowledgement Of Kelce On Tour

While Swift has long since proven that she is so much more than the men she dates, there’s no denying how iconic her romance with Travis Kelce has become, and how it became a part of The Eras Tour’s legacy – as the two would have never met if it weren’t for this tour. This made it even more significant when Swift acknowledged him directly on stage for the first time, doing so during the last chorus of “Karma” in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Rather than singing the usual line “Karma is the guy on the screen / Coming straight home to me,” Swift opted to sing, “Karma is the guy on the Chiefs / Coming straight home to me.”

This instantly set all fans, physically present and those monitoring online, into a disbelieving frenzy. Even Swift’s dancers could be seen wearing shocked expressions onstage upon hearing the lyric change. It was absolutely an unforgettable moment for Swift’s fans, who have long since hoped that she would have someone like Kelce on her side who she could proudly boast about onstage in such a manner. This lyric change would be sung again multiple times on The Eras Tour, particularly whenever Kelce himself was able to attend a show.

4. Swift Debuts The Tortured Poets Department Setlist In Paris

The First Major Addition To The Eras Tour

Swift’s first Eras Tour show after the release of her 11th studio album, The Tortured Poets Department, was in Paris, France, and fans were highly anticipating the arrangement of her new setlist to accommodate for a brand-new era. Swift had teased these additions in a social media post prior to the concert, where she could be seen rehearsing with what looked to be a “TTPD” branded prop that hadn’t yet been seen before. Fans watched with bated breath in person and on livestreams as Swift performed that night in Paris, rearranging some eras and mashing two together (folklore and evermore).

Swift would lovingly deem the Tortured Poets set as “Female Rage: The Musical”, forever making this one of the most memorable nights of the entire tour.

When it came time for The Tortured Poets Department, which Swift played at the previous Surprise Songs time slot after 1989, fans witnessed Swift’s picks from her latest album and brand-new costumes. It was an absolutely thrilling night for any Swift fan, given how brand-new everything was – and the fact that only a little less than half of The Eras Tour shows would ever get to see this set. Swift would lovingly deem the Tortured Poets set as “Female Rage: The Musical”, forever making this one of the most memorable nights of the entire tour.

3. Swift Finally Debuts A Brand-New Reputation Outfit

She Made It Happen After 130+ Shows

@wateragua3 

It’s so beautiful!!!!! And gold!!!! I cant believe it #erastour #erastourtaylorswift #erastouroutfits #reputation #reputationtaylorsversion #reputationoutfit #miamin1 #taylorswift #miami #holyshit

♬ 10 Minutes of Silence – Silenzio

The only thing more exciting than an entire addition to The Eras Tour was the change of one costume that had, until this point, remained exactly the same: Swift’s Reputation outfit. For almost the entirety of the tour, Swift wore the same black bodysuit embellished with a red, sparkling snake, maintaining the snake imagery that has long since been associated with the Reputation era and album. While Swift often made some changes to other outfits throughout the tour, this one remained a constant for over 100 shows.

At the peak of fans hoping for an announcement of Reputation (Taylor’s Version), Swift decided to finally switch things up on her first stop in Miami on The Eras Tour’s final leg. Swift walked out wearing a similar bodysuit, but with a golden snake rather than red, and the reaction from the fans both in-person and online was absolutely astounding. The cheers inside the stadium drowned out Swift’s own voice at the start of “Ready For It…?”, and fans online instantly had multiple terms about the outfit trending. It was an absolutely unforgettable moment of Swift knowing her audience well.

2. Swift Announces 1989 (Taylor’s Version) In Los Angeles

Her Unique Way Of Building Anticipation Will Always Be Remembered

@vanessagoestoshows 

The exact moment we knew 1989 Taylor’s Version announcement was coming🥹💙 Still can’t believe how lucky I was to witness this magical magical night🥹 August 9, 2023 #TStheerastour#LATSerastour#enchanted#sofistadium#1989tv#erastour#taylorswift#speaknow#taylornation#antihero#midnights#LAN3#itsmehi#foryoupage#fyp#thearcher#lover#me#cruelsummer#fearless#fearlesstaylorsversion#ybwm#taylorsversion#1989taylorsversionannouncement#youbelongwithme

♬ original sound – Vanessa🪷

While Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) was Swift’s first major announcement on The Eras Tour, no fan will deny that the announcement of 1989 (Taylor’s Version) – one of Swift’s most decorated and revered albums – was a major moment in Swift’s history. Fans had long since been speculating that Swift would announce 1989 (Taylor’s Version) before the end of her first United States leg, and when the time came for her last six shows in Los Angeles, it seemed as if all the stars had aligned. Swift, however, found the perfect way to tease this announcement for her fans.

It began with Swift wearing a brand-new blue dress for her Speak Now set, which already seemed to clue fans in to what Swift had waiting for them later on in the show. When she arrived onstage for her folklore set, Swift was again wearing a brand-new blue outfit, both of which matched the same blue many associate with the 1989 album. Fans truly knew what was coming, however, when Swift arrived onstage in a brand-new blue outfit for the 1989 set, which she wore later on as she formally announced 1989 (Taylor’s Version). It was a perfect, unforgettable culmination.

1. Travis Kelce Joins Swift On Stage In London

A Heartwarming & Exciting Moment For Everyone

There’s no doubt, however, that the most unforgettable moment of this tour lies yet again with Travis Kelce. It was known at Swift’s third London show that Kelce was in attendance, but various distractions led to fans missing the fact that the NFL player had snuck out of the VIP tent during the show – one of which included Paul McCartney dancing with fans inside the pit. This left fans completely blindsided by the emergence of three figures during Swift’s transition from “The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived” to “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart” rather than two.

Kelce had joined Swift’s two dancers in their formal attire, and once fans realized who he was, the stadium absolutely erupted. Those who were online were spreading the news quickly, watching as Kelce picked Swift up and carried her back to her couch prop and assisted her two dancers who helped her get into her new outfit for her last song in the Tortured Poets set. It was such a shock to see Taylor Swift‘s romantic partner taking such an active role in her historical tour, yet it was also so meaningful on so many different levels.