Soon to be married or already married? A mix of excess and well-kept secrecy, the marriage of megastar Taylor Swift and American football player Travis Kelce is captivating fans around the world and social media, searching for the slightest clue about this gargantuan ceremony in the heart of New York.

The highlight of this union is to take place on Friday from 3 p.m. (7 p.m. GMT) in front of a thousand guests at Madison Square Garden, under heavy police surveillance and sweltering heat.

According to the American press, which does not hesitate to speak of the "wedding of the century", a first dinner brought together about a hundred people on Thursday in this performance hall known for hosting sporting events and concerts.

Very close to Taylor Swift, singer Selena Gomez posted a video of herself in an evening gown to her 405 million Instagram followers, suggesting that she was part of the party.

Singer Ed Sheeran, "Girls" series creator Lena Dunham, and producer Jack Antonoff were spotted near the venue, which was surrounded by barriers and police.

On the lookout for stars behind the tinted windows of cars, the numerous journalists and the few "Swifties" (the name given to the musician's fans) were kept at a distance, at both ends of a street closed to pedestrians.

- "Royal Wedding" -

Alyssa Heinen and Lindsey Bongiorno, 24-year-old and 25-year-old New York fans, told AFP they felt like they were experiencing a "royal wedding." "She's the most important person in the United States. For us, she's kind of like our queen," explained Heinen.

"I'm so happy, I love them!" said 13-year-old Micah Christensen, who came from Toronto, Canada, with her grandparents. "Taylor Swift is a wonderful person. I know she donates to lots of food banks, and I love her music," she added, sporting a t-shirt with the groom's name on it.

The pop star's spokesperson, Tree Paine, announced on Thursday that the couple had donated $26 million to NGOs this week, including in New York and Kansas City, where Travis Kelce stars in the film.

The cost of the festivities, however, is unknown.

While very few details have emerged, some fans and media outlets are convinced that the icon and Travis Kelce have already married, in a private ceremony. Perhaps in Nashville, the city of American music, where her family moved to help launch her career when she was 14 and where she owns a home.

Fake wedding photos generated by artificial intelligence are already circulating on the internet, including one posted online by comedian Bert Kreischer on Instagram, posing in the middle of the couple in wedding attire.

- Confidentiality Agreements -

According to media reports, most of the guests expected on Friday are bound by confidentiality agreements and all are prohibited from using their mobile phones.

Models Gigi Hadid and Cara Delevingne and actress Zoë Kravitz are expected to be among the guests, according to the press.

Stella McCartney, Dior, Versace or another designer? Who will dress the bride, the celebrity media are also wondering, a little less than a month after the wedding in Sicily of another pop star, Dua Lipa, who chose a Chanel dress.

If the wedding does take place on Friday, it would not be the first time a musician has chosen Madison Square Garden for his nuptials: Sly Stone married actress Kathy Silva there in June 1974 during a concert by his band, Sly and the Family Stone.

At 36, Taylor Swift topped the global music sales charts in 2025 for the fourth consecutive year and the sixth time in her career, according to figures from the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI).

Her fiancé, also 36 years old, won three Super Bowls with the Kansas City Chiefs, in 2019, 2022 and 2023.

Engaged in August 2025, the two celebrities have been together for two years.