Taylor Swift has so much going on at the moment with The Life of a Showgirl, a memorable MTV VMAs red carpet look just had to wait.
The 2025 MTV VMAs had seemed like the perfect place for Taylor Swift to kick off her upcoming album's promotion cycle. She's attended the annual awards show a grand total of ten times, and is tied with Beyoncé for the most Moon Person trophies won by any artist. This year, she's also nominated for Artist of the Year, and her close friends Sabrina Carpenter and Ice Spice were set to attend. All signs pointed to a glamorous VMAs red carpet collaboration with her longtime stylist, Joseph Cassell Falconer, on September 7.
Hopes of seeing Swift's VMAs fashion evolution continue in vintage Bob Mackie feathers and rhinestones were dashed two days before the ceremony at New York's UBS Area, however. E! News reported that Swift was planning to skip the ceremony. And by the time Ariana Grande, Law Roach, and Doja Cat had walked the step-and-repeat, it was confirmed: Taylor Swift's MTV VMAs run was going on hiatus.
There are plenty of other events that could have take up space on Swift's fashion calendar. Her fiancé, Travis Kelce, was set to open his NFL season with the Kansas City Chiefs in São Paulo, Brazil, on September 5 against the Los Angeles Chargers. Swift has been devoted to attending as many of his games as possible—and showing her team spirit in loud luxury fashion with Kelce-coded jewelry to match. If the star and her new diamond engagement ring made the journey to Brazil, it might have been too tight a squeeze to fly back to New York in time for the VMAs red carpet. But that theory was also proven false: Swift skipped the Chiefs opener, and an associated fan outfit.
Reports have also surfaced that Swift's close friend Selena Gomez may marry Benny Blanco this weekend. Should those rumors prove to be true, there's no doubt the Grammy winner would rearrange her travel to support her friend's love story.
One thing is for certain at press time: This year's list of the most memorable MTV VMAs outfits will miss Taylor Swift's red carpet fashion. When she attends, she shows a more playful and adventurous side of her personal style. Last year, it manifested in the form of a custom Dior tartan set adapted from the house's Resort 2026 collection. Later, she changed into a Monse dress with a sequin UFO on the front—a reference to her Tortured Poets Department track "Down Bad.
Previous trips to the MTV VMAs have been accompanied by multiple outfit changes and major revelations. At the 2023 VMAs, Swift stacked a Versace safety pin gown and an EB denim mini. The year before that, she spent the night in a crystal-laden Oscar de la Renta mini—and announced the imminent release of her album Midnights.
With or without the MTV VMAs, a fresh Taylor Swift style era is on the horizon. She unveiled her twelfth studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, on the New Heights podcast last month with a fresh aesthetic to match. So far, the album's visuals include Las Vegas-inspired pieces by The Blonds, Area, and Bob Mackie, all heavy on spotlight-friendly rhinestones and towering feather headdresses.
Taylor Swift's next album is due out October 3. Knowing her she'll channel her "Mastermind" tendencies into a first red carpet for the era that leaves fans speechless.
