There has been a lot of speculation recently that Taylor Swift may be planning a tour stop in Portugal on her upcoming world tour supporting her new album Midnights. Swift has a massive global fanbase, known as “Swifties,” who have been anxiously awaiting news of her tour plans. Portugal has become an increasingly popular tour destination for major pop acts in recent years, however Swift has never performed there before. In this article, we’ll look at the evidence hinting at a possible Taylor Swift concert in Portugal in the near future.
Taylor Swift’s Upcoming Tour Plans
Taylor Swift announced her new album Midnights in August 2022, but has yet to reveal concrete plans for touring behind it. She completed a massive worldwide stadium tour from 2018-2019 in support of her album Reputation, playing to over 2 million fans globally. However, she hasn’t toured since then due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Fans are eagerly awaiting her return to the road. While no dates have been announced yet, Swift confirmed in November 2022 that she will be embarking on a tour in support of Midnights in 2023. Based on her previous tours, fans can expect her to visit cities in North America, the UK, Europe, Australia and other territories as part of a world tour that could span into 2024.
When Will Taylor Swift Announce Tour Dates?
Looking at the timeline of when she announced her previous tours, it’s likely that Swift will reveal the first waves of tour dates in late 2022 or early 2023. Her Reputation Stadium Tour was first announced in November 2017, around two months before the first shows. Of course, planning a global tour is complicated and details could change. But speculation is that Swift would plan touring to begin somewhere in the spring or summer of 2023. It’s possible she could tease some locations ahead of a general on-sale announcement.
What Cities Might She Visit in Europe?
When looking at Taylor Swift’s touring history, she has regularly visited major cities across the UK and continental Europe. On her last tour, she hit Dublin, London, Manchester, Paris, Cologne, Berlin, Amsterdam and other big markets. Countries she hasn’t visited as often historically include Portugal, Greece, Norway, Poland, Slovenia, and others. So there is definitely incentive for her to potentially add some new cities to provide fans in those countries a chance to see her live.
Evidence That Taylor Swift May Play Portugal
While there has been no official announcement, several clues have Swifties speculating that Taylor Swift is planning to add shows in Portugal on her next tour. Here are some of the key reasons fans think she will finally make her debut concerts in Portugal happen.
Her Hint About Visiting Places She Hasn’t Been to Before
In an interview with the Capital FM radio station in November 2022, Taylor Swift was asked about her upcoming tour plans. While coy about details, she did hint “There are some places I haven’t been to before that I think would be exciting to go to.” Fans immediately started trying to read between the lines and theorize what new cities she could be referring to. Portugal came to the top of many lists, as it is one major European country Swift has yet to perform in.
Following Other Major Pop Acts Playing Portugal Recently
In recent years, Portugal has become a much more popular tour stop for major North American pop stars. In 2017, both Justin Bieber and Bruno Mars played concerts in Lisbon. Other artists who have made tour stops in Portugal include Ariana Grande, Ed Sheeran, Imagine Dragons, Shawn Mendes and many more. Taylor Swift is aware of where her peers are touring, and how Portugal has become a more viable market. The precedent has been set that holding concerts there can be successful for top-tier artists.
Her Pattern of Adding New Cities Each Tour
Analyzing Taylor Swift’s touring history shows she often takes the opportunity to play new cities that she skipped on previous tours. For example, on her Reputation Tour she played several stadiums in Ireland, Scotland, and England outside of the major cities. On her 1989 World Tour she visited Rome and played her first ever shows in Shanghai and Tokyo. Expanding her map makes good business sense to satisfy pent-up demand in previously neglected areas. Adding Portugal fits her tendency to reach new fans in new regions each time she goes on tour.
Swifties Petitioning for a Portugal Show
As soon as speculation started that Taylor Swift might finally bring a tour to Portugal, her fans mobilized. Portuguese Swifties have taken to social media to launch campaigns showing their excitement. A change.org petition requesting she play a show in Lisbon or Porto has already gained over 5,000 signatures. Along with the hashtag #TaylorSwiftPortugal, fans are tweeting why it would mean so much to them to see her perform in their country. While not confirmed, this kind of organized fan effort has been known to influence Swift’s decision making when planning tours.
Her Repeated Online Interactions with Portuguese Fans
There are quite a few examples Taylor Swift noticing and directly interacting with fans from Portugal online. For instance, she wished a Portuguese fan happy birthday on Instagram. On her official Portuguese Twitter account, she shared excitement over charts success in Portugal and congratulated a Portuguese Target store playing her music over the speakers. These small gestures show she is aware of her supporters in the country and hint she may plan to reward them with a tour stop soon.
Analysis of Taylor Swift’s Potential Concert in Portugal
If Taylor Swift does end up announcing a show in Portugal, what are some likely scenarios we could expect? Let’s break down where she might play and what the concert could be like based on her previous tours.
Venue Options in Portugal
If Taylor were to play Portugal, where could she perform? Here are some of the likeliest venue options:
Venue | Location | Capacity |
---|---|---|
Estádio da Luz | Lisbon | 65,000 |
Estádio Municipal de Braga | Braga | 30,000 |
Altice Arena | Lisbon | 20,000 |
Pavilhão Rosa Mota | Porto | 12,500 |
Taylor Swift’s last tour only played stadiums, so Estádio da Luz would likely be the front runner. But she could also mix in an indoor arena show like she has done on certain legs of past tours.
