_edited_edited.jpg)
BTS Return to North America With Sold-Out Metlife Stadium Shows & ‘BTS THE CITY ARIRANG NEW YORK’
- Rosa Gulliver
- 1 hour ago
- 4 min read
Rosa Gulliver of TINYGMUSIC | August 4, 2026
BTS opened the second North American leg of ‘BTS WORLD TOUR ‘ARIRANG’’ with two sold-out performances at MetLife Stadium on August 1 and 2, while ‘BTS THE CITY ARIRANG NEW YORK’ extended the world of ARIRANG across the New York metropolitan area through immersive cultural activations, landmark collaborations, and fan experiences.
The New Jersey concerts were held just days after they headlined the first-ever FIFA World Cup™ Final Halftime Show. The two shows marked the beginning of the second North American leg of ‘BTS WORLD TOUR ‘ARIRANG,’’ following one of the most successful European stadium runs ever mounted by a Korean artist. Performing across Madrid, Brussels, London, Munich, and Paris, BTS sold out all ten stadium shows while drawing more than 717,000 concertgoers. The tour also set venue attendance records, including the highest-attended concert in Tottenham Hotspur Stadium's history and BTS’ largest-ever single-show audience at Stade de France.
Building on that momentum, BTS opened the second North American leg at MetLife Stadium. Across two sold-out nights, approximately 157,000 fans experienced a 360-degree stadium production built around the visual world of ARIRANG. The setlist featured songs from the group's fifth studio album, including “SWIM,” “2.0,” “Hooligan,” and “Like Animals,” alongside career-spanning global hits such as “Butter” and “Dynamite.” Drawing inspiration from Korean artistic traditions while embracing contemporary stadium production, the performances reflected the central themes of ARIRANG on one of North America's biggest concert stages.
With the second North American leg now underway, BTS will continue bringing ‘BTS WORLD TOUR ‘ARIRANG’’ to audiences across North America, with upcoming stops in Foxborough, Baltimore, Dallas, Toronto, Chicago, and Los Angeles.
Beyond the concerts at MetLife Stadium, ‘BTS THE CITY ARIRANG NEW YORK’ extends the world of ARIRANG across New York City. Building on successful editions in Seoul, Las Vegas, Busan, and London, the citywide project marks the final U.S. stop of ‘BTS THE CITY ARIRANG.’ Transforming New York into an extension of the concert experience through immersive exhibitions, landmark activations, cultural collaborations, and interactive fan programs, it invites fans, residents, and visitors alike to experience BTS beyond the stadium.
Across Manhattan, visitors explored a wide range of experiences inspired by BTS and ARIRANG. ARMY ‘MADANG’ at the Korean Cultural Center New York and Grand Central Terminal served as key gathering points, offering interactive fan experiences, light stick and t-shirt customization, an exhibition featuring iconic stage outfits from BTS' historic ‘LOVE YOURSELF: SPEAK YOURSELF’ Wembley Stadium performances, and banners in the Main Concourse. Additional activations at Times Square Random Play Dance, Top of the Rock Observation deck takeover at Rockefeller Center, and Arte Museum New York further brought the visual world of ARIRANG into the city's cultural landscape.
The project also encouraged participants to discover the city through the Stamp Rally, connecting cultural venues and partner locations across Manhattan while extending the ARIRANG experience into everyday spaces. As part of the initiative, Bank of Hope partnered with ‘BTS THE CITY ARIRANG’ through its Hope Delivered program, donating one dollar for every Stamp Rally check-in at its Manhattan branch to support financial literacy education, further reinforcing the project's commitment to meaningful community engagement.
Together, the sold-out MetLife Stadium concerts and ‘BTS THE CITY ARIRANG NEW YORK’ carried the spirit of ARIRANG beyond the stadium, bringing people, cultures, and communities together through shared experiences across cities and continents. Select ‘BTS THE CITY ARIRANG NEW YORK’ programs will remain open through August 14. More information is available on the official website (link).
About BTS
BTS, an acronym of Bangtan Sonyeondan or “Beyond the Scene,” are a GRAMMY-nominated South Korean band that has been capturing the hearts of millions of fans globally since their debut in June 2013. The members of BTS are RM, Jin, SUGA, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook. Gaining recognition for their authentic and self-produced music, top-notch performances, and their deep connection with fans, the band has established a legacy as 21st century pop icons breaking countless world records. While imparting a positive influence through activities such as the LOVE MYSELF campaign and the UN ‘Speak Yourself’ speech, the band has mobilised millions of fans across the world (named ARMY), earned six No.1 Billboard Hot 100 singles since 2020, and performed multiple sold-out stadium shows across the world. They were also named TIME’s Entertainer of the Year 2020. BTS are 5-time GRAMMY nominees (63rd to 65th GRAMMY Awards) and have been recognised with numerous prestigious awards like the Billboard Music Awards, American Music Awards (Artist of the Year 2021 and 2026) and MTV Video Music Awards. Released in March, 2026, BTS’ massively successful fifth studio album ARIRANG debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, while its lead single “SWIM” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. In 2026, BTS returned to the global stage with the record-breaking 'BTS WORLD TOUR 'ARIRANG'' and made history by headlining the first-ever FIFA World Cup Halftime Show, further reinforcing their status as one of the defining cultural acts of their generation.
Keep up with BTS
