A group of four people - two men dressed in black tie and two women dressed in evening dresses - have just been seen walking through a security gate at Madison Square Garden.

They hold their phones up to a member of security at the gate who has a look at the screen before typing on a tablet, and they disappear behind a cordoned off area.

Moments later another couple, including a woman in a silver dress, arrive at the same gate and also have their phones checked.

Meanwhile, a queue of three black 4x4s can be seen travelling through a black curtain into a secluded area.

We're starting to see suited-up guests arriving at Madison Square Garden, where there's a considerable New York Police Department (NYPD) presence.

Temperatures could reach highs of 38C (100.4F) in the city today, and police officers already appear to be feeling the heat.

Image source, EPA/Shutterstock

Image source, EPA/Shutterstock

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, EPA/Shutterstock

Nada Tawfik
Reporting from New York City

It’s all happening here at Madison Square Garden now.

Black SUVs with tinted windows carrying guests are going through a few checkpoints, with women dressed in sleek black outfits there to check names.

The vehicles then go into a white tent, so it’s very hard to see anyone.

There is also now a group of fans who have gathered to watch it all.

Mark Savage
Music correspondent - (favourite song: Seven)

Image source, Reuters

A steady stream of cars is entering Madison Square Garden now. Each one approaches a black curtain before being ushered into the venue and disappearing into a marquee.

Tantalisingly, the curtains keep billowing in the wind, giving brief glimpses of the activity behind the scenes (mostly credential checks, I'm afraid).

Some guests are skipping the queue and walking into the venue. So far, however, none of them have been immediately recognisable.

Adam Goldsmith
Favourite song: August

Image source, EPA/Shutterstock

Long story short, here's a rundown of all the big developments around New York's Madison Square Garden:

• Swifties might remember how an Eras Tour clock ticked through the minutes before her arrival each night; there's a similar countdown under way at the MSG today, with events expected to get underway soon
• The exact nature of the event remains anyone's guess, but streets around the arena have been closed as our reporter on the ground describes a huge black tent to swaddle the arrival of star guests in secrecy
• While the word "Garden" might feature in the venue's name, some fans in New York are surprised at Swift and Kelce's decision to host a party in a windowless bowl - Canadian teenager Emily says she expected "more gardens, more flowers"
• What's indisputable, though, is the couple's connection with the Big Apple - our music correspondent describes the popstar's alchemy with the city
• As preparations ramp up, even the city itself is hotting up; Central Park recorded temperatures of 100F (37.7C) for the first time in 14 years on Thursdy as it experiences a prolonged and dangerous heatwave

While we wait for any sign of celebrity guests, you can familiarise yourself with tonight's anticipated itinerary - which includes a cocktail hour and a late-night reception.

Floyd Cush
Reporting from outside the arena

Lines of black SUVs are making their way towards the black tented entrance to Madison Square Garden.

Crowds have gathered on the other side of the street to try and catch a glimpse of potential celebrity guest arrivals, but security is very tight and from this angle it’s impossible to catch who’s going inside.

Madison Square Garden has been a hive of activity this afternoon ahead of the rumoured wedding celebrations, which have been billed as America's version of a royal wedding.

Police have cordoned off the roads surrounding the arena and fans have been seen stopping for pictures outside Swift's Manhattan residence.

Here are some of the latest pictures we've received of the preparations.

Image source, MEGA/GC Images

Image source, AFP via Getty Images

Image source, Reuters

Mark Savage
Music correspondent - (favourite song: Seven)

If we were to list Taylor Swift’s achievements in music, we’d be here 'til next year.

She currently holds more than 100 Guinness World Records - from the most weeks spent in the Top 10 of the US albums chart (more than 440) to the largest seismic activity caused by a pop concert (at a 2023 Eras Tour show in Washington).

The key to her success? Well, it’s the music. It sounds obvious, but her songs are accessible and catchy. The lyrics are memorable, relatable and authentic. And she works hard to make sure people hear about it.

Her fingerprints touch every aspect of the writing, production, performance, visual presentation and marketing. And she is, as this weekend’s wedding proves, a master at building anticipation.

Image source, EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock

Lana Del Rey, who duetted with Swift on the 2022 song Snow On The Beach, once told me that Swift “wants it more than anyone”.

