'It was the end of an era, but the start of an age'
Spanning nearly two years – Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour broke new records, thrilled fans (known as Swifties) from across the globe and without a doubt left its mark on the music industry. From dressing up in incredible outfits to spending hours making colourful friendship bracelets, fans of all ages made memories at the popular concert tour.
Now a year on from its conclusion, fans can relive The Eras Tour all over again as a new concert film and six-part docuseries is coming to Disney+. But what is an era – and if you had to choose, which Taylor Swift era would you be?
Check out our quiz below to find out! Here, BBC Bitesize takes a look at what an era is, famous eras through time and how a number of them have inspired and been referenced in Taylor Swift’s incredible music catalogue.
What is an era and what are some of the most famous in history?
In everyday life, you’ll likely hear someone mention or reference a particular era, or even say something “marked the end of an era” or they are embarking on a “new era” themselves. But what is the definition of an era?
An era usually means a distinct period of time, marked or dominated by a prominent figure, community, or event. An era refers to memorable and important periods in history, from technology to literature, politics and more.
Through time, there have been many famous eras, which are still studied today – and while there are too many to mention, BBC Bitesize has lots of fun facts and resources for lots of them. For example, when it comes to the history of the British monarchy, the Elizabethan era refers to the rule of Elizabeth I, from 1558 to 1603, whereas the Victorian era refers to the rule of Queen Victoria, from 1837 to 1901.
Many classical music eras also span different centuries and were heavily influenced by different composers of those times. This includes the Baroque period, Classical period, the Romantic period and more.
There are so many more to mention – and you can explore BBC Bitesize to discover more.
Who is Taylor Swift and what are her eras?
Taylor Swift is an American singer-songwriter who has been releasing chart-topping hits and inspiring generations of fans across the globe since the age of 14. Nearly 20 years on after her debut album, the legendary artist has delved into many different genres of music, from country to pop, folk and more and has 14 Grammy Awards under her belt.
Today, when you hear the word era – you're likely to think of Taylor Swift. Her most recent concert tour, The Eras Tour, broke records and became the highest-grossing music tour in history. When it comes to Taylor’s own eras – these refer to her 12 albums, which all have their own sound and style.
In chronological order, these are Taylor Swift (self-titled), Fearless, Speak Now, Red, 1989, Reputation, Lover, Folklore, Evermore, Midnights, The Tortured Poets Department and more recently, her latest era, The Life of a Showgirl.
Taylor also references eras in her own music. If you’re a fan of the Speak Now album, you’ll recognise the lyrics “it was the end of a decade, but the start of an age” from song Long Live – but during her last ever Eras Tour concert, Taylor surprised fans by changing the lyrics to “it was the end of an era, but the start of an age.”
Does Taylor Swift reference any other eras?
Throughout her career, Taylor Swift has told many stories through her music, as well as dropping some clues, cryptic messages and what fans have come to know as Easter eggs along the way. But if you listen more closely, you’ll spot the historic and literary eras that have inspired or been referenced in Taylor’s work.
There are many to mention, but one obvious example would be the inspiration of William Shakespeare – the famous playwright who wrote many legendary dramas and tragedies during the Elizabethan era. One of Taylor’s most famous songs, Love Story, from the Fearless album, is a modern retelling of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, but with a very different ending.
On her most recent album, The Life of a Showgirl, another example would be the lead single, The Fate of Ophelia. The song contains numerous references to the Hamlet character, both through its lyrics and music video, but offers a fresh twist in the tale.
From the same album, the famous line “something wicked this way comes,” from Macbeth also features in the song Cancelled!. And Swifties will also recognise the play on the words “all’s well that ends well” in songs All Too Well (10-minute version) and Lover, which is a nod to the Shakespeare play of the same name.
When it comes to the Victorian era, Taylor also pays tribute Lewis Carroll’s beloved children’s book, Alice in Wonderland. On the 1989 album, her bonus track, Wonderland, tells the story of getting lost in a “wonderland” after falling “down a rabbit hole” and mentions a “Cheshire Cat smile.”
During the Edwardian period, famous children’s book Peter Pan was written by J.M. Barrie. In the song Cardigan, from the Folklore album, Taylor names two of the main characters in the lyric “tried to change the ending, Peter losing Wendy.”
Taylor has also been inspired by the Romantic era in English literature in her Folklore bonus track The Lakes, which was inspired by The Lake District. The song includes a pun on William’s Wordsworth’s name in the lyric “I’ve come too far to watch some name-dropping sleaze tell me what are my words worth.”
Taylor’s lyrics also make even more historic references, back to the Classical period in Ancient Greece. In her song So High School, from The Tortured Poets Department, she names Greek philosopher Aristotle.
Over her 12 album eras so far – these are just a handful to include. But if you’re a fan of Taylor Swift, there's no doubt you’ll spot many more.
Which Taylor Swift era are you?
What was the Eras Tour and when did it take place?
The Eras Tour was a concert tour that celebrated Taylor Swift’s musical careerover two decades. In the spectacular performances that lasted more than three hours and saw dozens of songs performed, Taylor showcased her various album eras through different sections of the show, musically and visually.
The Eras Tour began in Arizona, USA, in March 2023 and concluded in Vancouver, Canada in December 2024. Over 10 million tickets were sold, and the tour had 149 shows spanning five continents.
But The Eras Tour was more than just a celebration of Taylor’s music – it also saw fans create a community and their own traditions for the show. This included wearing outfits inspired by Taylor’s different eras and making and swapping friendship bracelets – which was inspired by a lyric from song You’re On Your Own Kid.
Where can I watch The Eras Tour?
If you didn’t see The Eras Tour in real time, there’s no need to worry. Back in 2023, a full-concert movie hit cinemas around the world and later came to Disney+, called The Eras Tour (Taylor’s Version).
But now, Swifties will be thrilled to know a new full-concert film is coming to the streaming service on 12 December 2025. The Eras Tour: The Final Show was captured in Vancouver, Canada, during the final show of the epic tour on December 8, 2024.
The film features the entire Eras Tour setlist – including songs from the album The Tortured Poets Department, which was added to the tour after its release. On Disney+, it is rated 14+, meaning some scenes may be unsuitable for viewers under 14.
What is ‘The End of an Era’ docuseries and when is it released?
As we know, The Eras Tour was captured on film – but there is so much more fans are yet to see. Offering a behind-the-scenes look at the record-breaking tour, a six-episode docuseries called The End of an Era is also coming to Disney+.
Chronicling the development and success of The Eras Tour, the series captures Taylor’s life on tour and spotlights performers, family members and friends who were there for it all. Famous faces featured in the docuseries include Ed Sheeran and Sabrina Carpenter.
The new docuseries will be released on Disney+ from 12 December 2025, with two episodes being rolled out weekly. Disney+ has rated the series as 16+, meaning some scenes may be unsuitable for viewers under 16.
This article was written in December 2025