The 36-year-old singer-songwriter will perform at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles on 17 October, concluding an evening that honors Charlize Theron, 51, Colman Domingo, 56, and John Carpenter, 78.
The annual fundraiser, which supports the museum’s exhibitions, educational programmes and film preservation initiatives, has become a notable gathering for film industry figures ahead of awards season.
Amy Homma, director and president of the Academy Museum and Academy Collection, said: “Taylor is an extraordinary talent whose work resonates around the world.”
She added: “We are thrilled to welcome her to this year’s gala and look forward to her performance to close a wonderful evening of honoring three extraordinary filmmakers and supporting the Academy Museum’s mission to celebrate and preserve cinema.”
Although organisers have not disclosed which songs Swift will perform, speculation has turned to I Knew It, I Knew You, her contribution to the Toy Story 5 soundtrack for Pixar.
The track has been identified as a potential candidate for the Academy Award for Best Original Song, a category in which Swift has yet to receive a nomination.
Her appearance will place her alongside leading figures from the film world at a moment when her work as a director and her involvement in cinema have become more prominent.
Swift recently attended the MTV Video Music Awards, where she received the inaugural Artist-Director Award.
She also premiered the music video for Patient Zero, which she directed and which features appearances by Dakota Johnson, 37, and Colin Farrell, 50.
The project adds to her previous behind-the-camera work, including All Too Well: The Short Film, starring Sadie Sink, 24, and Dylan O’Brien, 35.
The 2021 film, based on the extended version of her track All Too Well, helped establish Swift’s ambitions as a filmmaker beyond her record-breaking music career.
She has also directed several of her own music videos, including The Man, Anti-Hero and Bejeweled, while her concert film Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour brought her stadium performances to cinemas worldwide.
The film documented the global tour that became one of the defining commercial successes of her career, charting her rise from country music star to international pop icon.
Swift has recently enjoyed further chart success with The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore, an expanded edition of her 2025 album featuring four additional tracks.
Her single Patient Zero reached No 1 in the UK, while the album also topped the charts, giving her another instance of simultaneous singles and albums chart success.
The Academy Museum Gala will also honour Charlize with its Icon Award, recognizing her contributions to cinema through titles including Monster, Mad Max: Fury Road and Atomic Blonde.
Colman, known for Rustin, Sing Sing and his role in the television series Euphoria, will receive the Vantage Award, while filmmaker John, whose credits include Halloween, The Thing and Escape from New York, will receive the Luminary Award.
Filmmakers Robert Rodriguez, 58, and Steven Spielberg, 79, are co-chairing the gala alongside actress Kate Capshaw, 72.
The host committee includes Jessica Alba, 45, Judd Apatow, 58, Leslie Mann, 54, Adrien Brody, 53, Kirsten Dunst, 44, Kate Hudson, 47, John Legend, 47, Chrissy Teigen, 40, Rami Malek, 45, Demi Moore, 63, Olivia Munn, 46, Seth Rogen, 44, and Teyana Taylor, 35.
Other committee members include Autumn Durald Arkapaw, Georgina Chapman, Jon M. Chu, Nicholas Galitzine, Ludwig and Serena Göransson, Regina Hall, Jessica Lange, Greta Lee, Gina Prince-Bythewood, Questlove, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Lauren Miller Rogen and Bird Runningwater.
Swift’s possible Oscar contender, I Knew It, I Knew You, was written and produced with Jack Antonoff, 42, for Toy Story 5, directed by Andrew Stanton, 60.
The animated film features the returning voices of Tom Hanks, 70, as Woody, Tim Allen, 73, as Buzz Lightyear, and Joan Cusack, 63, as Jessie.
Swift previously performed the song at the film’s world premiere in June, where she also joined composer Randy Newman, 82, for a rendition of You’ve Got a Friend in Me.
