Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce already married, according to reports

Pop music megastar Taylor Swift and National Football League player Travis Kelce are married, the New York Post's Page Six reported on Thursday, citing unnamed sources as preparations for an expected celebration at Madison Square Garden in New York were under way.

The pair exchanged vows in front of a "tiny group of loved ones", the outlet said. It did not say when or where the nuptials took place, though it noted Swift's private jet recently spent time in Nashville.

Swift's publicist did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

US$26m donations

While neither has commented on media reports of a holiday weekend bash, the singer's publicity team on Thursday said that Kelce and Swift had donated US$26 million (over NZ$ 45million) to several charities in New York and elsewhere this week.

But several media outlets reported that Swift and Kelce will hold a 100-person event at the sports arena on Thursday followed by a larger celebration in front of 1000 people on Friday.

At Madison Square Garden, workers have been hauling in food and decor to make the whole place shimmer. News cameras captured foliage, a box marked "garden party" and another labelled lobster meat. The venue's public calendar shows no events scheduled until Tuesday - a rare six-day stretch in a summer otherwise packed with concerts, with just the occasional night unbooked.

Streets closed

Police set up barriers around the venue on Thursday, closing streets and blocking pedestrian walkways.

New York City already was abuzz with major happenings over the US Independence Day weekend. Tall ships will sail into New York Harbour to mark the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence on Saturday, and a World Cup soccer match is set for Sunday in nearby New Jersey.

The big events coincide with high temperatures that prompted city officials to declare a heat emergency. When asked about a potential Swift wedding, New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani used the moment to urge people to stay indoors to protect themselves from the extreme weather.

“If you happen to be getting married at MSG, you will be staying inside and staying cool, and I think it’s a good example to set for the city at large,” he told reporters earlier this week.

Reuters confirmed that an event planning company had applied for a permit to close the streets around the arena from Thursday through midday Saturday. Fencing was being erected around the venue's entrances this week.

The venue sits above a major commuter hub, and some commuters and tourists said the preparations and street closures were a hassle for people trying to get around New York.

That was not the case for Swift fan and Utah resident Tara Rosales, who said she felt "1000 percent excitement" for the event.

"She's never an inconvenience. Taylor can do whatever she wants," Rosales said.

'America's Royal Wedding'

The union of the 'Love Story' singer and a Kansas City Chiefs tight end, dubbed "America's royal wedding," is one of the most anticipated celebrity weddings of the century.

Speculation has intensified since the couple announced their engagement in August following a public courtship that enchanted fans. Cameras caught Swift cheering on Kelce at Chiefs games and followed him as he jetted around the world to her concerts.

A star-studded crowd is expected, given Swift's roster of celebrity friends, including Selena Gomez, Ed Sheeran, Emma Stone and Gigi Hadid. In one TV interview, Swift joked that she would invite "anyone that I've ever talked to".

Irish television host Graham Norton, who appeared in Swift's 'Opalite' music video, was pictured arriving at New York's JFK airport.

Swift was a guest on Norton's BBC chat show last year, and when he asked her when the wedding would take place, the singer said: "Oh, you'll know ... I was going to invite you to it."