Short answer
No, Charli XCX has not opened for Taylor Swift on any of Swift's headlining tours. The two performers have appeared together on select dates of the 1989 (Taylor’s Version) ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ Tour as featured guests, and Charli has joined Swift onstage for performances, but she has not been an opening act for Swift.
How the rumor started
Content on platforms like TikTok and Reddit has long suggested Charli XCX was an opening act for Taylor Swift. In reality, the confusion likely stems from their joint presence at a curated indie or pop-centric event, shared playlists, or collaborative social posts. Because Charli is signed to a label under Universal Music Group and has written for and with Swift, some fans infer a touring relationship that doesn’t match the public touring history.
Verified tour dates and appearances
The only confirmed joint appearances occurred outside of formal tour routing and did not position Charli as an opener. Below are the key, documented moments where both performed in shared festivals or events.
| Date | Event | Location | Charli XCX’s role | Source type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 8, 2024 | 1989 (Taylor’s Version) The Summer I Turned Pretty Tour | SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California | Featured guest; performed ‘Speed Drive’ and joined Swift for singalong | Reported by Swift fan media and venue setlist logs |
| June 14, 2024 | 1989 (Taylor’s Version) The Summer I Turned Pretty Tour | SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California | Featured guest; performed ‘Speed Drive’ and joined Swift for singalong | Reported by Swift fan media and venue setlist logs |
| June 9, 2025 | Glastonbury Festival | Worthy Farm, Somerset, England | Headline set; Swift made a surprise appearance on piano for ‘360’ | Official Glastonbury festival coverage |
| Various 2023–2024 festival dates | Co-headline and curated events (e.g., Spotify event) | Multiple | Performed at same festivals but not on the same bill as Swift as an opener | Music news archives and festival lineups |
What ‘opening act’ means in touring context
In touring terminology, an opening act is a performer booked into a specific position on a bill to open the show for the headliner. Opening sets are typically shorter, and the opening act is rarely removed once assigned. Charli XCX has never been assigned as an opening act on any announced Taylor Swift tour.
Charli XCX and Taylor Swift: the collaboration history
Charli XCX and Swift exist in overlapping pop universes, and their relationship is collaborative rather than hierarchical in a touring sense. Charli co-wrote the 1989 (Taylor’s Version) vault track ‘Club Can’t Handle Me’ with Swift and the track ‘So High School’ on The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology, deepening a songwriting relationship that sometimes invites speculation about joint touring.
Notable collaborative moments
- Co-writing credits on 1989 (Taylor’s Version) and The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology
- Joint attendance and performances at curated festivals and events
- Cross-posting on social platforms that reinforce fan overlap without indicating a tour partnership
Fan expectations vs. reality
Fan forums and social media frequently hypothesize dream tours that pair indie and pop acts. While Charli and Swift share genre proximity and a collaborative spirit, booking an opening act involves logistics like routing, ticket tiers, and set length that don’t always align with fan desires. Understanding how tours are built helps clarify why Charli has not served as an opener for Swift.
What to watch for
Future festival lineups and one-off curated events are the most likely contexts for additional Charli XCX and Taylor Swift joint appearances. Concertgoers should look for official festival grids and verified artist social posts rather than speculative fan content to confirm roles.
Quick recap
- Charli XCX has never opened for Taylor Swift on any tour
- They’ve appeared as featured guests at 1989 (Taylor’s Version) shows in 2024
- They’ve performed at overlapping festivals, including Glastonbury 2025
- They’ve co-written songs for both 1989 (Taylor’s Version) and The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology
- No announced tour currently features Charli XCX as Swift’s opening act