Taylor Swift Shares Devastating Impact of Cancelled Vienna Eras Tour Shows

Taylor Swift has spoken out about the cancellation of her three Eras Tour dates in Vienna earlier this month, following a thwarted terrorist attack that led to the arrest of two men.

In an Instagram post celebrating the end of the European leg of the tour, which concluded at London’s Wembley Stadium, Swift expressed her overwhelming emotions surrounding the cancellations. She revealed that the threat instilled in her a sense of fear and trepidation, and a deep sense of guilt for the fans who had planned to attend the shows.

“Walking onstage in London was a rollercoaster of emotions,” Swift wrote. “Having our Vienna shows cancelled was devastating. The reason for the cancellations filled me with a new sense of fear, and a tremendous amount of guilt because so many people had planned on coming to those shows. But I was also so grateful to the authorities because thanks to them, we were grieving concerts and not lives.”

Swift highlighted the resilience and unity shown by her fans in the face of adversity, and shared her commitment to ensuring the safety of the thousands attending her London shows. “I was heartened by the love and unity I saw in the fans who banded together,” she continued. “I decided that all of my energy had to go toward helping to protect the nearly half a million people I had coming to see the shows in London. My team and I worked hand in hand with stadium staff and British authorities every day in pursuit of that goal, and I want to thank them for everything they did for us.”

Addressing the lack of public statement in the days following the cancellations, Swift clarified that she felt it was crucial to prioritize the tour’s safe conclusion. "In cases like this one, ‘silence’ is actually showing restraint, and waiting to express yourself at a time when it’s right to,” she wrote. “My priority was finishing our European tour safely, and it is with great relief that I can say we did that. And then London felt like a beautiful dream sequence. All five crowds at Wembley Stadium were bursting with passion, joy, and exuberance. The energy in that stadium was like the most giant bear hug from 92,000 people each night, and it brought me back to a place of carefree calm up there.”

Swift was scheduled to perform at Vienna’s Ernst Happel Stadium from 8-10 August. The shows were cancelled after two men were apprehended in the town of Ternitz, just outside Vienna. The suspects included a 19-year-old who had pledged allegiance to ISIS and lived with his parents, as well as two other individuals. Police discovered various chemicals and substances at the 19-year-old’s home, which were being tested for potential use in a bomb. Authorities stated that the men had recently been radicalised online and had specific plans for the attack.

Initially, officials indicated that the concerts could continue with enhanced security measures. However, hours after news of the arrests emerged, the shows were cancelled. Police Chief Gerhard Purstl acknowledged that the “concrete danger” had been mitigated, but an “abstract danger” remained.

Austrian concert promoter Barracuda Music confirmed the terroristic threat in a statement announcing the cancellations: “Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour Vienna Shows cancelled due to government officials confirmation of planned terrorist attack.” The statement concluded: “With confirmation from government officials of a planned terrorist attack at Ernst Happel Stadium, we have no choice but to cancel the three scheduled shows for everyone’s safety.”

Swift concluded her European leg of the Eras Tour with five sold-out shows at Wembley Stadium in London. She is set to return to North America in November to wrap up the tour with six dates at Toronto’s Rogers Centre and three at Vancouver’s BC Place.

In a subsequent Instagram post, Swift thanked her surprise guests Ed Sheeran, Florence Welch and Jack Antonoff, and expressed her gratitude to the fans who supported her European shows. “To the fans who have seen us this summer, you’ll always have the most sparkling place in my memories,” she wrote. “You were a dream to perform for, dance with, and share those magical moments with. We’ll see you all again when we resume The Eras Tour in October, but for now we get to take a much needed rest. Thank you for the adventure of a lifetime. May it continue…”