Taylor Swift brought the sixth annual Academy Museum Gala to a close on October 17, with an intimate four-song performance in Los Angeles, including the live debut of “The Fate of Ophelia” from The Life of a Showgirl. Introduced by Conan O’Brien, the 36-year-old singer delivered a mix of familiar hits and newer material at the star-studded fundraiser, which raised more than $14 million for the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.
The appearance marked one of Swift’s most prominent live outings since the Eras Tour concluded in 2024. While the evening celebrated major figures in filmmaking, her performance gave guests a rare opportunity to hear selections from her catalog in a more intimate setting, accompanied by a live band and four backing singers.
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Taylor Swift opened with “Blank Space,” the 2014 hit from 1989 that topped the Billboard Hot 100 for seven weeks. She followed it with “The Fate of Ophelia,” performing the song acoustically with guitar accompaniment and introducing it as its first live performance.
The track comes from The Life of a Showgirl, released in 2025, and its live debut offered a notable moment for fans following the album’s next chapter. Taylor Swift’s set also included “I Knew It, I Knew You,” her original song for the Toy Story 5 soundtrack. She completed the set with “Love Story,” the enduring Fearless favorite.
For the performance, Swift wore a sequined cobalt-blue dress, switching from the icy-blue Dior gown she had worn on the red carpet. The custom Jonathan Anderson design featured delicate pleating, exaggerated hips and a crystal-embellished bow.
The audience included ROSÉ, Sabrina Carpenter, Charlize Theron, Connor Storrie and Jessica Alba, with guests seen singing and dancing along.
Beyond the music, the gala honored filmmaker and composer John Carpenter with the Luminary Award, Colman Domingo with the Vantage Award and Charlize Theron with the Icon Award. Co-chaired by Tom Ford, Robert Rodriguez, Steven Spielberg and Kate Capshaw, the event supports the museum’s exhibitions, screenings and educational programs. The funds raised will help sustain public programming, K-12 initiatives and access for visitors across Los Angeles.
Taylor Swift’s Academy Museum Gala 2026 setlist
“Blank Space”
1989 (2014)
“The Fate of Ophelia”
The Life of a Showgirl (2025) (Live debut, acoustic performance)
“I Knew It, I Knew You”
Toy Story 5 soundtrack (2026)
“Love Story”
Fearless (2008)
Photo by Emma McIntyre/Oscars/Getty Images for Academy Museum Foundation
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