Taylor Swift performs to biggest crowd of her career as Eras Tour kicks off Down Under at the MCG

Taylor Swift delighted the biggest crowd of her career as she opened the Australian leg of her Eras Tour in Melbourne on Friday night.

The MCG was packed with 96,000 of the luckiest Swifties who managed to get tickets to the record-breaking global blockbuster.

The 34-year-old wasted no time in delighting fans – literally, appearing on stage earlier than expected.

For three hours Swift entertained fans through each of her musical eras. (Getty Images for TAS Rights Mana)

“I have to be honest with you about something. This is the biggest show we have ever performed on The Eras Tour or any tour ever,” she told the crowd.

“If I seem a little bit like I’m losing my mind over the 96,000 of you, that’s because it’s true. I am.”

For three hours Swift entertained fans through each of her musical eras.

She sent her fanbase – both in the stadium and online around the world – into a meltdown as she teased early in the night that she would share something new about her upcoming album The Tortured Poets Department, which releases on April 19.

While hopes of a performance of a new song went unrealised, the crowd still went wild as Swift revealed a new alternate album cover and the title of another track, The Bolter, which will be an exclusive on the vinyl edition.

“I’m very excited for April 19 … I cannot wait for you to hear all those songs then,” Swift said.

With two more Melbourne shows and then four in Sydney to go, Swifties will watching closely to see what more the pop superstar has to offer from her first tour Down Under since 2018.

“Oh Melbourne, look at you – I’m just taking a mental picture for myself for any time that I’m sad,” Swift said last night.

“If I seem a little bit like I’m losing my mind over the 96,000 of you, that’s because it’s true. I am,” Swift told the MCG crowd. (Jason South)

Die-hard Swifties travelled from far and wide for the chance to see one of the world’s biggest pop stars.

Sisters Lexie and Brelyn, along with their mum Kaitlin, flew in earlier this week from rural Queensland.

“We live in the middle of Queensland near Rockhampton,” Lexie said, with her sister adding it was a “long, long, long way”.

Another family made a similar trek down from Darwin, saying that the expensive flights were worth it.

The MCG was packed with 96,000 of the luckiest Swifties who managed to get tickets to the record-breaking global blockbuster. (Jason South)
Taylor wasted no time in delighting fans, arriving on stage at the MCG earlier than expected. (Jason South)

Fans were dressed to impress outside the MCG, with many arriving before 8am. The tour itself has broken Australian records, with more than 4 million people attempting to snap up tickets.

Nathan Tagle was one of many who missed out on tickets to the Melbourne show.

He spent five weeks sewing a Reputation-inspired outfit but said he would enjoy the night outside the MCG with fellow dedicated fans.

“I took myself to Spotlight and I did a little series on making my outfit, it’s custom-made by myself and I am excited to walk around in it and share friendship bracelets,” Tagle said.

Fans have flocked to the MCG ahead of tonight’s gig. (Nine)
Nathan was all glam ahead of the show, although he didn’t get tickets tonight. (Nine)

Fans heading to the MCG have been warned about travel disruptions, with buses to replace trains on the sections of the Belgrave Line and Frankston lines.

There will be extra train services added to ensure all Swifties can get to and from the shows quickly and easily.

The 14-time Grammy-winning singer-songwriter will also perform four shows in Sydney from February 23-26.