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    Why Travis Kelce Won’t Be Attending the 2026 VMAs With Taylor Swift

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    Watch: Why Travis Kelce Won’t Be Attending the 2026 VMAs With Taylor Swift

    Travis Kelce is busy being Taylor Swift’s guy on the Chiefs.

    After all, the Kansas City Chiefs’ away game against the Miami Dolphins is why the tight end won’t be with his wife as she attends the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles Sept. 27.

    Hours before music’s most iconic night is set to begin, Kelce and his teammates, including quarterback Patrick Mahomes, will kick off inside Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, and their game isn’t expected to end until after Snoop Dogg begins his hosting duties at the VMAs. 

    So, who from the singer’s squad is expected to join her on the red carpet? Well, her bestie Dakota Johnson—who stars in the music video for Swift’s new single “Patient Zero,” airing during the show—may just make the whole place shimmer by her side.

    And no doubt the Verity actress will be cheer captain as Swift is bestowed the first-ever Artist Director Honors at the VMAs, a new honor designed to recognize “groundbreaking music artists whose work behind the camera has expanded the possibilities of music video and advanced the art of visual storytelling,” according to a Sept. 21 press release from MTV and CBS. 

    read

    Taylor Swift to Receive First Ever Artist Director Honors at VMAs 

    But while Swift and Kelce may be in separate places during the VMAs, the Grammy winner has already built a big reputation for supporting Kelce this season. In fact, she was joined by Tom Cruise at the Chiefs’ season opener earlier on Sept. 14, when she schooled the Digger actor on the rules of football.

    David Eulitt/Getty Images

    Plus, the Grammy winner wasn’t in a lavender haze at last week’s matchup against the Indianapolis Colts when Kelce scored a touchdown during overtime. Indeed, after the feat, Swift jumped up in excitement, pointed to her wedding ring and proclaimed, “That’s my husband!” 

    As for how the NFL star felt about her sweet reaction?

    “Just doing my deed as a husband,” he joked on the Sept. 23 episode of his New Heights podcast. “Proud wife, baby. Got to make my girl proud.”

    Keep reading for a look back at Swift and Kelce’s burning red romance…

    Fernando Leon/TAS23/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management

    July 2023: Make the Friendship BraceletsTaylor Swift and Travis Kelce‘s love story began in July 2023, when the singer’s Eras Tour made a stop at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.As a huge Swiftie, the Kansas City Chiefs tight end caught the show with hopes of giving Taylor a friendship bracelet with his number on it. However, he failed to complete the pass due to her pre-show rituals.”I was disappointed that she doesn’t talk before or after her shows because she has to save her voice for the 44 songs that she sings,” Travis shared on the July 26 episode of his New Heights podcast. “So, I was a little butt-hurt I didn’t get to hand her one of the bracelets I made for her.”

    JC Olivera/Getty Images

    Summer 2023: This Is Him TryingAfter publicly recounting his fumble—a move Taylor would later describe as “metal as hell”—Travis decided to shoot his shot and invite the Grammy winner to watch the Chiefs play at Arrowhead Stadium.”I threw it out there, I threw the ball in her court,” he shared on The Pat McAfee Show. “I told her, you know, ‘I’ve seen you rock the stage in Arrowhead, you might have to come see me rock the stage in Arrowhead and see which one’s a little more lit.’ So, we’ll see what happens in the near future.”

    Michael Owens/Getty Images

    August 2023: Enchanted to Meet YouTravis was rocking a mustache—which he debuted in August during training camp—when he was first introduced to Taylor.As he later noted of the era, “That ‘stache and the 87 jersey was pretty iconic there for a little bit, and I had it when I met Taylor for the first time.”

    Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for The Recording Academy / David Eulitt/Getty Images

    September 2023: Sparks FlyBy early September, a source close to the situation told E! News that Travis and Taylor were “texting and talking here and there.””It’s been very low-key,” the insider explained, “as he’s been in season.”

    Cooper Neill/Getty Images

    September 2023: Cheer CaptainAccepting Travis’ invite, Taylor joined the athlete’s mom Donna Kelce at Arrowhead Stadiumto watch him and the Chiefs take on the Chicago Bears. After the game, Taylor and Travis were seen packing PDA at a local bar.Though folklore had it that it was the couple’s first in-person meeting, the “Karma” singer later clarified the two had spent a “significant amount of time” getting to know each other beforehand.As Taylor noted, “We would never be psychotic enough to hard launch a first date.” 

    Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images

    October 2023: Team UpAs an indication that the relationship was heating up, Taylor brought her squad—including friends Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, Sophie Turner, Hugh Jackman, Sabrina Carpenter and Antoni Porowski—to watch the Chiefs play against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

    David Eulitt/Getty Images

    October 2023: It’s Nice to Have a FriendAnother sign that Travis could be The 1? Taylor started bonding with Brittany Mahomes—the wife of Travis’ BFF and teammate Patrick Mahomes—in and outside of NFL games.

    Gotham/GC Images

    October 2023: Welcome to New YorkThe couple took their romance to TV, making a surprise appearance on the Oct. 14 episode of Saturday Night Live. Their Big Apple takeover also included the after-party for the NBC sketch show and a date night at the Waverly Inn.

    Marcelo Endelli/TAS23/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management

    November 2023: Karma Is Her BoyfriendDuring a bye week, Travis traveled down to Argentina to catch the South American leg of Taylor’s Eras Tour. Not only did the NFL star bond with Taylor’s dad, Scott Swift,at the Nov. 11 show in Buenos Aires, but he also got a special shoutout from the stage.”Karma is that guy on the Chiefs,” Taylor sang, “coming straight home to me.”After the show, the Midnights artist was seen running up to Travis backstage and greeting him with a passionate kiss.

