South Korea’s biggest musical act BTS will kick off their long-awaited world tour in April, marking their first global trek in four years after completing mandatory military service.
The seven-member group, who went on a self-described hiatus in 2022 as they fulfilled national service required of all men under 30, were all discharged last year. They officially announced their comeback for spring 2026.
Spanning 34 cities with 79 performances, the upcoming tour will become the largest single tour ever by a K-pop group in terms of total shows.
The world tour will open in Goyang, South Korea, on April 9, followed by two more home-country concerts before the band moves on to Japan, their label said. BTS will then head to the United States and Europe, with the tour scheduled to conclude in Manila in March 2027.
Their agency HYBE also confirmed on New Year’s Day that BTS will release a new album on March 20 before embarking on the tour. The album will be their first full release since the anthology Proof, which became South Korea’s bestselling record of 2022.
Following the announcement, HYBE’s shares rose around three percent at Wednesday’s market open.
Before entering military service, BTS generated more than 5.5 trillion won (US$3.7 billion) annually for South Korea, according to the government-backed Korea Culture and Tourism Institute — equivalent to about 0.2 percent of the country’s GDP.
Over the years, BTS has grown far beyond their home market to become a global music phenomenon, holding the record as the most-streamed group on Spotify and becoming the first K-pop act to top both the Billboard 200 and Billboard Artist 100 charts in the United States.
Hong Kong dates confirmed
As part of the Asian leg of the tour, BTS will perform in Hong Kong in March 2027, with three concerts scheduled for March 4, 6 and 7.
The Hong Kong shows are expected to draw fans from across the region, making the city one of the key stops on the group’s historic comeback tour.
HYBE added that more cities will be announced, including additional dates in Japan and the Middle East.
(AFP and staff)
