When pop royalty BTS announced plans for a yearlong world tour, one thing was clear: they were ready to reclaim their rightful throne as kings. Returning to Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium for four sold-out shows, May 23, 24, 27, and 28, the BTS WORLD TOUR ‘ARIRANG’ in North America demonstrated that the band was at a level of superstardom on par with musical greats like The Beatles, Queen, Michael Jackson, and Madonna. As they took the stage in Vegas, the septet, RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook, appeared unfazed by the weight of the hefty crown sitting on their regal brow.
BTS made their first appearance at Allegiant Stadium for the Permission to Dance: Live on Stage mini-residency in 2022, before the band reported for their mandatory military service. Four years later, the members reunited to begin work on ARIRANG, the group’s fifth studio album, which was released in March. The album received universal critical acclaim and broke a number of records, generating incredible anticipation for the group’s world tour. BTS World Tour ‘ARIRANG’ provided BTS fans, known worldwide as ARMY, something to look forward to. With four shows in Vegas completing the first leg of their world tour, the phrase, “Go Big or Go Home,” fit perfectly.
The stadium itself was bustling with energy as ARMY settled into their seats, the minutes ticking slowly by as fans prepared themselves for the kings of K-Pop to make their long-awaited return. A mood visualizer was projected across the LED screens, showing black-and-white silhouettes of the members, while traditional Korean folk music played in the background. The stage itself was modeled after the pavilion at Gyeongbokgung Palace with four extended stages, representing BTS’ Korean heritage.
The music swelled to a fever pitch, signaling to the crowd that the wait had come to an end. A lone masked dancer in all black ran toward the middle of the stage, red smoke flare in-hand. As the strings of “Hooligan” played, more flare-wielding dancers took to the stage while fire plumes and fireworks painted the stadium red.
The wait was over. BTS was back!
The tension was unmistakably high as BTS stormed onstage; the bubble that had been growing burst, shaking the entire stadium to its core. The entire stage turned fully red as the LED screens burned through the painted silhouettes, revealing the members one by one. BTS were dressed in all-black leather and belt details similar to Edward Scissorhands, with Jimin notably donning soft braids in his hair, reminiscent of the Mother of Dragons herself, Daenerys Targaryen.
After a moment of silence, punctuated by occasional barking, the group transitioned into “Aliens.” As the platforms slowly rose to lift the members, they all walked around until they enclosed the dancers in the ring. RM set them free with his verse, breaking the K-Pop dam and flooding the stadium with the Hallyu Wave. It was captivating imagery for a song that embraced their differences, transforming what has marked them as outsiders into a source of pride.
With the fire cannons continuously turning on the beat, the heat was scorching on the stage for “Run BTS.” The last time the group performed this track was during their final appearance before enlistment at Yet to Come in Busan. Many fans were ecstatic to see the septet perform the infamous choreography as the elevated LED main stage lit up with motifs of running people’s shadows.
BTS took a break to introduce themselves with lots of love and fanfare. As they went down the line, it seemed the group had never changed: Jung Kook’s never-ending energy was as high as ever, j-hope’s sunny attitude warmed ARMY’s hearts, all of it. The comments were short and sweet as the members did crowd work in their own special way. Jimin sweetly asked fans to enjoy the night while Jin winked at the crowd, eliciting screams.
“Let’s leave everything on the stage!” j-hope commanded with a wide smile as ARMY continued cheering. “Let’s get it!”
They wasted no time getting into “they don’t know ‘bout us,” an appropriate song to continue the musical journey of the setlist, painting a picture that it was not mysterious how BTS became successful: they were being them. The screens illuminated traditional Korean tal masks, while the dancers held bright panels that imitated TV and phone screens, surrounding the group and illustrating the suffocation of being watched 24/7.
The surveillance motifs with LED panels continued with “Like Animals,” an emo-rock ballad that highlighted the vocalists, with Jin’s and Jimin’s soaring notes and Jung Kook’s and V’s vocals combining to deliver an emotionally powerful gut punch. At the climax of the song, a guitar solo broke out, pyrotechnics lit the stage, and the members stood still in the middle with the crowd nearly silent in awe. The group then took to the extended stages for “Fake Love.” The thunderous cries of the fans as they chanted “FAKE LOVE” shook the stadium, as did their unified voice as they sang along to RM’s infamous line, “Why you sigh? / I don’t know, nan molla!” The song’s emotional depth was palpable, and BTS used this moment to prioritize creating memorable moments with ARMY by looking out for every possible fan.
