In an emotional Instagram post, the 14-time Grammy winner referred to the end of the tour as “the closing of the most extraordinary chapter of my life so far.”

“The emotions have gotten pretty heightened for me and the rest of the team because it’s gotten extremely real for us,” she shared.

From record-breaking achievements to moments of emotional intensity, let’s take a look back at some of the most unforgettable highlights from Swift’s epic Eras tour.

Swift’s Eras Tour gives £1billion boost to UK economy Credit: AP

‘Swiftenomics’

With 149 shows spanning five continents, Taylor Swift’s Eras tour has shattered records, becoming the highest-grossing tour of all time, with estimates suggesting it earned nearly $2 billion. The tour’s financial success was astronomical, reaching $1 billion in gross earnings in just the first eight months, driven by 60 shows. This figure surpassed the record previously held by Elton John, whose Farewell tour made $939 million from over 300 performances.

In the UK, the tour’s influence was undeniable, with Parliament acknowledging the “substantial economic impact” it had on the British economy. The Eras tour provided a boost of nearly £1 billion, including a £300 million contribution to London’s economy alone. Taylor Swift performed to an astonishing 1.2 million fans across London, Cardiff, Edinburgh, and Liverpool, making it clear how much demand there was for her performances.

The economic and cultural draw of Swift’s tour was so significant that countries around the world eagerly sought to be included in her tour schedule. While some nations, such as Canada and Chile, petitioned for her to visit, others like New Zealand and Thailand were not as fortunate. Singapore, in a controversial move, secured an exclusive arrangement with Swift to host the Eras tour’s only concert in Southeast Asia.

Beyond her tour’s financial success, Swift’s rise in wealth has been equally remarkable. Earlier this year, she entered the Forbes rich list with an estimated net worth of £1.6 billion, further cementing her status as not only one of the biggest stars in music but also a global economic powerhouse.

Taylor Swift performs during the opening show of the Toronto dates. Credit: AP

A spectacle

The three-and-a-half-hour concert features Taylor Swift performing 44 songs, including two surprise tracks, from 10 different eras of her 17-year career. She keeps the setlist fresh each night, making subtle changes to ensure every performance feels unique for her devoted fans, who travel from all over the world to see her.

The multi-million-dollar production is nothing short of ambitious, with large set changes, circus-inspired stunts, 15 backup dancers, and 16 costume changes. Swift’s wardrobe is a highlight, ranging from a glittering leotard in Lover, to an ethereal corset dress in Folklore, to sapphire-studded cowboy boots in Midnights.

The tour kicked off in Glendale, Arizona on March 17, 2023, and is set to wrap up in Vancouver, Canada, on December 8, 2024. Each U.S. show attracted around 72,000 attendees, according to Statista, while Swift played to nearly 1.2 million people in the UK alone.

However, the tour was not without its controversies. Ticket sales in 2023 sparked frustration, particularly in the UK, where fans hoped to avoid Ticketmaster price hikes. Many Swifties were left empty-handed, and Lloyds Bank estimated that fans lost £1 million to ticket scams, further complicating the fan experience.

Mural of the pop-star is painted on the steps outside Wembley stadium ahead of Eras tour Credit: PA

‘So long, London’

Each night, a crowd of 90,000 fans filled London’s Wembley Stadium to see Taylor Swift, where murals and signs were created in her honor. Fans joined together to sing her songs and exchange friendship bracelets, further cementing the sense of community that the Eras Tour has become known for.

The UK leg of the tour featured some impressive support acts, including British pop-punk group Paramore, singer RAYE, Phoebe Bridgers, and Maisie Peters, among others.

Surprise guests added even more excitement to the shows, including Swift’s close friend, Ed Sheeran, and her boyfriend, NFL star Travis Kelce. Kelce made a memorable appearance in a full tuxedo and top hat, carrying Swift to a sofa on stage and participating in her skit during the performance of “I Can’t Do With a Broken Heart.”

Celebrities who attended the summer concerts included Tom Cruise, Paul McCartney, Fleabag creator and actor Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan, and Swift’s parents, Andrea and Scott Swift. There was even a royal moment when Prince William, along with his children George and Charlotte, met the pop star backstage.

Swift meeting Prince William, Prince George and Princess Charlotte backstage Credit: PA

Politics Era

Also attending the Eras Tour at Wembley were now-Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and London Mayor Sadiq Khan.

After the UK General Election, in which the Labour Party emerged victorious, it was revealed that Starmer had received tens of thousands of pounds in gifts, including six tickets for the Eras Tour, from wealthy donors. Starmer later repaid £6,000 for the gifts he received prior to becoming Prime Minister. Meanwhile, Khan, who faced similar criticism for receiving donations, defended the gesture, expressing pride that Taylor Swift had included London in her tour.

Southport attacks

Swift’s name made headlines in the UK again in the summer following a tragic incident on July 29, when six-year-old Bebe King, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe, and nine-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar were killed in a knife attack at a Taylor-themed dance class in Southport.

In a heartfelt statement on Instagram, Swift expressed she was at a “complete loss for how to ever convey my sympathies to these families.” Eight other children and two adults were also injured in the attack. It is understood that Swift reached out to the families and even met two of the survivors backstage at one of her concerts.

Statement on the Southport attack via Swift’s Instagram Credit: @taylorswift

Austria terror plot

Three shows in Vienna were canceled after authorities uncovered a foiled terror plot targeting Swifties in Austria. Police arrested three men, aged 17, 18, and 19, after bomb-making materials were discovered in one suspect’s home. Two of the men confessed to planning to “kill as many people as possible outside the concert venue.”

Despite the incident, the remaining five London shows on the Eras tour proceeded as scheduled. The Metropolitan Police found no evidence of a similar terror threat in the UK.

three shows in Austria were cancelled due to a foiled terror plot Credit: AP

US election

Following the debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, Taylor Swift publicly expressed her support for Harris’ campaign.

In a statement to her 283 million Instagram followers, Swift announced her backing for Harris and ended her post with the phrase “childless cat lady,” referencing a comment made by Vice President-elect JD Vance, who used the term to describe single women.

Nine days after Swift’s endorsement, a major national poll revealed that 60% of Republicans viewed her unfavorably, while 70% of Democrats had a positive opinion of her.

Trump reacted negatively to Swift’s public support, warning that she would “probably pay a price for it in the marketplace.” In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote: “I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT!”

Swift featured in fake AI images promoting Donald Trump for President Credit: PA/ AP

Seismic impact

Swift’s concert in Seattle caused seismic activity equivalent to a 2.3 magnitude earthquake as fans danced to hits like “Shake It Off” and “Ready for It.”

The Seattle shows, held over two nights, were attended by a total of 144,000 fans.

After the concerts, Swift shared her gratitude on Instagram, saying, “Seattle, that was genuinely one of my favourite weekends ever. Thank you for everything— all the cheering, screaming, jumping, dancing, singing at the top of your lungs.”

The popstar’s boyfriend Travis Kelce joins her on stage in London Credit: PA

What is next for the star?

As the tour comes to an end on December 8, it’s expected that Swift will take a well-earned break.

However, even as she steps back for some time off, her music continues to make waves. At the recent Grammy Awards, she won Best Album of the Year for Midnights, becoming the first artist to win the award four times in a row.

With the release of her latest album, Tortured Poets Department, earlier this year, the pop star shows no signs of slowing down.