Taylor Swift Concerts Canceled After Terror Suspect Arrests

Taylor Swift Concerts Canceled After Terror Suspect Arrests

Carlos Alvarez, Getty Images

Three Taylor Swift concerts scheduled for this weekend have been canceled after two men were arrested for allegedly planning an attack on major events in Vienna, Austria.

The concerts were initially scheduled to go on as planned, but an update after 4PM ET shared that promoters have decided to cancel.

"We have no choice but to cancel the three scheduled shows for everyone's safety. All tickets will be automatically refunded."

A representative for Barracuda Music announced the news to media.

Swifts concerts were scheduled for Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Aug. 8-10. Police say one of the men suspected of terrorism had pledged his allegiance to the Islamic State (ISIS).

  • Swift's shows were going to be at Ernst-Happel-Stadion in Austria as part of her international Eras Tour.
  • Police arrested the two men in Austria on Wednesday (Aug. 7).
  • They said "the concrete damage has been minimized."

NBC News was among the many media outlets who reported on the potential for a terror attack at a Swift concert. The scope of danger was larger than just one concert venue, as all of Vienna's major events were in play. However, cops say the 19-year-old they arrested was particularly interested in Swift's shows.

A representative for Austria's Ministry of Interior said the men radicalized themselves online earlier this year. ABC notes that anywhere from 65,000 to 80,000 people were expected to be inside the venue or near the venue for each concert.

The BBC reported the story early and added that chemicals were found on at least one suspect. They're being examined, and additional precautions are being taken ahead of Swift's shows.

Swift began the Eras Tour in 2023 and focused mostly on international dates in 2024. She'll wrap in Vancouver this December.

This story was updated to reflect the cancelation of all three concerts.

Billy Dukes is a Senior Editor and Executive Producer of Video Content at Taste of Country. He specializes in country music interviews, trend analysis and the Secret History of Country Music. Additionally, Billy covers Yellowstone, 1923 and related television shows through the Dutton Rules podcast. To date, he's written more than 13,000 articles for Taste of Country and produced over 3,000 videos for the Taste of Country YouTube channel.

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Filed Under: Taylor Swift