Taylor Swift pays NYC $160,000 for wedding security costs

Pop star Taylor Swift has reimbursed New York City $160,000 for the police overtime and permit costs associated with her wedding to NFL player Travis Kelce at Madison Square Garden, Mayor Zohran Mamdani confirmed on Friday, July 10, 2026. The payment settles questions about whether taxpayers would bear the cost of the extensive security required for the high-profile event last week.

The couple was married in a ceremony at the arena on Friday, July 3, in front of approximately 1,000 guests. The event required significant city resources, including street closures around the venue and a police presence estimated by various reports to involve between 135 and 200 officers. Mayor Mamdani stated that the permit, which covered both the event and the police response, was finalized just days before the wedding and that Swift had already paid the associated cost of over $160,000.

The mayor's confirmation came amid public debate over the use of public funds for private celebrity events. Prior to the wedding, Representative Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) had publicly urged Swift and Kelce to reimburse the city for police overtime, arguing that taxpayers should not be responsible for the security...