BTS are taking their long-awaited return to the big screen. The group has confirmed that the opening concerts of the BTS WORLD TOUR ‘ARIRANG’ in Goyang, South Korea, and Tokyo, Japan, will be streamed live in theaters worldwide, offering fans access to two full-length stadium shows without crossing borders.
The announcement underscores the scale of a comeback that has been building for months. ARIRANG marks BTS’ first large-scale world tour in approximately four years. The run spans 34 cities and 82 shows, setting a new record for the most tour dates by a K-pop artist. It begins with landmark performances in Goyang and Tokyo, both now positioned as global cinema events scheduled for April 11 and April 18, respectively.
Titled after their forthcoming fifth studio album, ARIRANG reflects a period of introspection for the group. According to official materials, the record explores identity, longing, and deep love, framed through the sonic ambition that has defined BTS’ career. The album arrives in five weeks, and anticipation is already at a peak. Earlier this year, ARIRANG became the most pre-saved album by an Asian act in Spotify history. Producer Diplo recently described it as the “craziest album ever,” adding to the mounting speculation around its sound.
The concerts themselves promise scale and immersion. Designed around a 360-degree, in-the-round stage, the production places the audience at the center of the performance. That approach will carry over to theaters, where high-definition cinema broadcasts aim to replicate the energy of the live environment.
The cinema announcement lands amid a coordinated global rollout. Netflix will premiere “BTS: THE RETURN” on March 27, a documentary chronicling the making of ARIRANG and the group’s creative process behind their comeback. Days earlier, on March 21, the platform will exclusively stream “BTS THE COMEBACK LIVE | ARIRANG,” filmed at Seoul’s historic Gwanghwamun Square.
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