It's hard to think of a performer more successful than Taylor Swift, which is why it's surprising that the iconic singer didn't receive an Oscar nomination for her smash hit 2023 concert documentary, Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour. The film showcases Swift's performance of her titular concert in Los Angeles. The Eras Tour broke all kinds of box office records, grossing over $261 million at the worldwide box office (via Box Office Mojo) and becoming the highest-grossing concert film of all time.

Swift began her Eras Tour in Glendale, Arizona on March 17, 2023, and performed a whopping 149 shows spanning five continents. The Eras Tour concluded in Vancouver, British Columbia on December 8, 2024. Raking in over $1 billion in revenue, the Eras Tour became the highest-grossing concert tour of all time. It also sold 10.1 million tickets, becoming the second most-attended tour ever. As many tickets as that is, there was still a vast array of Swifties who sadly did not get to attend. But at least they have The Eras Tour, a film Swifties love — even if the Academy didn't.

Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour Was Ineligible For The Best Documentary Feature Oscar

The Eras Tour Is A "Promotional Documentary" And Thus Not Qualified

Documentaries rarely make it to number one at the box office, but Swift-mania ran rampant in the fall of 2023, with Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour selling out screenings left and right. With so much buzz, it seemed like The Eras Tour would be a shoo-in for a Best Documentary Feature at the Academy Awards, but alas, when nominations for the 96th Academy Awards were announced, Taylor Swift's name was not called.

But Swifties, needn't fear — the singer was not snubbed. Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour simply wasn't eligible for the Best Documentary Feature award because of the Academy's documentary branch rules, which state, "Works that are essentially promotional or instructional are not eligible, nor are works that are essentially unfiltered records of performances." As a promotional concert film, The Eras Tour was thus disqualified. While it could have been nominated for other awards, it's rare for documentaries to receive nominations outside the Feature category.

Why Taylor Swift Didn't Attend The 2024 Oscars (Despite Being Invited)

She Was On The Singapore Leg Of Her Eras Tour

While the Academy didn't nominate Taylor Swift's film, they certainly wanted her to attend the ceremony — the "Cruel Summer" singer is invited to just about every red carpet event in existence, and the 96th Academy Awards was no exception. However, Swift did not go to the ceremony, which raised a few eyebrows, especially given that she attended the Golden Globes and the Grammys during the same awards season. But the reason for Swift's absence makes sense for a few key reasons.

Swift's attendance at the 81st Golden Globe Awards turned into a meme when she famously looked unamused at a poor joke about her delivered by host, Jo Koy.

First, she was not nominated for an award nor was she a presenter, so there wasn't a pressing reason for her to go. (In contrast, she was nominated for both a Golden Globe and several Grammys, so it makes sense she would grace those ceremonies with her presence.) Second, while Swift wasn't performing a concert on the day of the Oscars, she had just finished a show in Singapore the night before. Singapore is an 18-flight away from Los Angeles, where the Academy Awards takes place.

Given that distance, combined with the demands of the Eras Tour schedule, it simply wouldn't have been practical for her to go. Interestingly, it's believed that Swift has never attended Hollywood's biggest event. Though there was speculation she went to the 2023 ceremony, this was not confirmed, though she was spotted at the Vanity Fair after party with then-boyfriend Joe Alwyn. Swift also attended the yearly fete in 2011, 2014, and 2016.

It seems like it will only be a matter of time before Swift walks the Oscars red carpet. Though she rarely acts anymore, she is one of the most prolific musicians currently working today. Her best shot at Oscar glory would be in the Best Original Song category, which, should she win, would put her in a league with fellow popstars Lady Gaga and Billie Eilish.

It would also make Swift three-quarters of the way to becoming an EGOT winner (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony), as she already has one Emmy and an astonishing 14 Grammys. It's unknown if she plans on attending the 2025 Oscars, though the odds are higher than last year given that Swift has wrapped her Eras Tour. One thing's for sure — Swifties will be keeping their eye on the red carpet.