Taylor Swift fans were left in shock and anger after the abrupt cancellation of her highly anticipated Eras Tour concerts in Vienna this week.
The cancellations followed the arrest of two men suspected of plotting a terrorist attack. The superstar singer, who is currently dating Kansas City Chiefs’ tight end Travis Kelce, had concerts scheduled for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday in the Austrian capital.
The Vienna shows were expected to attract 65,000 fans each day.
However, with confirmation from government officials of a planned terrorist attack at Ernst Happel Stadium, Barracuda Music, the concert promoter, announced the cancellations on social media Wednesday. “We have no choice but to cancel the three scheduled shows for everyone’s safety,” the announcement read. All tickets will be automatically refunded within the next 10 business days.
Swifties, as her fans are known, took to social media to vent their frustration and disappointment. Some fans who had already arrived in Vienna, including many who traveled from the United States, expressed their sadness about the situation. Others who had not yet arrived shared their plans to still wear their concert outfits and gather in Vienna despite the cancellations.
“Vienna T canceled. Stay safe, Swifties. I honestly don’t know what to say other than I am heartbroken yet again over the amount of hatred in the world. But let’s just continue to be the joy and the change. Love you guys a lot, especially you, Taylor Swift,” one fan wrote.
ABC News reported that a 19-year-old Austrian citizen was arrested Wednesday morning, and a second suspected extremist was arrested later in the afternoon in Vienna. The 19-year-old, arrested in a town south of Vienna, appeared to be planning an attack on an event in the area, with a specific focus on Swift’s shows. According to the Associated Press, the teen had pledged an oath of allegiance to the Islamic State group last month and was believed to have been radicalized online. Officials provided few details about the suspected plot but mentioned that chemical substances were found and are being evaluated.
The cancellations came just hours after authorities announced plans to increase security at the stadium, including special focus on entry checks. Austrian officials stated that the promoter decided to cancel the shows after close networking with foreign security authorities.
Taylor Swift has been selling out venues across the globe, drawing massive crowds to a tour that began in Glendale, Arizona, in March 2023 and is set to end on December 8 in Vancouver, British Columbia. Next, she is scheduled to perform five shows at London’s Wembley Stadium, beginning August 15.
Fans on social media expressed their sadness and anger about the missed shows they had long awaited. Many were more concerned about the current state of the world and worried for their fellow fans in Vienna and Swift. Last week, three young girls in Southport, a coastal town in northwest England, died, and seven others were injured after a stabbing attack at a Swift-themed dance and yoga class. The victims were aged 9, 6, and 7, and a 17-year-old man was arrested for the attack.
“The horror of yesterday’s attack in Southport is washing over me continuously, and I’m just completely in shock,” Swift wrote on her social media. “The loss of life, the innocence, and the horrendous trauma inflicted on everyone who was there—the families and first responders—these were just little kids at a dance class. I am at a complete loss for how to ever convey my sympathies to these families.”
Her fans raised thousands for the victims and their families. “What kind of a world are we living in right now? The news cycle is so depressing,” one fan wrote on X (formerly Twitter) Wednesday after the Vienna shows were canceled. “I am so sad and shocked for the thousands of people who have been left scared and devastated by a potential terrorist attack at a Taylor Swift concert. I hate the world we’re living in,” another fan added.
Fans lamented that they should not have to feel afraid to be Swifties and that the world seems to be filled with too much hatred. “I feel like I should be afraid to be a Swifty because I feel like my life is in danger. No one should have to feel like this. It makes me have a pit in my stomach because someone actually planned this out and was going to do it. I’m mortified,” one fan expressed on Instagram.
Many fans echoed relief that the planned attack was thwarted but were heartbroken about the cancellation. “I’m so incredibly thankful that the horrific events that were planned won’t take place now. I feel so sorry for Taylor and for everyone who was going to the Vienna shows,” another fan shared. “Heartbroken but so relieved that Taylor and all of you will be safe.”
The swift response from law enforcement and the subsequent cancellation of the concerts underscored the importance of safety in a world where large gatherings can become targets for violence. As Swift continues her tour, her fans remain hopeful for safer days and a chance to see their beloved artist perform without fear.
For more updates on Taylor Swift and other news, stay tuned and stay safe.
