Now that BTS has completed military service and reunited as a full group, they’re in the middle of the largest world tour ever undertaken by a K-pop act. It’s called the “ARIRANG” World Tour. Spanning 88 shows across 34 cities in 23 countries, this is a scale never before seen in K-pop history. Here’s everything from the tour’s beginning to where things stand now — and what’s still to come.
Why This Tour Is a Big Deal
BTS’s sixth world tour, “ARIRANG,” is historic on multiple fronts. It’s their first headlining tour since “PERMISSION TO DANCE ON STAGE” in 2021–2022, and their first world tour as a complete group since all members finished their military service. The tour was officially announced on January 13–14, 2026, in support of their sixth Korean studio album, also titled “ARIRANG.”
The production itself is groundbreaking, too. The tour features a 360-degree rotating in-the-round stage, letting the audience surround the stage from every direction. This design maximizes immersion while also allowing for higher venue capacity at every stop.
Bloomberg reported back in October 2025 that this would be “BTS’s largest world tour to date” — and once the tour actually launched, that prediction proved accurate.
Kickoff — An Emotional Start in Korea
The “ARIRANG” tour kicked off on April 9, 2026, at Goyang Stadium in Goyang, South Korea. After a three-night run in Goyang (April 9 and 11–12), the group added further shows at Busan Asiad Main Stadium on June 12–13. Korean tour stops always carry the deepest emotional and symbolic weight in a BTS tour, and this run was no exception, drawing intense demand from domestic fans.
North America — The Tour’s Biggest Leg
North America made up the longest stretch of the tour, running from late April through September. Key dates include:
- Las Vegas, Allegiant Stadium — May 23, 24, 27, 28 (4 shows)
- Foxborough, Gillette Stadium — August 5–6, marking the first and largest K-pop headlining shows ever held at Gillette Stadium
- East Rutherford, MetLife Stadium — August 1–2
- Los Angeles, SoFi Stadium — September 2, 5, 6
- Las Vegas, T-Mobile Arena — September 18
The tour also delivered the first-ever K-pop headline shows at Sun Bowl in El Paso, AT&T Stadium in Arlington, and M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore — a run widely seen as having pushed K-pop’s standing in North America to a new level.
Europe — Breaking New Ground
The European leg ran from late June through July.
- Madrid, Riyadh Air Metropolitano — June 26–27 (BTS’s first-ever solo show in Madrid)
- Brussels, King Baudouin Stadium — July 1–2 (BTS’s first-ever solo show in Brussels)
- London, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium — July 6–7
- Munich, Allianz Arena — July 11–12
- Paris, Stade de France — July 17–18
Madrid and Brussels are especially notable as the first time either city has appeared on BTS’s list of solo tour stops.
Latin America — A Five-Country South American Run
October 2026 brought a tour through five South American countries.
- Bogotá, Colombia (Estadio El Campín) — October 2–3
- Lima, Peru (Estadio San Marcos) — October 7
- Santiago, Chile (Estadio Nacional) — October 14
- Additional shows followed in Argentina and Brazil.
Southeast Asia & Oceania — Closing Out 2026
From November through December 2026, the tour moved through Southeast Asia, with stops in Kaohsiung (Taiwan), Bangkok (Thailand), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Singapore, and Jakarta (Indonesia, December 29 at Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium). This region, home to some of BTS’s longest-standing fanbases, saw consistently high ticket demand throughout.
2027 Dates — The Tour Isn’t Over Yet
The tour continues into 2027. Confirmed dates so far include:
- Melbourne, Marvel Stadium (Australia) — February 12–13, 2027
- Sydney, Accor Stadium (Australia) — February 20–21, 2027
- Hong Kong, Kai Tak Stadium — March 4 and 6, 2027
- Philippines, Philippine Sports Stadium — March 16, 2027
Beyond that, Japan and Middle East dates have yet to be announced and will be revealed at a later time.
Setlist and Stage Production
Each show’s setlist runs 23 songs deep, with 9 tracks pulled from the new album “ARIRANG” alongside longtime fan favorites. Notably, two “surprise song” slots rotate every night, meaning no two cities get quite the same setlist. On top of that, the ARMY Bomb lightstick syncs live with the 360-degree stage production, turning the entire audience into part of the visual show.
How to Get Tickets
If you’re an international fan, it’s worth understanding the ticketing process ahead of time. Presale access is limited to ARMY Membership (Global) holders, and you’ll need to register separately on Weverse for each city to join that queue. At checkout, you’ll enter a 9-digit membership number that starts with “BA.” General on-sale tickets are mostly handled through Ticketmaster, and since you’ll need an account registered in the country where the show is taking place, it’s best to set that account up before the on-sale begins, not during it.
The Numbers So Far
The tour is still ongoing, but its scale is already record-breaking. Based on 38 reported shows so far, it’s drawn a cumulative audience of 2.3 million and grossed roughly $433.2 million at the box office — numbers that all but guarantee this will go down as the largest world tour in K-pop history once it wraps.
Quick Recap
- “ARIRANG” = BTS’s 6th world tour, their first as a complete group since military service, kicked off April 9, 2026, in Goyang
- Scale: 23 countries, 34 cities, 88 shows (Japan and Middle East dates still TBA)
- Stage: 360-degree rotating in-the-round stage with real-time lightstick sync
- Setlist: 23 songs per show, 9 from the new album plus fan favorites, 2 rotating surprise songs
- Tickets: ARMY Membership Global presale (register per city on Weverse) → general on-sale via Ticketmaster
- 2027 dates: Australia (Melbourne, Sydney), Hong Kong, and the Philippines confirmed; Japan and Middle East still unannounced
Curious about the members themselves? Check out our post, “BTS Members Guide: Names, Roles and Who to Know First” — it’ll make each member’s solo moments in the setlist even more fun to watch for.
