The group BTS concluded its European tour successfully with Paris, France.
BTS held 'BTS WORLD TOUR "ARIRANG" IN PARIS' at Stade de France in Paris, France, on the 18th (local time), bringing the European tour to a close. The day before the concert, on the 17th, French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife visited the venue, drawing attention.
On this tour, BTS performed a total of 10 concerts in five European cities, starting in Madrid, Spain, and then Brussels, Belgium; London, United Kingdom; Munich, Germany; and Paris, France. Every show sold out as soon as tickets went on sale, drawing a total audience of 717,000, underscoring their unwavering global popularity.
At every venue, the Korean folk song "Arirang" and Korean-language group singing rang out, and the audience presented a spectacle of Taegeukgi flags and light sticks sweeping through the stands. Fans enjoying the concert in hanbok were seen in many places, showing high interest in Korean culture beyond K-pop.
In particular, the Paris shows drew 92,000 spectators per performance, setting a new single-show attendance record among BTS concerts. Paris is a meaningful city for the team as well. BTS, which closed the European leg of the 'LOVE YOURSELF: SPEAK YOURSELF' tour at the same venue in 2019, returned to Stade de France about 7 years and 1 month later to complete the finale of another tour.
After the concert, the members said, "We were truly happy. We were grateful that so many people love us, and every moment from the start of the European tour to the final Paris show was happy," and added, "It is moving to be able to perform in front of so many people."
They also said in French, "Paris is a city of fashion, gastronomy and romance and a place with the best ARMY. It is a city that has everything we love. We will definitely come back," promising to return and receiving enthusiastic cheers from local fans.
Jin also recalled participating in the Paris Olympic torch relay last year and said, "I have memories of being with you on those beautiful streets, and I am so happy to meet you here again. Thank you for making an unforgettable day," expressing his sincere feelings.
Positive reviews from the local press continued. The French newspaper Le Parisien described the show as "a performance with explosive energy and plenty to see," and Le Monde highlighted BTS as "the group that brought K-pop to the top of the global music industry." It analyzed that after the hiatus, the group's teamwork and identity became even stronger.
The German daily Die Welt also called BTS "one of the most successful pop groups of our time," evaluating them as a prime example of transcending Western-centric cultural trends.
BTS became the first Korean artists to play at Belgium's King Baudouin Stadium and Germany's Allianz Arena, and at London's Tottenham Hotspur Stadium they set the venue's single-show attendance record in its history.
Also, according to global hotel and real estate data company CoStar, in Madrid last month, where BTS concerts were held, the hotel industry recorded an all-time high in revenue per available room (RevPAR). On the first day of the concert, hotel room occupancy reached 89.5%, indicating that the concerts had a significant impact on local economic revitalization.
In London, the 'BTS THE CITY ARIRANG - LONDON' project presented various events across the city — including the London Eye, the River Thames and the British Museum — where people could experience BTS's music and worldview, turning into a festival enjoyed by fans, citizens and tourists together.
Meanwhile, BTS will appear as co-headliners for the halftime show of the '2026 FIFA North and Central America World Cup' final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, New York, U.S., on the 20th (Korean time). They will participate in the World Cup's first-ever final halftime performance alongside global pop stars such as Madonna, Shakira and Justin Bieber, making another new piece of history.
[Photo] Provided by BigHit Music
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