Taylor Swift played her first live set with a full band in nearly two years on Oct. 17, closing the Academy Museum Gala in Los Angeles with four songs and giving “The Fate of Ophelia” its first live performance, MusicRadar reported. The song opens her album “The Life of a Showgirl,” and until now none of its tracks had been played on stage.
Our earlier report on the gala said the setlist was not yet known. Now it is.
What she played
Swift opened with “Blank Space,” moved to the live debut of “The Fate of Ophelia,” then sang “I Knew It, I Knew You,” the song she wrote for “Toy Story 5.” She finished with “Love Story,” one of her first crossover pop hits. She changed into a custom Ralph Lauren gown with crystals and a sheer finish for the set.
She told fans the reunion with her touring band, called The Agency, felt like “a vibe” and said it was a night she would not forget. She has not played a full concert since the Eras Tour ended in December 2024.
Why the song choice matters
“I Knew It, I Knew You” topped the Billboard Hot 100 and has been pushed for the best original song category at next year’s Oscars. MusicRadar noted that the gala performance could be read as part of a campaign for that award. First-round voting for the 2027 Grammys is under way, with nominations due Nov. 16, and some fans are speculating that Swift could headline Glastonbury next year. Neither has been announced.
The gala itself
The sixth annual Academy Museum Gala honored Charlize Theron, Colman Domingo and John Carpenter, and it raised more than $14 million for the museum. It was Swift’s first event with the Motion Picture Academy, and we covered the lineup in our earlier report.
Swift has not said whether more live shows are coming.
