In late April, BTS kicked off their ARIRANG World Tour, beginning in South Korea before continuing across the globe. Their final stop before a month of rest was in Las Vegas, where they performed four shows.
Fans, known as ARMY, have eagerly anticipated this tour since BTS announced a hiatus in 2022 due to mandatory military service. The excitement was evident when tickets went on sale in early 2026, as multiple stops across the tour’s 84 show schedule sold out almost immediately.
One aspect of the tour that has become especially popular among fans is BTS’s surprise song segment. During each concert, two songs are randomly selected and revealed only when the music begins, meaning neither the audience nor the members know what will be played beforehand. The selections have ranged from their debut track, “No More Dream,” to fan-favorite hits such as “Boy With Luv” and “DNA.”
The surprise element has sparked emotional reactions from concertgoers and fans following along online. Even those outside the fandom have taken notice. As one non-ARMY observer stated, “The surprise songs BTS performs each night seem to be the best part of their concerts. It gets fans excited, or even disappointed but above all it seems to unite them. It’s so cool to see how excited fans get to guess the songs and then seeing their reactions after they are preformed.”
While these performances may seem insignificant to some, they hold a special meaning for many longtime fans. For example, when BTS performed “Pied Piper” from their 2017 album Love Yourself: Her during their Tampa concert on April 26, fans erupted with excitement. Not only was the crowd in attendance thrilled, but social media was quickly flooded with reactions from fans around the world who were shocked and delighted to hear the rarely performed track. Moments like these bring a sense of nostalgia for older ARMY members, reminding them of earlier eras in the group’s career.
During the tour, BTS also announced that they will perform at the 2026 FIFA World Cup Halftime Show, marking the first halftime show in the tournament’s history. They are set to share the stage with major artists including Madonna and Shakira, making the event one of the most highly anticipated performances of the year.
Additionally, BTS attended the American Music Awards on May 25, marking their first group award show appearance in nearly five years. Their last appearance as a full group before their hiatus was the 2021 American Music Awards. The group opened the ceremony with a performance of “Hooligan” from their ARIRANG album.
By the end of the night, BTS had won all three awards for which they were nominated: Song of the Summer, Male K-pop Artist of the Year, and Artist of the Year. During their acceptance speeches, the members thanked and dedicated their awards to ARMY for their continued support and expressed their gratitude for standing by them throughout the years.
Although there are still many tour stops remaining, the ARIRANG World Tour has already begun on a remarkable note. With BTS’s debut anniversary quickly approaching, celebrations among fans have continued to grow following the scheduled BTS FESTA. Between the success of the tour, major upcoming performances, and their return to award shows, 2026 has already proven to be a memorable year for both BTS and ARMY.
