Key Points
- Taylor Swift will play seven shows in Australia.
- Her Eras Tour has been officially recognised as the highest-grossing music tour ever.
- Friendship bracelets became a symbol of the Eras Tour, and many fans are not happy with the rule limiting their number.
On 16 February, Taylor Swift will kick off
the Australian leg of her Eras Tour.
Fans who managed to buy cherished tickets have been discussing their preparations on social media.
"Where to find beads to make more friendship bracelets? They are sold out everywhere," one person wrote.
"Does anyone know any tattoo places doing Taylor slash day sales? Really want to get one before the concert," wrote another.
"Which loop experience earplugs should I get for my daughter, ones that reduce noise by 7 or by 18?"
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Understanding the hype: What's behind Taylor Swift's 'astronomical' stardom?Those who were less fortunate desperately plead for tickets and caution each other to avoid scammers, while some in the "not Swifties" group admit "starting to get major FOMO (fear of missing out) with all these posts about the concert".
What’s the deal with friendship bracelets? Why do you need loop experience earplugs? Can you bring a water bottle, and how should you plan your toilet breaks?
Here's your guide to the Eras Tour concerts.
Seven shows sold out in hours
Taylor Swift has arrived in Australia for seven concerts, three in Melbourne and four in Sydney.
Swift will play shows this Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) while her Sydney shows will run from Friday 23 February to Monday 26 February at Stadium Australia.
The Eras Tour has been officially recognised by Guinness World Records as the highest-grossing music tour ever, having surpassed $US1 billion ($1.54 billion) in revenue.
Tickets for the shows
were sold out within hours
, and tens of thousands of fans will be at each concert, including people without tickets who want to soak up the atmosphere outside.
The Eras Tour has been officially recognised as the highest-grossing music tour ever, having surpassed $US1 billion ($1.54 billion) in revenue. Source: Getty / Buda Mendes/TAS23
How to get there
Unless you've snagged reserved parking, opt for public transport.
Plan your public transit route ahead of time and give yourself plenty of time to reach the stadium.
In Melbourne, general public parking will be a no-go, but limited spots will be available for those with accessibility permits (make sure to pre-purchase them via Ticketek).
As always, you can reach the MCG via train and tram.
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Taylor Swift is on the world tour that’s tipped to make her a billionaire. Fans are tornGood news for Sydney: your concert ticket already includes the cost of travelling to Stadium Australia via public transport.
Taking the train is the easiest way to get to Sydney Olympic Park. There'll be extra trains and all nine routes of the Sydney Olympic Park Major Event Buses service running, with buses running every five to 20 minutes.
Have the tickets downloaded
Ensure you download the Ticketek app and add your tickets to the digital Apple or Google wallet once they're accessible.
It's wise to have this prepared well ahead of your arrival at the venue to preempt any potential outages or network congestion issues.
Additionally, remember to bring a photo ID matching the ticket, as it may be requested upon entry.
If you run into trouble accessing your tickets, Ticketek promised to set up customer service pop-ups at each venue starting from the Wednesday preceding each show (14 February in Melbourne and 21 February in Sydney).
People line up to buy Taylor Swift The Eras Tour merchandise at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne. Source: AAP / Con Chronis
If you want to grab merch
Doors open at 4.30 pm at both venues but if you wish to buy merchandise, stands open at 12pm and remain open until after the show.
There was a merchandise presale available in Melbourne this week and there will be one in Sydney as well, from 10 am to 6 pm on 21 and 22 February, at the corner of Olympic Boulevard and Dawn Fraser Avenue outside Stadium Australia.
Friendship bracelets
After fans swept all the available beads from local shops to make more bracelets, the organisers announced bracelets must be worn only on the arm or in a single allowed bag.
This announcement angered many fans who claimed to have hundreds of them made.
The colourful bracelets have become an iconic symbol of the Eras Tour, with many fans adorning their arms entirely with these handcrafted beaded bands.
The colourful bracelets have become an iconic symbol of the Eras Tour, with many fans adorning their arms entirely with these handcrafted beaded bands. Source: Getty / Daniel Knighton
This tradition traces back to the release of Swift's song, You’re on Your Own, Kid, featured on her 2022 album Midnights. The song includes the line: "So, make the friendship bracelets, take the moment and taste it".
Shortly after the album's release, the Eras Tour kicked off, and fans swiftly embraced the custom, turning it into a cherished tradition.
To the disappointment of fans, the rules have remained unchanged. Carabiners, d-rings, or any other items used to hold bracelets are not permitted inside.
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New move to tackle Taylor Swift ticket scalpers cashing in on Melbourne showCharge your phones
You will need your mobile phone not only for taking photos and videos but for accessing your tickets.
Battery packs are not allowed, you can only bring personal portable phone chargers smaller than your phone.
A helpful tip for parents with teenagers is to have them memorise your mobile number or write it down somewhere safe. In case their phone battery dies while recording their idol, at least they will have a way to contact you from someone else's phone in case of an emergency.
What else you can and can't bring
Concert attendees are limited to bringing just one personal item into the venue, excluding official merchandise purchased on-site. The bag must comply with specific size guidelines, which means it should be smaller than A4 dimensions and have a maximum of 2 compartments. The bag doesn't need to be clear.
Staying hydrated is crucial, but only sealed, clear, soft plastic bottles under 600ml are allowed, larger metal or hard plastic bottles won't make the cut. Water stations will be available across the venue.
If you're on the arena floor, leave your bottles behind and utilise the provided cups and refill stations.
Leave your professional photography gear at home. This includes GoPros, selfie sticks, tripods, drones, and cameras with detachable lenses.
Among not-to-bring items are umbrellas, prams and strollers, face-covering materials (except for religious or medical reasons), blingy chains, alcohol or drugs, food from the outside of the venue, and any containers made of metal, hard plastic, or glass.
Consider using special earplugs that are designed for concerts — they will protect your hearing during the show.
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Ticket resale scams are on the rise ahead of Taylor Swift's tour. Here's how to protect yourselfBathroom breaks, sensory rooms and sunflower lanyards
The Eras Tour show is roughly three hours and 15 minutes long.
It is crucial to stay hydrated, which means toilet breaks might be necessary,.
Both venues have plenty of standard bathrooms and have listed details about their parenting rooms and accessibility:
Both venues have
sensory rooms
and
sunflower lanyards
are recognised.