“She’s driven, and I think it’s really paid off.”

On top of that, she has created an incredible sense of community with her fans. They see her as a role model - a woman who has fought misogyny and come out victorious - and empathise with the ups and downs of her love life.

That’s why more than 10 million people attended the Eras Tour in 2023-24, swapping friendship bracelets, dancing together and bonding over their favourite songs.

For those Swifties, today’s wedding is the fairytale ending of a story they’ve shared for the last 20 years.

Image source, Getty Images

Taylor Swift's upcoming wedding is set to take place in New York but there's another capital city that has a special connection to the popstar - London.

Taylor set a new record in London during her Eras Tour when she became the first solo artist to play Wembley eight times in a single tour, overtaking Michael Jackson's record set in 1988.

And it's clear she has a huge fanbase in the UK - during the 2024 tour she played to almost 1.2 million people, generating an estimated £1bn for the country's economy.

London is also heavily referenced in her music and parts of the capital, including Croydon and Stoke Newington, feature in her music video for Opalite.

A south London pub, The Black Dog, is the subject of the 17th track on her album The Tortured Poets Department.

The lyrics "And so I watch as you walk - into some bar called The Black Dog - and pierce new holes in my heart" appear in the first verse. Swift sings of spotting an ex - who had forgotten to turn off his location-sharing - going into the venue.

Speaking of exes, Swift's dating history is one key link to the UK.

Before saying yes to Travis Kelce's marriage proposal, Swift had dated several Brits: Music sensation Harry Styles, 1975 frontman Matty Healy, actor Joe Alwyn, Scottish DJ Calvin Harris and Avengers star Tom Hiddleston.

Nada Tawfik
Reporting from New York City

The white canopy tent on 31st Street has grown noticeably bigger compared to last night, no doubt to handle to influx of star-studded guests expected to arrive this afternoon.

Black curtains and screens have been added to ensure there isn’t any opportunity to snap photos.

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce still haven’t commented publicly, but the scenes around Madison Square Garden speak to a massive bash in the works.

It’s impressive how little has leaked beyond the occasional delivery photo and celebrity spotting.

The big question now is how much the couple will share later. After all, Swifties - her loyal fan base - are used to their idol sharing her major milestones.

So what will be made public and what will be kept private from this love story turned cultural phenomenon?

Floyd Cush
Reporting from outside the arena

The NYPD has just come through and closed the streets immediately around Madison Square Garden where I am.

The streets are now completely closed to vehicles and pedestrian traffic is being diverted with more barriers put in place.

Yasmin Rufo
Business reporter

Being a wedding guest can be expensive, though the lucky few invited to megastar Taylor Swift's rumoured wedding bash are likely to be able to afford it.

There's travel, accommodation, you might even treat yourself to a new outfit - then there's another cost to factor in: the present.

While Swift and Kelce have a no-gift policy, it's now commonplace for invitations to read: "Your presence is enough, but if you would like to give us a gift, please donate to our honeymoon fund."

But replacing the traditional gift list with bank transfer details, can leave guests with a new etiquette dilemma: how much are you expected to give?

• Find out more about what people decide to give at weddings here.

Sean Coughlan
Royal correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

The Prince of Wales has shared his thoughts on the emotional rollercoaster of being a football fan in a relaxed appearance on the podcast of Travis Kelce, the US footballer who is expected to soon marry the pop megastar Taylor Swift.

The theme wasn't the wedding but the World Cup, of which the US is a co-host, and Prince William jokingly corrected Travis that it was "football" and not "soccer".

On the 28-minute show, the prince revealed that his father King Charles "hates football". The King has previously described himself as a Burnley supporter, which may be a factor.

Prince William also told the podcast that he would travel to the World Cup in the US if England reached the final.

"They make it to the finals, you're gonna make the trip across the pond?" Travis asked.

"Definitely. If we're in the finals," he said.

You can read more about Prince William's podcast appearance here.

Mark Savage
Music correspondent - (favourite song Seven)

Taylor Swift was born in Pennsylvania, Travis Kelce comes from Ohio. So why have they chosen New York for their wedding?

Well, Swift has based herself there since 2014 - when she bought two adjoining Tribeca penthouses for $20 million (£15 million) and combined them into one massive living space.

