Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn timeline: from how they met to their breakup

Although Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn have managed to keep their relationship out of the spotlight, it seems the famously private couple are going their separate ways.

After first crossing paths at the 2016 Met Gala, and first being linked with one another in May 2017, Entertainment Tonight reports the couple have broken up after six years.

The couple have kept their romance private for the most part, though they have shared some moments in public.

In a 2019 interview with the Guardian, Swift explained why she hasn’t spoken about her relationship all that much.

“I’ve learned that if I do, people think it’s up for discussion, and our relationship isn’t up for discussion,” she said.

With their time together reportedly over, let’s take a look at a complete timeline of their relationship.

First reports of Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn’s relationship

Fans have speculated that Swift and Alwyn first met at the 2016 Met Gala.

While unconfirmed, fans point to the lyrics to Swift’s song ‘Dress’ as proof.

“Flashback to when you met me / Your buzz cut / And my hair bleached,” sings Swift. At the 2016 event, Swift had bleached blonde hair and Alwyn was sporting a buzzcut.

However, it wasn’t until May 2017 that the Sun reported the pair were in a relationship, while adding they had been seeing each other secretly for months.

“I’m essentially based in London, hiding out trying to protect us from the nasty world that just wants to ruin things,” Swift wrote in a diary entry included in the deluxe edition of ‘Lover’.

“We have been together and no one has found out for 3 months now.”

Alwyn and Swift show support for one another

In June 2017, the couple reportedly headed to Nashville to visit Swift’s parents, all but confirming that they were serious about their relationship.

A few months later, Alwyn was spotted in the crowd during Swift’s performance at iHeartRadio’s Jingle Ball in New York City in December.

“Joe stayed for the whole show and they later left together as well. They are staying at Taylor’s N.Y.C. apartment,” a source told People.

Swift and Alwyn go Instagram official

A year after their relationship was first reported, both Swift and Alwyn shared pictures of one another standing beside a giant cactus.

Up to that point, Alwyn’s account was previously private.

Swift’s post talked about her Reputation tour kicking off, and Alwyn was spotted in the audience for the opening night in Glendale, Arizona, wearing a baseball cap to try and conceal his face.

When Swift performed ‘Gorgeous’, which is said to be about Alwyn, she was seen pointing to him in the crowd.

Swift and Alwyn spotted at several events

In July 2018, the couple were seen relaxing in Turks and Caicos as Swift took a break from her Relationship tour.

A few months later, Swift and Alwyn held hands at the premiere of his film, ‘The Favourite’, at the New York Film Festival. Although the singer didn’t walk the red carpet with him, she did attend the screening, and the pair were later seen holding hands.

In February 2019, Swift skipped out on the Grammys for the second year in a row, joining Alwyn at the BAFTA Awards instead, as ‘The Favourite’ picked up seven nominations.

Swift was a musical guest on ‘Saturday Night Live’ in October 2019, and after the show, she stepped out with Alwyn to the afterparty. The pair were seen holding hands heading to the event at Japanese restaurant Zuma.

Alwyn was also beside Swift’s side at the New York City premiere of ‘Cats’ in December 2019, with the pari leaving Lincoln Center hand-in-hand.

Alwyn appears in Swift’s work

After ringing in New Year’s in the Maldives in January 2020, Alwyn began to appear in more of Swift’s work.

First, he appeared in Swift’s ‘Miss Americana’ documentary, which gave fans a rare glimpse of their relationship, and showed them cuddling backstage at one of her concerts, as well as kissing his hand during a car ride.

Swift released her eighth album, ‘Folklore’, in July 2020, and fans began to speculate Alwyn was a secret co-writer after “William Bowery” was listed as a collaborator, with no songwriter or producer registered under that name.

The singer later confirmed Alwyn was her co-writer in Disney+’s ‘Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions’.

After Swift won her third album of the year award at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards, marking Alwyn’s first Grammy, the singer later visited him in Ireland in September 2021.

Alwyn denies engagement rumors

Rumors that the couple were engaged began to swirl in April 2022, with Alwyn telling WSJ. Magazine there was nothing to them.

“If I had a pound for every time I think I’ve been told I’ve been engaged, then I’d have a lot of pound coins,” he joked.

“I mean, the truth is, if the answer was yes, I wouldn’t say, and if the answer was no, I wouldn’t say.”

The couple later attended the MTV Video Music Awards afterparty in August 2022, while it was Swift’s turn to tell fans she wasn’t engaged in October 2022 via the opening track, ‘Lavender Haze’, of her latest album, ‘Midnights’.

“I’m damned if I do give a damn what people say/ the 1950s s— they want from me/ I just wanna stay in that lavender haze,” Swift sings.

“All they keep asking me is if I’m gonna be your bride/ the only kinda girl they see is a one night or a wife.”

Swift and Alwyn reportedly breakup

Swift was seen wearing Alwyn’s leather jacket after winning best music video at the 2023 Grammy Awards in February 2023.

Despite that, after six years of dating, reports in April 2022 state that Swift and Alwyn have broken up.