Artem, a 22-year-old IT student in Moscow, didn’t hesitate to spend $3,000 to take a roundabout route to Germany to see his idol, Taylor Swift.
Around the world, “Swifties” — a term for Taylor Swift’s fans — are well-acquainted with buying tickets to see the American singer’s concerts. But in Russia, fans face more challenges. Many Western artists stopped performing in Russia from 2022, when the Russia-Ukraine conflict broke out. Traveling to European countries has also become more complicated for Russians.
However, Russian Swifties are undeterred. They began their journey this summer, coordinating flights with visa interview schedules to attend Swift’s Eras Tour.
Dmitry, a Taylor Swift fan, during a Swifties community gathering in Lyubertsy, Moscow province, on September 15. Photo: Reuters
Elizaveta, a 20-year-old medical student, traveled with Artem to see their idol perform in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, this past July. “When you realize that your long-awaited dream has come true, you feel incredibly happy, joyful, and grateful that everything went smoothly,” she said.
Elizaveta flew through a third country to Greece, where she obtained her visa, then continued to Germany. Artem, meanwhile, applied for an Italian visa through a travel agency six months in advance.
“I chose Italy because at the time, it was easier to get a regular tourist visa there than in other countries,” he said. “We went to the concert together, but each had to find our own way to get there. Lisa had a chance to apply for a Greek visa, so she went to Greece with her family. I didn’t have that option, so I researched the easiest country to get a visa from.”
“I combined the concert with a European trip. It would have been cheaper just to see the concert,” Artem shared. “The total cost was around 300,000 rubles ($3,200).”
A group of Taylor Swift fans singing and playing guitar in Lyubertsy Park on September 15. Photo: Reuters
Elizaveta and Artem became close with other Swifties in Moscow. They created a Taylor Swift fan group on the social media platform VKontakte three years ago. Members say dozens of people have attended events organized by the group, from bracelet-making workshops to sing-alongs.
“We try to create a cozy community where people can get to know each other,” said Diana, a 20-year-old international relations student.
They’ve also learned to adapt to geopolitical changes. Elizaveta’s Apple Music account is registered in Turkey, while Artem and others use VPNs to listen to music on Spotify, which stopped operating in Russia in 2022. Apple also ceased product sales in Russia that same year.
Dmitry, another fan, noted that Swifties around the world are just a click away.
“We’re not isolated from the rest of the world. We watch TikTok, we still see foreign videos, and we join countless discussions,” he said. “Overall, we have everything. We live a colorful life.”
