Artem, a 22-year-old IT student from Moscow, has no regrets about spending over $3,000 to see his favorite singer, Taylor Swift, perform live. Around the world, Swift fans, known as “Swifties,” often pay hefty prices for her concerts, but Russian fans face additional challenges.
Since many Western performers have avoided Russia following its 2022 military actions in Ukraine, and with international travel restrictions in place, Russian Swifties have had to embark on complicated journeys to attend Swift’s sold-out Eras tour.
Elizaveta, a 20-year-old medical student, traveled with Artem to see Swift in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, in July. Elizaveta described the experience as a dream come true, bringing her joy and gratitude that everything worked out.
The pair are part of a Swiftie fan group on the Russian social platform VKontakte, where they organize singalongs and bracelet-weaving workshops to foster a sense of community. However, for those who can afford it, nothing compares to seeing Swift live.
Elizaveta secured a visa to Greece before continuing on to Germany, while Artem applied for an Italian visa six months in advance, combining the concert with a broader European trip. His total expenses amounted to about 300,000 roubles ($3,200).
Despite restrictions, Russian Swifties have adapted. Elizaveta’s Apple Music account is registered in Turkey, and Artem uses workarounds to access Spotify, which halted streaming in Russia in 2022. Other fans, like Dmitry, stay connected with Swifties worldwide through platforms like TikTok, sharing that they are not isolated from global fan culture and continue to enjoy a rich experience.
