It’s no secret, music industry sensation and pop culture icon Taylor Swift has once again taken the world by storm with her latest endeavor: The Eras Tour. Her sixth headlining concert tour was officially announced on Nov. 1 during her exclusive interview with Good Morning America. The Eras Tour highlights all the different aspects of her past, present and even future musical endeavors.

Swift described it as “a journey through all of my musical eras of my career.”

It was widely understood that getting tickets would be difficult, but nobody—especially not Ticketmaster, the platform responsible for selling and distributing these tickets—imagined the disaster it would become. On Nov. 4, fans were able to register for presale, which about 3.5 million people tried to do. Using a lottery system, only around 1.5 million fans were awarded presale access. Still, thousands of people were continuously kicked off the site, and multiple crashes created a stressful environment for eager (and angry) fans. Despite the chaos, Swift went on to sell 2.4 million tickets on Nov. 15, breaking the record of most sold by any individual artist in one day.

“My dad waited seven hours in the ‘line,’ and then Ticketmaster crashed…so he tried again and got through right away,” Sarah Taylor (’25) said when looking back on the day tickets went live. “It was an emotional roller coaster.”

This certainly isn’t the first time that the singer has seen massive success in recent months. About two weeks prior to the announcement of the Eras Tour, Swift released her 10th studio album, “Midnights.” Following the release of her indie folk albums “Folklore” and “Evermore,” “Midnights” has re-established Swift’s foothold in the pop genre. Upon the album’s release, Swift broke numerous records, including becoming the first artist ever to capture the whole Top 10 in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Chart.

Swift’s influence on pop culture is undoubtedly one of the strongest in today’s music industry and beyond. Her fan culture is one-of-a-kind. These “Swifties” are undyingly loyal and love to put together the puzzle pieces Swift leaves for them. Often referred to as Easter eggs, Swift leaves hidden clues for her future songs, albums and appearances throughout her interviews and performances.

The Eras Tour began on March 17 in Swift City, better known as Glendale, Arizona. The city officially changed its name during the opening nights of the tour to celebrate its commencement. The press statement released by the city perfectly encapsulated their intent and excitement for kicking off the tour.

“We know “all too well” that she’s one of the most influential artists of her generation and we are writing our own “love story” for her and greeting every Swiftie “in style!”” the press release read.

Featuring a set list of a staggering 44 songs, 16 costume changes and over three hours of performance time, Swift has set the bar incredibly high for any artist’s future endeavors. Fan favorites such as “Cruel Summer,” “champagne problems” and “All Too Well (10-Minute Version)” have made onstage appearances at all of the concerts.

Despite the impressive nature of the tour, not to mention the amount of records broken thus far, the media has once again tried to overshadow Swift’s success by exploiting the delicate nature of her relationship status. Her recent breakup with English actor Joe Alwyn has made tabloids explode, again taking away from her true achievements. In the past Swift has advocated for herself through her songwriting, as well as on public platforms, trying to separate herself and her story from the men she’s dated.

All that said, there is undoubtedly a unique culture surrounding the tour. Anticipation has left Swift’s fans to get creative with their outfits, perfecting the nuances of their experience. One of the most popular trends among Swifties is dressing to a certain album or “era.”

“I went to the Taylor Swift concert with my mom and we did matching outfits to one of Taylor’s songs from “Lover,”” said Rowan Welch (’24). “I was “‘Miss Americana”, and she was the “Heartbreak Prince”. The number one thing about the Eras Tours is that everyone is covered in sparkles and glitter, so if you’re not, you’re underdressed.”

In addition to the outfits themselves, fans have been writing the number “13 on the backs of their hands in celebration of Swift’s lucky number. They’ve also spent time creating and exchanging beaded friendship bracelets with people they meet at the concert.

The most recent shocker came on May 5, with the announcement of the release of her latest rerecording of “Speak Now.” Originally released in 2010, “Speak Now” features smash hits like “Better Than Revenge” and “Mean,” that are, for some, anthems of a lifetime The announcement came on one of her tour nights in Nashville to a sold out crowd before springing into one of her surprise songs of the night: “Sparks Fly.” Theories have been swirling online for months, so while the rerecords weren’t a surprise, the Nashville fans were most certainly not expecting that reveal.

“I found out about Speak Now TV from Taylor’s Instagram,” Adriana Odell (‘24) said. “I have been waiting for this album to be re-released for so long and could not be more excited. I’ll also be at the show the night that Speak Now is releasing, and so I’m excited to hear Dear John Taylor’s Version live!”

In conclusion, Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour has transformed the live music industry. She has broken records, traveled across the country and she has done it all in style. The evident demonstration of Swift’s hard work and determination is celebrated by her fans, selling out stadiums all to sing a long with their favorite artist.