Artem, 22 years old, an IT student in Moscow, did not hesitate to spend 3,000 USD to take a detour to Germany to see his idol Taylor Swift.

Around the world, “Swifties” – Taylor Swift’s fans – are accustomed to buying tickets to see the American singer’s concerts. But in Russia, fans face more difficulties. Many Western artists have stopped performing in Russia since 2022, when the Russia-Ukraine conflict broke out. Traveling to European countries has also become more complicated for Russians.

But the Russian Swifties weren’t deterred. They set off this summer, scheduling flights to coincide with their visa interviews to see Swift’s Eras Tour.

Dmitry, a Taylor Swift fan, at a meeting with the Swifties community in Lyubertsy, Moscow region, September 15. Photo: Reuters

Elizaveta, 20, a medical student, accompanied Artem to see his idol perform in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, in July. “When you realize that your long-cherished wish has come true, you feel extremely happy, joyful, grateful that everything went smoothly,” she said.

Elizaveta flew through a third country to Greece, where she obtained a visa, and then to Germany. Artem had 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 visa for regular tourists than other countries,” he said. “We went to see the show together but had to find our own way to get there. Lisa had the opportunity to get a Greek visa, so she went to Greece with her family. I didn’t have that opportunity, so I researched where I could get a visa.”

“I combine concerts with a trip to Europe. If I just go to concerts, it’s cheaper,” Artem said. “The total cost is about 300,000 rubles ($3,200).”

Taylor Swift fans sing in a park in Lyubertsy, September 15. Photo: Reuters

Elizaveta and Artem are close to other Swifties in Moscow. They founded a Swift fan group on the social media platform VKontakte three years ago. Members say dozens of people have turned up to the group’s events, which range from bracelet-making workshops to singing gigs.

“We try to create a cozy community where people get to know each other and meet each other,” said Diana, 20, an international relations student.

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They’ve also learned to adapt to geopolitical shifts. Elizaveta’s Apple Music account is registered in Türkiye, while Artem and others “circumvent the firewall” to listen to music on Spotify, which will stop operating in Russia in 2022. Apple also stopped selling its products that same year.

Dmitry, another fan, said Swifties around the world are just a click away.

“We’re not isolated from the rest of the world. We sit and watch TikTok, we still watch videos from abroad, and we participate in countless discussions,” he said. “In general, we have everything. We have a colorful life.”