Brisbane snubbed as Taylor Swift announces Australian tour dates

Diehard Taylor Swift fans in Queensland have been left heartbroken after the US pop giant revealed Brisbane will not be on the itinerary for her 2024 Australian tour.

Brisbane Swifties were thrown into an online frenzy this morning as they woke to news pop titan Taylor Swift will not vist Brisbane when her Eras tour touches down in Australia early next year.

The tour dates dropped Swift announced the dates for the international ‘Eras’ tour on social media in the early hours of Wednesday morning, leaving Brisbane fans devastated and stirring up a social media storm.

The global pop phenomenon, who has previously sold out shows in Brisbane, will only perform five shows combined, in Melbourne and Sydney from February 16 to February 25, marking the first time the artist has skipped the Sunshine State during an Aussie tour.

Taylor Swift performs onstage in Chicago, Illinois, earlier this month. (Photo by Natasha Moustache/TAS23/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management )

Swifties took to social media platforms to express their disappointment and shock, with one commenter bluntly stating, “No Brisbane, what a disrespect to her fans,” while another remarked, “What even is a tour to Aus without Brisbane?! This is wild.”

Brisbane mum Carly Bain also shared her sadness at the news.

“It’s pretty disappointing,” she said. “She’s never skipped Brisbane before.”

Despite her dismay, Ms Bain plans to secure tickets for the Sydney show for herself and her daughters, Evie, 7, and Harriet, 5, but expressed concern over the increased “level of competition” due to the snubbing of Queensland and New Zealand on this tour.

Taylor Swift fans Harriet Bain (age 5) and Evie Bain (age 7) from Rochedale, Friday, April 28, 2023 – Picture: Richard Walker

The announcement has led to a frenzy among fans, with an online petition already being launched on change.org by Ellie Bruce, a passionate fan, in a bid to lure the singer to Brisbane.
“I am someone who listened to Taylor Swifts music non-stop on repeat always, so waking up this morning and seeing that I will have to battle against millions of people and travel to see her has shattered me a tad,” Ms Bruce wrote.

“Historically, Taylor has always come to Brisbane and played her first show her at the Tivoli many many years ago.”

Even though tickets for the general public are set to go on sale on Friday, June 30, many fans, like Ms Bain, are concerned about the heightened competition for these coveted slots.

“And I think we’ll also be competing with New Zealand, like New Zealand people will be flying over because there’s no New Zealand dates,” Ms Bain said.

Some fans, however, remain undeterred and are ready to travel interstate, with one stating “I’ll just drive to Sydney if I have to”..

A fan from Mackay, Amanda Potter, said the decision to not perform in Brisbane has ruined her chances of seeing the singer during this upcoming tour because of the costs involved in making it to Sydney or Melbourne.

“I won’t be going. I wish I could but flights from Mackay to Sydney or Melbourne … it’s just too much to justify for a concert,” she said.

Speculation about Queensland’s omission was floating earlier this year due to factors like time constraints and travel costs, however fans are now theorising that it may be due to a clash with Pink’s upcoming Summer Carnival Tour, scheduled for February 2024.

“Great! No Brisbane cos it clashes with Pink. Bad planning by tour management,” one commenter wrote.

Taylor Swift performs onstage in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Scott Legato/TAS23/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management)

Despite the official tour announcement, some superfans are holding out hope that Swift might still include Brisbane due to the noticeable gap between her Melbourne and Sydney performances. However, with Swift heading straight to Singapore after her Australian tour, the chances seem slim.

In the midst of the frenzy, Swift announced that ‘Skin’ singer Sabrina Carpenter will be her special guest for the Australian leg of the tour, offering a sliver of consolation to the frenzied Swifties left high and dry in Brisbane.