Taylor Swift performs at the MCG in front of her largest ever crowd and the Swifties love it – in pictures

The US singer-songwriter opens The Eras tour in front of 96,000 on the first of three nights in Melbourne before she heads to Sydney. For legions of devoted fans, it’s a magical night

Melbourne’s Love Story with US singer – video

Taylor Swift fans, also known as Swifties, arrive at Melbourne Cricket Ground on 16 February, 2024. Swift’s global The Eras tour has been a cultural and economic phenomenon, breaking records and generating billions of dollars in revenue. With its massive scale and fan frenzy, the tour has cemented Swift’s status as one of the most influential pop stars of the 21st century, and its impact is likely to be felt for years to come.
Photograph: Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images

Swifties show off their beaded bracelets ahead of the first night of the US singer-songwriter’s The Eras tour in Australia at the MCG.
Photograph: Joel Carrett/AAP

Fans of Taylor Swift queue to enter the MCG on 16 February. Swift is playing to an estimated 260,000 fans over three concerts in Melbourne as part of her Eras world tour.
Photograph: William West/AFP/Getty Images

Swifties arrive at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) for the first of Taylor Swift’s three shows in Melbourne.
Photograph: William West/AFP/Getty Images

A Taylor Swift fan poses for a photo while wearing glasses that read ‘Swiftmas’ before Swift’s concert at Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Photograph: Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images

Taylor Swift performs during the first night of her The Eras tour in Melbourne, 16 February 2024.
Photograph: Joel Carrett/EPA

Swifties with no tickets sing and dance anyway outside the Melbourne Cricket Ground.