    Buda Mendes/TAS23/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management

    December 2023: Speak NowTaylor addressed the lavender craze surrounding her appearances at Travis’ games.”I’m going to see him do what he loves, we’re showing up for each other, other people are there and we don’t care,” she told Time. “The opposite of that is you have to go to an extreme amount of effort to make sure no one knows that you’re seeing someone.”

    Kathryn Riley/Getty Images

    December 2023: You, Who Charmed Her DadThe music superstar turned Travis’ Dec. 17 game into a family affair, bringing her dad to cheer on her man.

    Gotham/GC Images

    January 2024: All the MidnightsTaylor and Travis spent their first New Year’s Eve together, sharing a romantic kiss when the clock struck midnight on Jan. 1.

    Kathryn Riley / Contributor (Getty Images)

    January 2024: Chosen FamilyContinuing to bond with Travis’ family, Taylor hung out with his brother Jason Kelce and sister-in-law Kylie Kelce at the Chiefs’ game against the Buffalo Bills.

    Patrick Smith/Getty Images

    January 2024: Saved by the Perfect KissTaylor joined Travis on the football field when the Chiefs won the AFC Championship, a victory that cemented the team’s spot in the 2024 Super Bowl. The couple shared a celebratory kiss before exchanging the L-word.”Tay, I’m gonna enjoy with the guys,” he told her. “I love you—so much it’s not funny.”

    Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

    February 2024: Super Bowl ChampsThe pair locked lips on the field after Travis led the Kansas City Chiefs to victory on Feb. 11, 2024 in Las Vegas.

    TikTok

    February 2024: TikTok OfficialTaylor posted footage of Travis on social media for the first time Feb. 12, poking fun at how she took her parents clubbing with the athlete after the Super Bowl.

    Instagram / Taylor Swift

    June 2024: Instagram OfficialTaylor’s first Instagram pic featuring Travis was a selfie of the two with Prince William and his and wife Kate Middleton‘s eldest kids Prince George and Princess Charlotte backstage at the singer’s Eras tour show at Wembley Stadium in London.

    Gareth Cattermole/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management

    June 2024: Travis’ Eras Tour Stage DebutWhile attending his seventh Eras tour concert, and second show at London’s Wembley Stadium, the NFL star joined his girlfriend onstage as a backup performer during her performance of “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart.”

    Instagram

    September 2024: Back in the GameTaylor joined Travis for the Chief’s first game of the regular 2024-25 season and appeared to re-enact a PDA moment from October 2023 in this photo shared by Chariah Gordon, who is pictured with her boyfriend, Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman.

    Janet Mayer / Splash by Shutterstock

    September 2024: Wedding DateThe two attended model Karen Elson‘s wedding to Electric Lady Studios owner Lee Foster in New York City.

    Sarah Stier/Getty Images

    September 2024: U.S. Open DateThe next day, the pair attended the men’s singles final match at the U.S. Open.

    XNY/Star Max/GC Images

    October 2024: Double DateThe two stepped out for a double dinner date with Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds in NYC.

    TheStewartofNY/GC Images

    December 2024: Empire State of MindThe pair stepped out for two back-to-back dates in New York City over the last weekend of 2024, matching outfits both times.

    Travis Kelce/Instagram

    March 2025: Off-Season AdventuresThe pair spent the NFL off-season together, enjoying a snowy vacation to Montana with sportscaster Erin Andrews.

    Travis Kelce/Instagram

    July 2025: Instagram Hard LaunchTravis posted his first pics with Taylor on Instagram in July 2025, including an adorable shot of them at dinner—which subtly revealed their phone lockscreen pics of one another.

    New Heights/YouTube

    August: 2025: Taking Their Romance to New HeightsSelf-described New Heights superfan Taylor made her debut on Travis and Jason’s podcast in a nearly two-hour-long special episode Aug. 13. In addition to very candidly detailing their life together—in and out of the spotlight—Taylor also revealed her 12th studio album The Life of a Showgirl, set to debut Oct. 3.

    Instagram/KillaTrav

    August 2025: She’d Marry Him With Paper RingsMore than two years after Travis’ podcast shoutout heard ’round the world, Travis and Taylor announced they are engaged. Making a cheeky reference to her song “So High School.” the two captioned the Aug. 26 Instagram post featuring their engagement photos, “Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married.”While Taylor would’ve married Travis with paper rings, the athlete popped the question with an old mine brilliant cut diamond sparkler he co-designed with Artifex Fine Jewelry’s Kindred Lubeck.

    John Shearer/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management

    October 2025: The Life of a Showgirl in LoveTaylor released The Life of a Showgirl, her 12th studio album that she recorded during the Eras Tour. Songs about her romance with Travis include “The Fate of Ophelia”—which included many Easter eggs about the NFL star—and “Wood,” in which she cheekily sang that his “love was the key that opened my thighs.””New Heights of manhood,” Taylor continued on the track, referencing the name of Travis’ podcast. “I ain’t gotta knock on wood.”

    Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for iHeartRadio

    March 2026: iHeartTaylorTaylor and Travis made their first award show appearance as a couple at the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards, where she won seven trophies including Pop Album of the Year for The Life of a Showgirl.”The Life of a Showgirl was really inspired by the energy that I felt like looking into crowds and seeing you guys every single night,” she told fans in the audience. “This album probably also feels very happy and confident and free because that’s the way that I get to feel every single day of my life because of my fiancé, who’s here tonight.”Taylor added as a nod to her “The Fate of Ophelia” lyrics, “So, thanks for all the vibes.”

    Jason Miller/Getty Images

    June 2026: In the Knick of TimeAhead of their highly anticipated wedding, the couple enjoyed a PDA-filled date night at a New York Knicks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers game in Travis’ hometown. 

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    View More Photos From Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce: Romance Rewind

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