Taylor Swift fans come together in Vienna after concerts canceled

Swifties sing and dance in Vienna on Friday, Aug.9, 2024. Organizers of three Taylor Swift concerts in the stadium in Vienna this week called them off on Wednesday after officials announced arrests over an apparent plot to launch an attack on an event in the Vienna area such as the concerts. (AP Photo/Heinz-Peter Bader)

Police kept a watchful eye as hundreds of Taylor Swift fans gathered and sang her songs in the Austrian capital Thursday, Aug. 8, their dreams of watching her perform live abruptly dashed.

Three sold-out concerts in Vienna, part of Swift’s Eras Tours show, were canceled by organizers after officials announced arrests over an apparent plot to attack her shows, saying they appeared to be inspired by the Islamic State group and al-Qaida.

The Ernst Happel Stadium, where up to 65,000 fans had been expected, sat empty Thursday aside from media filming outside. Later in the day on Corneliusgasse — a small street just 5 kilometers (3 miles) from the stadium — fans flocked to trade friendship bracelets and commiserate about the cancelations. The beaded bracelets, typically bearing Swift’s song titles or popular phrases, are usually swapped at concerts with strangers.

The fans gathered on Corneliusgasse because the street name echoes “Cornelia Street,” the name of a contemplative synth-pop track from Swift’s 2019 album, “Lover.”

Swifties, a term for Taylor Swift fans, trade bracelets in the city center in Vienna on Thursday, Aug.8, 2024. Organizers of three Swift concerts in the stadium in Vienna this week called them off on Wednesday after officials announced arrests over an apparent plot to launch an attack on an event in the Vienna area such as the concerts. (AP Photo/Heinz-Peter Bader)

The title refers to a street in New York City’s Greenwich Village, where Swift rented a luxury apartment in 2016 and fans now visit to take selfies. “And I hope I never lose you, hope it never ends,” she sings in the song’s chorus. “I’d never walk Cornelia Street again.”

Fans clapped, danced and cheered as they belted out some of her songs and took selfies with each other. Some were upbeat, while others overcome by emotions as they hugged and cried, saying they were heartbroken.

Swifties fixed bracelets on trees in the city center. One police officer had his uniform decorated with bracelets.

As it started to rain, some of the fans dispersed, perhaps to be reunited another day.