BTS takes ARIRANG world tour to cinemas worldwide, live shows to screen in 75 countries

Global K-pop phenomenon BTS is taking its next world tour beyond stadiums and into movie theaters, giving fans across continents a chance to watch the group perform live on the big screen.

The band’s agency BigHit Music announced on Thursday that select concerts from BTS’s upcoming ARIRANG world tour will be broadcast live to more than 3,500 cinemas across 75 countries. The cinema events will relay the opening shows scheduled for April 11 in Goyang, South Korea, and April 18 in Tokyo, Japan.

The live cinema format allows audiences to experience the concerts simultaneously with the on-site performances. In regions affected by time differences, screenings will be shown on a delayed basis. In South Korea, the broadcasts will be available through the country’s three major multiplex chains, with ticket bookings opening at 10 a.m. on February 25.

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Opening leg of a record-breaking tour

The Goyang and Tokyo concerts mark the start of BTS’s most expansive tour to date. The ARIRANG world tour is set to cover 34 cities with a total of 82 shows, making it the largest world tour ever mounted by a K-pop act. According to the agency, 41 concerts across North America and Europe are already sold out.

As part of the tour, BTS will headline solo shows for the first time as a Korean act at several major stadiums, including Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Sun Bowl Stadium in El Paso, Stanford Stadium in California, Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, AT&T Stadium in Arlington, King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels and Allianz Arena in Germany.

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Album release and citywide Seoul event

The tour follows the release of BTS’s fifth full-length album, ARIRANG, scheduled for March 20. To coincide with the new era, Seoul will host “BTS THE CITY ARIRANG SEOUL” from the album’s release through April 12. The citywide programme will feature music-driven installations and interactive media experiences, turning parts of the capital into a festival celebrating the group’s latest work.