Soon after, dancers came in with large, flowy white fabric sheets, mimicking the ebbs and flows of water for “SWIM.” The members’ elegant yet swift dance movements were a highlight, releasing all the tension from the past three songs. The members weren’t swallowed by the waves, but rather, swam along the current. j-hope’s verses were a standout as he was able to capture the cathartic high of the track.
However, the freedom didn’t last. The waves shifted as “Merry Go Round” began. Each member was revealed, one-by-one, before walking endlessly in a circle, symbolizing the enduring, repetitive cycle of life. RM’s verse encapsulated the entire scene as he rapped, “My bed is a coffin, my bed is a coffin / Maybe my whole world’s just one big caffeine.” ARMY took it all in, some tearing up, remembering all too well the pain they felt during BTS’ hiatus. Confetti fell as the members began to make their exit for an outfit change.
After the grand display of nationalistic pride, filled with a beautiful mirage of smoke and lasers, the group returned with “2.0,” which featured a rotating stage, allowing the members to give 110% to the choreography. The high-octane charisma and energy of BTS’ signature flair reminded the crowd exactly what the group is known for. BTS then slowed things down a bit with “NORMAL.” As the members dispersed across the stage, Jimin’s soaring notes and V’s husky vocals stood out alongside j-hope and SUGA’s back-to-back verses, their passion carrying the performance.
“This is exactly what we dreamt about,” Jungkook nodded ferociously while doing more crowd work during a brief water break. “You’re making our dream come true!”
Moving into a trap remix of “Not Today,” dancers holding LED poles surrounded BTS, all dancing to the pounding beat. The Steve Aoki remix of “Mic Drop” featured the original choreography, much to ARMY’s delight. Fans were elated to hear these back-to-back tracks, doing the choreography in their seats or singing passionately while BTS performed at the highest caliber. Most notably, SUGA’s verse “Mianhae Billboard, mianhae worldwide / Adeuri jeon jalnagaseo, mianhae eomma!” generated a universal fan callback response that shook the entire venue.
BTS continued the high-energy hits with “FYA” and a mashup remix version of “Burning Up (Fire)” all accompanied by a multitude of pyrotechnics, including fire cannons and fireworks. The members entertained ARMY with their intense dance moves, performing as if this show was their last.
A major highlight of the evening was “Body to Body,” starting with RM and j-hope’s infamous lyrical exchange, “I need…. / Whatchu need twin?” taking ARMY’s passion to a new level as their cheers shook the stadium’s foundation.
The apex of the performance arrived during the “Arirang” sample. The crowd sang along to the folk song sample clearly and beautifully as the screens showed a montage of ARMY wearing hanbok. BTS beamed with pride, with members Jin and Jimin seeming overwhelmed by immense emotion, their eyes sparkling and faces filled with joy. It was a perfect marriage between ARMY and BTS, showcasing the power of music to transcend all barriers.
The celebration of Korean pride continued with “IDOL” and a grand procession throughout the stadium. This was a defining moment for many ARMY, as some from above ran toward the barricades for a glimpse of the members. Many had to laser-focus so as not to miss the members as they passed by. Confetti cannons went off each time BTS reached a new section, announcing their arrival. The members interacted with several fans, with some receiving a high five, while others got direct eye contact and a flirty smile.
As the members exited for another outfit change, the venue’s cameras scanned the audienece for “ARMY Time,” the intermission period where ARMY show off their handmade signs. Several made requests for the surprise songs, many of whom wanted something from the group’s 2014 album, Dark and Wild. Some were hilarious, like “Tae, you have a pizza my heart” and a L’oréal Jimin ad, while some were heartfelt, saying “Thank you for saving me.” Steve Aoki made an appearance during “ARMY Time” on the first day, while Diplo, one of the main producers of ARIRANG, came the day after, in full support.
