A city has been renamed Swiftkirchen ahead of Taylor Swift performing three sold out shows there later this month.

The mayor of Gelsenkirchen has renamed the city temporarily for the singer, who will head there on Wednesday, July 17 for three nights.

Mayor Karin Welgen said: ‘As mayor, I am of course very happy that Taylor Swift, currently the most successful singer in the world, will be performing three times in Gelsenkirchen.

‘International attention will therefore be back on our city immediately after EURO 2024.’

Fans posed next to the newly renamed city’s sign which has been installed.

A city has been renamed Swiftkirchen ahead of Taylor Swift performing three sold out shows there later this month

The mayor of Gelsenkirchen has renamed the city temporarily for the singer, who will head there on Wednesday, July 17 for three nights

Fans posed next to the newly renamed city’s sign which has been installed

Head of the city’s public relations department, Markus Schwardtmann said: ‘Today is the starting signal. We will be installing many more signs in highly frequented places in Gelsenkirchen in the coming days.

‘There will be many small and large surprises so that the Swifties in Gelsenkirchen have a lot to discover.’

Taylor wrapped up her Ireland shows over the weekend.

During her second Eras tour show in Dublin, Taylor confirmed that her lockdown album Folklore was inspired by the ‘storytelling’ of Ireland.

The singer, 34, sent fans wild by declaring that the record ‘belongs to them.’

Taylor released her eighth album back in July 2020, and during her latest concern she told the crowd she first started writing songs for Folklore just two days into the Covid lockdown.

‘Folklore’in general, it just belongs to Ireland,’ she said, adding: How I imagined the album world looking [was like] Ireland. Storytelling with lots of different characters. You guys have that on lock, too. That’s very Irish, the storytelling.’

‘I had to create an album where the imaginary world that I pretended to go to every single day while I was writing it… I got to be honest, kinda seemed like Ireland.’

Head of the city’s public relations department, Markus Schwardtmann said: ‘Today is the starting signa’

‘So we’re back to where we belong. Folklore belongs with you guys!’

The moment, which sparked huge cheers from her Irish fans in attendance was captured by one spectator who was in attendance at the Aviva Stadium and posted the moment on X.

Taylor has also shown her love for the Emerald Isle by donning not one but two green ensembles for different eras in the show.

Her first tribute look was a forest green cape dress adorned with leaves and a cut-out at her abdomen – which she changed into for Folklore.

Later in the show, for her 1989 era, Taylor again sported the country’s colours as she wore bejewelled orange bralet and ombre green skirt.

The surprise looks delighted fans, especially her Irish followers.

Taking to X, formerly Twitter, Taylor’s fans said: ‘The green folklore dress is so ireland of her!!’; ‘Green dress supremacy,’;

‘Green Folklore outfit for Ireland slay Taylor’ and ‘Folklore is so Ireland coded’.