Germany is Renaming a City in Honour of Taylor Swift

Ahead of Taylor Swift’s upcoming ‘Eras Tour’ shows, the German city of Gelsenkirchen is getting a new, Swiftified name. Mayor Karin Welge has approved temporarily renaming the city “Swiftkirchen” in anticipation of Swift’s ‘Eras Tour’ stop in the city. 

This special tribute was suggested by fan Aleshanee Westhoff, who initiated a petition and wrote to the mayor about the change.

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“It’s a great idea to temporarily rename Gelsenkirchen to “Swiftkirchen,'” Mayor Welge wrote in a response letter to Westhoff, as translated from German to English. She expressed her excitement that fans can experience the short-term renaming live and up close.

Markus Schwardtmann, head of Gelsenkirchen’s public relations department, confirmed that the city will be installing numerous signs in highly frequented areas to reflect the new name.

This is not the first city to honour Taylor Swift in such a grand way. In 2023, the city of Glendale, Arizona, was temporarily renamed “Swift City” to celebrate the start of the Eras Tour. Mayor Jerry P. Weiers issued the proclamation, revealing that the new name would be in effect for the tour dates.

Additionally, the city of Santa Clara, California, was renamed “Swiftie Clara” for Swift’s tour stop, and she was declared the “Honorary Mayor” during her visit. The renaming of cities is becoming a trend as communities find unique ways to celebrate Swift’s influence and welcome her dedicated fanbase.

-Sushmita Sarkar