Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour comes to an end in Vancouver

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – As Taylor Swift sings in her famous fan anthem “Long Live,” “Remember this moment.”

For their loyal fans, there have been many of these moments since the Eras Tour launched in March 2023.

Sunday night’s show was the last of this marathon tour, which spanned nearly two years, five continents, 50 cities and a remarkable 149 shows – during which Swift sang, danced and glittered for more than three hours each.

Swift said in June that the tour, which seemed to last forever at the time, would end in Vancouver in December.

The tour, which featured songs from Swift’s 11 albums, or “eras,” was marked by friendship bracelets, a revolt against Ticketmaster, a record-breaking concert film and booming economies in nearly every city she touched.

There was also a blossoming romance with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, who appeared on stage in London and was mentioned several times in Swift’s “Karma” during the tour.

In the 20-plus months of shows, Swift somehow managed to offer her fans three new releases, including two re-recordings of “Taylor’s Version” to expand the collection and a new album this year.

When the tour started Glendale, Arizona, on March 17, 2023, the show spanned nine of Swift’s then-10 eras, beginning with the “Lover” album – which had not yet toured due to the Covid-19 pandemic – and ending with “Midnights.” Swift’s latest release before the tour begins.

Fans were saddened to learn that her debut album, Taylor Swift, would not be a permanent part of the setlist, but many of its songs were performed multiple times in the show’s acoustic set.

The tour’s first big surprise was Swift announcing the release date for “Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)” at a show in Nashville, Tennessee, in May 2023, on her first of two U.S. legs.

She ended this leg by announcing the release date of “1989 (Taylor’s Version)” at the final show in Inglewood, California – appropriately, August 9, 2023 (or 9/8).

Then, in May of this year, Swift turned the show on its head when she embarked on the European leg of the tour, dropping songs from certain eras to make room for a new one: “The Tortured Poets Department,” which she released in April published.

These releases have caused loyal fans to search hard for Swift’s famous “Easter Eggs,” hoping they might hint at the release of one of her final two albums, which have yet to be re-recorded: “Reputation (Taylor’s Version)” and “Taylor Swift (Taylor’s Version).”

The Swifties weren’t having any luck on that front, but that didn’t stop them from showing up to every show in droves, often in sparkly hand-made costumes that alluded to their eras and lyrics, and even a few Swiftie inside jokes.

One fan, Hope Pinc, dressed up as Swift’s cat Benjamin Button for the final weekend of the show.

Pinc and friends Melissa Peirce and Elizabeth Sanders traveled from San Diego to Vancouver, where they had tickets to all three final shows. Peirce called Swift one of her “great friends” who “just doesn’t know yet.”

“There’s nothing better than going to one of their shows and feeling the endorphins and the love,” Pinc said.

Sisters Amanda and Sarah Cowley, both University of Victoria students, described the show as “unreal” and “incredible”.

“It’s crazy how much tourism this brings because this is our hometown. … I’ve never seen anything like this in my life,” Sarah Cowley said.

Amanda Cowley said it was “crazy” to be on the show, “both as a fan and just to witness it.”

“One day it will be historic to say that I took part in the Eras Tour,” she said.

Sean Stear, an Idaho firefighter and paramedic who wears a bejeweled “TS” and “13” on his bald head, said Swift’s music has brought him closer to his 11-year-old daughter.

He worked overtime to afford the $3,000 tickets to Friday’s show, and when the first leg of their flight to Vancouver was canceled, the family drove off to meet the second, he said.

“I just think she appreciates everything she does. She found that connection,” Stear said. “And I kind of look at it like this is their Super Bowl-type thing. I am very interested in football. She’s really into Taylor Swift, so we have that passion, so it’s great.”

Holden Williams said the Eras Tour brought fans a “community” and that it had a message for Swift.

“Thank you so much for everything you’ve done for me,” she said. “And thank you for creating all of this for the Eras Tour.”

At the conclusion of the last show, but before the finale – “Karma” – Swift spoke directly to the audience.

“Vancouver, I want to thank each and every one of you for being a part of the most exciting chapter of my entire life so far – my beloved Eras Tour,” she said.

Swift’s dancers hugged her before leaving the stage for the final time.

Rebecca Cohen reported from New York City and Emilie Ikeda and Alexandra Hess from Vancouver.