She fell in love with the city after discovering she could go shopping without being bothered. "My friends and people who know me have commented that I'm physically different since being here," she told radio station WKTU.

That eye-opening experience inspired the first track of her album 1989 - Welcome To New York.

Image source, EPA

Kelce, who is based in Kansas for his football career, was introduced to the bright lights of the Big Apple when he started dating Swift in 2023.

"It's cool to just kinda vibe around the city,” he said after a romantic weekend last year. "It's one of my favourite things to do in New York, just be one with the city and just kinda walk the streets and feel the electricity.”

It makes sense that they’d choose the city. For one thing, it’s a convenient place for celebrities to convene.

More importantly, Madison Square Garden offers an unusual level of privacy - its lack of windows and underground access points mean there’s no chance of photographers spoiling the big day.

Pratiksha Ghildial
Reporting from New York City

"I've heard she's shutting down a lot of the streets surrounding [Madison Square Garden], which I think is sort of absurd," Rose says.

However, Rose adds that she thinks the ceremony will be beautiful "because it's Taylor Swift".

"I think they're probably really happy together cause they got married so fast, and I hope it's a beautiful wedding," she continues.

"But I think they should do it somewhere that's less inconveniencing to general populace of New York City," she laughs.

Grace Eliza Goodwin
Reporting from New York

Image source, Reuters/ Jennifer Gauthier

Some possible guests - a few spotted in New York this week - are likely to lean into softer, but also very classic, traditional and clean styles favoured by Swift, fashion editor Savannah Bradley tells the BBC.

"I imagine everything will be very polished, pristine - again, romantic is that key word," she says. "I wouldn't be surprised if you see a lot of Gucci, a lot of Jonathan Anderson's Dior."

Swift's celebrity friend group – Selena Gomez, Suki Waterhouse, the Haim sisters, Cara Delevingne, Jack Antonoff, Sabrina Carpenter among them - reflects diverse tastes.

Nola Ojomu, an entertainment journalist, noted Carpenter's "distinctive old Hollywood glamour style" that will likely be her "choice of look for the wedding".

Some reports suggest a black tie dress code, complete with top hats for men and evening gloves for women. Us Weekly also reported, citing an unnamed insider, that guests were told the theme was "whimsical".

"Suki Waterhouse's natural boho style lends perfectly to the rumoured theme, and she is sure to have one of the more distinctive looks on the night along with the likes of Cara Delevingne," Ojomu says.

She predicts guests in "vibrant shades and flowy dresses", popular at summer New York weddings.

• You can read more on the guest list's possible attire here.

Pratiksha Ghildial
Reporting from New York City

Canadian teenage siblings Emily and James are excited to be in New York for Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's rumoured wedding.

Emily loves Swift's music and James is a big American football fan, who is rooting for Kelce.

However, the siblings are not sure about the choice of Madison Square Garden as the venue for the couple's big day.

"I thought it was going to be more gardens, more flowers, more tropical. Something more fancy, something more Taylor Swift," says Emily.

James adds: "Congratulations, they both found joy."

For those lucky enough to have been invited to the rumoured wedding in New York today, we've put together a schedule of what they may be able to expect, based on various reports we've seen in the media.

Reports suggest the doors will open at 15:00 ET (20:00 BST), giving guests an hour to get in and get settled before a cocktail hour at 16:00 ET (21:00 BST).

The ceremony is reported to begin at 17:00 ET (22:00 BST), with the reception going on "until late".

CNN reporters have spotted ingredients like flour, pizza sauce and tomatoes being dropped off at Madison Square Garden today.

The news outlet also notes portable air conditioning units arriving this morning.

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are reported to have held a rehearsal dinner yesterday, with around 100 guests invited.

Lobster meat could also be on the wedding menu, as pictures from last night showed workers unloading numerous trucks of supplies.

Image source, AFP via Getty Images

Image source, Reuters

Anticipation is building at Madison Square Garden where Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are rumoured to be tying the knot later today.

If you're desperate for all the Taylor-Travis content possible, you fancy a bit of celeb spotting, or if you just want to watch people walking in and out of the venue for a wedding which may - or may not - be happening later in New York, press watch live above.