What Would a Taylor Swift Concert in Portugal Setlist Be?
Fans are already dreaming of what their ideal Taylor Swift setlist would be for a show in Portugal. She would almost certainly heavily feature tracks from her newest album Midnights. Hits like “Anti-Hero” and “Lavender Haze” seem like locks. Portugal fans would also love to hear her play acoustic songs and deep cuts that don’t get played as often. Songs like “All Too Well” and “Wildest Dreams” would get huge reactions. Of course she would also play major smashes like “Shake It Off,” “Bad Blood,” “Blank Space,” and “Love Story.” The full predicted setlist would likely be 20-25 songs spanning her whole career.
How Much Would Tickets Cost?
Looking at ticket prices for Taylor Swift’s Reputation Stadium Tour, the cheapest seats started around $50 USD while floor seats were $150+ USD. If she plays a large stadium like Estádio da Luz, similar pricing could be expected. For a smaller indoor venue, seats would be higher priced overall. Tickets would certainly sell out very fast once they go on sale. There would also likely be special VIP packages with premium tickets, exclusive merchandise, and more.
Conclusion
It seems quite plausible that Taylor Swift is genuinely considering bringing a tour stop to Portugal for the first time ever on her upcoming 2023 tour supporting Midnights. Fans have provided compelling evidence of this possibility, from her own hints to the organized efforts of Portuguese Swifties. If she does announce a show, it would most likely be in a major city like Lisbon or Porto. The concert would be a massive success, letting her Portuguese fans finally experience the magic of a live Taylor Swift show. While nothing is confirmed yet, hopes are high for an official tour announcement naming Portugal soon. Swifties will eagerly await the news, ready to buy tickets the moment sales begin. Taylor Swift coming to Portugal would be the realization of a long-held dream for fans in the country.
References
Capital FM. “Taylor Swift Teases ‘Places I Haven’t Been’ on 2023 Tour.” November 2022.
Estádio Municipal de Braga. “About.” https://www.scbraga.pt
Estádio da Luz. “About.” https://www.slbenfica.pt
Change.org. “Petition: Taylor Swift Concert in Portugal.” https://www.change.org/TaylorSwiftPortugal
Pollstar. “Taylor Swift Reputation Stadium Tour.” https://www.pollstar.com/artist/taylor-swift-30828
Twitter. @TaylorSwiftPRT. https://twitter.com/TaylorSwiftPRT
Other Questions Related to Taylor Swift Coming to Portugal
Here are some other common questions fans may have about Taylor Swift potentially performing in Portugal:
What are the odds Taylor Swift will add a Portugal tour stop?
Based on Swift’s hints about visiting new places and the campaigns by Portuguese fans, the odds look promising she will play Portugal. An announcement feels imminent.
Who would open for Taylor Swift in Portugal?
On her recent tours, she has rotated various opening acts. For Portugal, she could choose Portuguese singer Anitta or another artist with local popularity. Fans have also speculated she may invite indie pop singer Maisie Peters who opened part of her last tour.
How quickly would Taylor Swift’s Portugal concert sell out?
Within minutes, if not seconds! There is massive demand among Portuguese fans who have been waiting years to see Swift live. The show would sell out instantly with fans vying for a prized ticket.
What songs would fans most want to hear at a Taylor Swift Portugal show?
Along with new Midnights songs, fans would love hits like “Blank Space,” “Shake It Off,” “Love Story,” and “I Knew You Were Trouble.” Deep cuts like “All Too Well” and “Wildest Dreams” would also get enthusiastic reactions.
What would make Taylor Swift’s first Portugal concert so special?
It would be a historic, once-in-a-lifetime experience for Portuguese Swifties to finally see their idol in concert after her long absence from the country. The energy and emotion in the stadium would be electric.
The Impact of Taylor Swift Coming to Portugal
If Taylor Swift does announce a concert in Portugal, it would be a landmark event for the country’s music scene with an enormous impact. Here’s how Portugal would be affected by her visit:
Boost to Local Economy
A concert by a superstar like Taylor Swift would provide a big boost to Portugal’s local economy and jobs. From ticket sales, to hotels, restaurants, transportation, and more – her show would generate millions in revenue. Local crews would be hired for production jobs as well.
Increased Tourism
Music fans from other countries may be inspired to book trips to Portugal around the event. Her show would spotlight Portugal as a vacation destination to potential tourists. Fans could visit other parts of the country around her concert.
Higher Profile for Portugal’s Music Scene
Portugal’s profile as a live music destination would be elevated by hosting an artist of Taylor Swift’s caliber. It may inspire other top musicians to add Portugal to future world tours. Fans worldwide would be introduced to Portugal’s venues.
Lasting Memories for Swifties
For Portuguese fans, a Taylor Swift concert would be an unforgettable night cherished forever. Parents could take their kids and families could bond over sharing in the experience. It would inspire a new generation of Portuguese children to pursue music.
Conclusion
While Taylor Swift visiting Portugal is still speculative, there are many compelling reasons it could actually happen on her 2023 tour. Demand is enormous, as Portuguese Swifties have waited years to see their idol live. A concert in a city like Lisbon or Porto seems very realistic based on her hints about playing new cities. And Portugal as a country stands to benefit greatly from the economic and promotional impact. Fans will watch anxiously for an official announcement. Taylor Swift finally coming to Portugal would be the realisation of a dream – for her diehard fans and the nation as a whole.