Taylor Swift’s 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, officially drops on Friday, October 3, 2025, at 12:00 a.m. Eastern Time across all major streaming platforms. That means Swifties in Los Angeles will get the record on Thursday evening at 9:00 p.m. PT, while fans in London will wake up to it at 5:00 a.m. BST.
The midnight release strategy has become a signature for Swift, ensuring that fans worldwide hit play at the same moment, sparking an immediate wave of reactions across social media. Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and other platforms will all roll out the album simultaneously.
Global Rollout
Because the release is tied to U.S. Eastern Time, international listeners should adjust accordingly:
- United Kingdom – 5:00 a.m. BST
- India – 9:30 a.m. IST
- Sydney – 2:00 p.m. AEDT
Retailers are also preparing for the launch. Target has confirmed select stores will open at midnight to sell deluxe physical editions, including vinyl variants — a move that echoes Swift’s earlier high-demand album drops.
Beyond the Album: A Cinematic Celebration
To mark the release, Swift is also premiering Taylor Swift | The Official Release Party of a Showgirl in theaters beginning October 3 at 3:00 p.m. ET in the U.S. The 89-minute film includes a brand-new music video, “The Fate of Ophelia,” plus behind-the-scenes content and Swift’s own commentary. AMC Theatres, which is handling distribution, says the release will expand to over 100 countries, turning the album drop into a global pop-culture moment.
What Fans Can Expect
Swift’s last few albums — from Midnights to The Tortured Poets Department — followed the same Friday-at-midnight pattern, each generating record-breaking streams within hours of release. With The Life of a Showgirl, industry insiders expect another streaming surge and a strong debut atop the Billboard 200.
For fans, though, the timing is simple: set your alarms for midnight ET, or check your local time zone for the exact moment the record becomes available. If history is any guide, Swifties won’t just be listening — they’ll be dissecting lyrics, decoding Easter eggs, and flooding timelines within minutes of the drop.
