Global sensation BTS successfully concluded their ‘BTS WORLD TOUR ‘ARIRANG’ IN PARIS’ at the iconic Stade de France in Paris, France, on the 18th (local time), marking the grand finale of their highly anticipated European tour. The event garnered significant attention with the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife on the 17th.
Over their expansive European leg, BTS captivated an astounding 717,000 fans across 10 sold-out shows in five major cities: Madrid, Brussels, London, Munich, and Paris. Tickets for every performance were snapped up immediately upon release, unequivocally demonstrating the K-pop group’s immense global stature. Audiences across all locations enthusiastically joined in singing the Korean folk song ‘Arirang’ in unison, creating a powerful wave of Korean flags throughout the venues. Many fans, dressed in traditional Korean hanbok, radiated happiness as they immersed themselves in the electrifying performances.
The Paris concerts were particularly monumental, attracting 92,000 attendees per show. This figure represents BTS’s highest-ever single-show attendance across all their concerts to date, imbuing Paris with a special significance in the group’s illustrious tour history. The group had previously concluded their ‘BTS WORLD TOUR ‘LOVE YOURSELF: SPEAK YOURSELF” European performances at Stade de France in 2019. Seven years and one month later, they returned to the very same venue to conclude their new European tour. During their emotional closing remarks, the members expressed, “We were truly happy and immensely grateful for the love shown by so many people. We cherish every moment, from the start of the European tour to this incredible finale in Paris. We were so deeply moved, feeling like we might never again have the opportunity to perform in front of such an enormous and passionate crowd.”
Addressing their fans in French, the members declared, “Paris, the city of fashion, gastronomy, and romance. And the city with the best ARMY (fandom name). Paris truly has everything we love. We will definitely return.” Member Jin fondly recalled his experience as a torchbearer for the ‘2024 Paris Summer Olympics’, sharing, “I was with all of you on those beautiful streets back then, and it brings me immense joy to be with you again. Thank you for creating such a wonderful day for us,” conveying his heartfelt gratitude.
Local media outlets universally lauded the concerts, publishing overwhelmingly positive reviews. Le Parisien hailed the concert as an “explosive and rich show,” praising its dynamic spectacle. Le Monde spotlighted BTS as “the group that elevated K-pop to the pinnacle of the global music industry,” offering an in-depth analysis of their journey from their debut to their current unparalleled success. The newspaper further observed that, after a period of individual activities, the group has emerged even more cohesive and stronger, exhibiting enhanced confidence in their unique identity. Earlier, the German daily Welt highlighted BTS’s triumphant return and the expansive global reach of K-pop, recognizing them as one of the most successful pop groups of our era and a prime example of transcending traditional Western-centric cultural dominance.
BTS’s record-breaking European tour cemented their status as global icons. They achieved the distinction of being the first Korean artists to perform at two prestigious venues: the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels and the Allianz Arena in Munich. Furthermore, according to Live Nation, the concert organizer, BTS set a monumental benchmark at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, drawing the largest audience per show for any concert historically held at the venue.
The presence of BTS significantly invigorated the economies of their host cities. An analysis by CoStar, a leading global real estate and hotel data firm, revealed that Madrid’s hotel industry achieved its highest-ever revenue per available room (RevPAR) in June. CoStar identified BTS’s concerts on June 26-27 as a pivotal event that substantially boosted hotel demand. In fact, on the first day of the concert, the local hotel occupancy rate soared to an impressive 89.5%. In London, the ‘BTS THE CITY ARIRANG – LONDON’ initiative transformed the city into a vibrant cultural hub, offering unique experiences for both fans and general tourists. This innovative urban festival seamlessly integrated the artists’ narrative and music into iconic landmarks such as the London Eye, River Thames, and the British Museum.
Looking ahead, BTS is set to co-headline the momentous halftime show for the ‘2026 FIFA World Cup™’ final. This historic performance will take place on the 20th (Korean time) at the New York New Jersey Stadium in the USA, where they will share the stage with legendary pop superstars Madonna, Shakira, and Justin Bieber. This marks an unprecedented milestone as it will be the first-ever final halftime performance in the entire history of the FIFA World Cup.