After a short intermission, BTS came out again, this time in merchandise from their pop-up store, singing the hidden track off of ARIRANG, “Come Over.” Many were shocked to hear it, considering that historically, BTS has never performed any of their hidden tracks. This was a special treat for ARMY, and several could be heard singing the chorus passionately.
No BTS concert would be complete without the members performing their biggest hits, “Butter” and “Dynamite.” The members joked and teased one another, delivering fan-service interactions that had ARMY jumping out of their seats. BTS were grinning ear-to-ear, laughing as they freestyle danced the bridge of “Dynamite,” egged on by the screams and cheers of their adoring fans.
After more than a decade of constant, intense choreography on-stage, it was refreshing to see BTS finally relax, cozy in their status as pop royalty. It indicated they didn’t need to prove anything. They were at the top of their game, and ARMY loved every second of it, relishing in the increased interactions and the members’ laidback nature.
While the concert had several unforgettable moments, nothing compared to the main highlight of the night: the surprise songs. This was a new addition to the tour and definitely a fan favorite. With RM instructing the DJ to “Spin that shit!” the group broke into impromptu performances of two random songs from their extensive discography. These requests were taken from the crowd during soundcheck and ARMY Time. Las Vegas had four dates, which meant that the stop had eight songs and eight chances for ARMY to see their all-time favorite songs live.
On the final day, Vegas was given two amazing throwback songs: “Boyz with Fun” and “Danger,” with the latter being one of the most popular requests for the entire tour. The members hilariously attempted to remember the choreography while fans lost their collective minds. Many were seen singing the entire song while others stood there in complete and utter shock. Up to this point, no songs from the Dark and Wild album tracklist had been included in the surprise segment, leading many to wonder whether they would perform anything from the album. This created a viral moment online, as many mourned the loss of the opportunity to experience “Danger” live.
For the final comments, BTS did their round of thanks.
“I can’t express my gratitude enough. You guys show some real love, and we got the [AMA] award in five years again,” RM expressed. “[The] first long American tour, the finale is better than perfect. Thank you so much.”
SUGA thanked the crowd again, promising that BTS would return to Las Vegas. Jimin humbly thanked the performance team and the behind-the-scenes staff.
“As you know well, we’re able to tour and exist in front of you guys because of you,” said Jimin. “And I hope you’ll never forget that.”
j-hope called the Vegas stop a blessing. “As long as I breathe, I’ll try my best to sing and perform for you guys.
“I feel super sad! You guys are feeling super sad, right?” Jung Kook teased. After enjoying ARMY’s reaction, he laughed quietly to himself before wishing them good health and hoping to see them again soon.
Jin did a round of thank yous, individually shaking each member’s hand before stopping in front of Jung Kook. The youngest member teased back, pushing him before he could thank him too.
V did one last push of crowd work, pitting the male and female fans against each other to see who would scream the loudest.
While the comments were finished for the night, the show was not over. With BTS sitting down on the rotating stage, they waved their hands back and forth while singing “Please” and “Into the Sun.” As confetti rained down, the members beamed as bright as the sun. With the songs over, BTS slowly walked offstage, waving their goodbyes, their eyes twinkling brightly. ARMY reluctantly did the same, wishing the show would go on forever.
The night came to a close, but emotions were still high as ARMY began shuffling out of the stadium. Some were found crying or sitting down in disbelief as if they had been stunned by something incredible.
To say that the BTS WORLD TOUR ‘ARIRANG’ is the “must-see” tour of the year would be a gross understatement. The show, filled with Korean and high-technological elements, was a living example of what happens when visual artistry and sustained popularity converge. BTS performed like it was their last show every night, a living testament to how much the members missed the stage, just as fans missed them. Las Vegas ARMY never wavered in their passion for their beloved group, as was demonstrated by the explosive cheering and screaming that were constant throughout the night.
BTS will be celebrating their 13th anniversary in Busan, performing for two nights on June 13 and 14. They will continue the BTS WORLD TOUR ‘ARIRANG’ in parts of Europe in June and July before continuing the second U.S. leg in New Jersey in August and ending in Los Angeles in September. From there, the group will continue their tour in South America, Asia, and Australia into next year.