Taylor Swift calls performing with her band again after nearly two years a ‘VIBE’

Swift performed a four-song set singing 'Blank Space', 'The Fate of Ophelia', 'I Knew It, I Knew You' and 'Love Story'

Taylor Swift is reflecting on her return to the stage with her longtime band, describing the experience as a “VIBE” after performing live with them for the first time in almost two years at the 2026 Academy Museum Gala in Los Angeles.

The 14-time Grammy winner took to Instagram on October 20 to share photos from the star-studded event, which took place on October 17. “A night at the museum I'll never forget! Thank you to the @academymuseum for inviting us,” Swift wrote alongside the pictures, which included moments from the evening and her appearance in a custom ice-blue Dior gown.

“Getting to perform with the band again for the first time in almost 2 years was a VIBE,” the singer added, expressing her excitement about reuniting with the musicians who accompanied her throughout her record-breaking Eras Tour.

Swift performed a four-song set to close the gala, opening with “Blank Space” before singing “The Fate of Ophelia”, “I Knew It, I Knew You” and “Love Story”. The performance marked the first time she had performed a full set with her band since the conclusion of the Eras Tour in December 2024.

The evening also featured a significant milestone for Swift's music. She performed “The Fate of Ophelia” live for the first time, giving fans their first opportunity to hear the song performed onstage. She also sang “I Knew It, I Knew You”, her contribution to Toy Story 5, with a full band rather than as part of a mashup.

Swift's Instagram post also included a photograph with Joan Cusack, who voices Jessie in Toy Story 5. The singer previously revealed that the beloved animated character inspired her to write “I Knew It, I Knew You” after watching an early version of the film.

The track reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and US country radio charts, marking Swift's first No. 1 on country radio in 13 years.

Conan O'Brien introduced Swift before her performance, jokingly referring to her as a member of the Toy Story 5 family. During the set, the singer encouraged the formally dressed audience to join in, telling guests that dancing was allowed and would make the evening more fun.

The sixth annual Academy Museum Gala honoured filmmaker and composer John Carpenter, actor Colman Domingo and actress Charlize Theron for their contributions to cinema. The event raised more than $14 million to support the museum's exhibitions, educational initiatives and public programming.

Swift's appearance also brought together several of Hollywood's biggest names, with guests including Sabrina Carpenter, Connor Storrie, Andrew Garfield, Demi Moore, Jacob Elordi and Kim Kardashian.

For Swift, the evening offered an opportunity to celebrate her connection to cinema while returning to the live performances that defined much of her recent career. Her enthusiastic reaction to reuniting with her band suggests that, even after the extraordinary scale of the Eras Tour, performing together remains a special experience.