Taylor Swift’s rumoured Australian tour: Brisbane Swifties fear exclusion from ‘The Eras Tour’

There are concerns Brisbane could miss out on superstar Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour performances when she brings her stadium show to Australia.

Taylor Swift’s Queensland fans could be set for disappointment as rumours swirl that the pop superstar will skip Brisbane when she brings her Eras tour to Australian shores.

While the Anti-Hero singer’s plans to head Down Under remain unconfirmed, music industry insiders believe a short run of dates – which could cover just two cities – is all but locked in.

Sources say Brisbane Swifties could be forced to fly south for shows in Sydney and Melbourne as a tough decision to not include the Sunshine State, South Australia and Western Australia is being considered due to time constraints and associated travel costs.

Though Swift’s Australian promoter Live Nation denied any confirmed plans for an Australian tour, insiders remain confident an announcement is on the horizon, with celebrity gossip site DeuxMoi and pop culture podcast Shameless reporting that “well-placed” sources had revealed Swift has her sights set on February 2024 dates at the MCG in Melbourne.

Taylor pic.twitter.com/988HNJRJzO

— deuxmoi (@deuxmoiworld) March 25, 2023

@shameless_podcast If she sells out the MCG it will be her biggest crowd ever 👀 #taylorswift #taylorswifterastour #erastour #erastourtaylorswift #swifttok ♬ original sound - Shameless Podcast

A two-city tour would follow the likes of Piano Man Billy Joel, who performed for one night only at the MCG in December and comes after Lizzo and Lewis Capaldi chose to leave Brisbane off their tour itinerary, with headline performances over the border for Splendour in the Grass instead.

The Eras Tour, which was announced by Swift in November 2022, will continue to move around the US until August, with any international dates yet to be announced.

“The first leg of the tour will be in stadiums across the US, with international dates to be announced as soon as we can! “ Swift’s Instagram post read.

The Blank Space hit maker is also said to be close to confirming European tour dates.

While Adelaide and Perth have been alternately excluded from Swift’s previous Australian tours, a shorter run would be unusual for the singer, who could still perform multiple shows in Sydney and Melbourne.

But insiders hold onto some hope Swift would still find a way to include Brisbane on the schedule and said any decision to leave the River City off would be no reflection on her loyal Queensland fanbase and would only come down to her demanding international tour schedule and time issues as well as the cost of travelling between states with her elaborate stage and costume setups.

Should the rumours prove true, this would be the first time Brisbane has been left out of an Australian tour by Swift, with the singer having performed there during all five of her previous world tours.

Taylor Swift has been touring her stadium show throughout the US, but has yet to confirm Aussie dates. Picture: SUZANNE CORDEIRO / AFP

Local fan Carly Bain shared that her two young daughters, Evie, 7, and Harriet, 5, would be heartbroken if the sensational Taylor Swift were to bypass the Sunshine State on her upcoming tour.

“My girls and I would be very disappointed if Taylor Swift didn’t come to Brisbane, she has not missed Brisbane in any other tour, so I would be really disappointing if she didn’t come,” she said.

“She’s got so many fans here, the Taylor Swift fanbase in Brisbane is huge.”

However, Ms Bain said she is prepared to fly her whole family from Brisbane to Sydney for the concert, highlighting the potential significance of the event in creating a lasting memory for her daughters.

“We do want to see her so badly that we will probably buy tickets in Sydney and hop on a plane.”

“I went and saw Michael Jackson the last time he came to Australia and I’ve never forgotten that, it was it was a once in a lifetime experience, and I think that a Taylor Swift concert would be the same for my girls.

“And she’s such a good role model for young women and girls, my girls have grown up listening to her songs, they know the whole catalogue.”

Others have taken to online forums to voice their devastation at the prospect of being left off the tour schedule.

Lucy Locket, a dedicated parent, expressed her concern for the potential disappointment her ‘Swiftie’ daughter would face if the adored singer skips Brisbane during her Australian tour.

“Yes definitely (disappointing), especially for my 12yr old who is a TRUE Swiftie THROUGH N THROUGH. She‘s been saving up for her first ever concert and can only be Taylor,” she said.

Similarly, Mount Isa resident Camille Urbuda, said the significant financial challenges in attending the concert if required to travel interstate, would prevent her from seeing the artist altogether.

“Im from Mount Isa and it’s already gonna cost me so much flying myself and my kids to Brissy plus the tickets! Flying from Brissy to another city is gonna send me broke,” she said.

Taylor Swift performed at Suncorp Stadium during her last world tour. Picture: Peter Wallis

Both Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium and the Gold Coast’s Heritage Bank Stadium have declined to provide any concrete confirmation regarding the rumoured tour dates.

According to a Suncorp Stadium spokesperson, while all upcoming events are listed on the venue’s “What’s On” page, no information regarding unannounced shows can be divulged at this time.

“All upcoming events at the venue are listed on our website on the What’s On page,” the spokesperson stated.

“For any other information you will need to check with the artist or concert promoter.”

A Heritage Bank Stadium spokesperson also declined to offer any insight into potential bookings or unannounced dates.

“Unfortunately, we can’t comment on any upcoming bookings or dates that are yet to be announced at Heritage Bank Stadium,” they said.