BTS Launches World Tour After Four-Year Hiatus

A massive crowd of BTS fans braved pouring rain to fill Goyang Stadium near Seoul on Thursday evening, as the K-pop supergroup launched its first world tour in nearly four years. The seven-member band, consisting of RM, Jin, Suga, j-hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook, performed a set blending hits from their extensive catalog with tracks from their new album, ARIRANG, marking their return after completing mandatory military service.

The tour opens with three sold-out shows at the venue on April 9, 11 and 12, drawing around 120,000 attendees in total for the South Korean leg. Each night accommodated more than 40,000 people in the stadium, which features a 360-degree stage setup designed for an immersive experience. Organizers expect the global outing, spanning 85 performances across 34 cities through 2027, to draw the largest audience ever for a K-pop act. Stops include Tokyo, Los Angeles, Munich, Paris, Toronto, Lima, Santiago, Bangkok and Manila, with additional dates planned for Japan and the Middle East. The North American and European segments alone have sold about 2.4 million tickets for 41 shows, according to promoter Live Nation.

BTS's hiatus stemmed from South Korea's...