The band announced its return to the stage for the first time since 2022.
After years off the road, BTS is officially gearing up for a major return to the stage. The K-pop powerhouse has confirmed a series of BTS world tour dates spanning 2026 and 2027, marking the group’s first run of full-scale concerts since 2022.
While the initial BTS world tour dates focus on Asia, North America, Europe, Latin America, and Australia, the announcement has already sparked a familiar question across the GCC: will the world’s biggest boy band bring the show to the Middle East? For now, specific dates for the UAE and Saudi Arabia have not been revealed, but Live Nation has indicated on the official tour flyer that Middle Eastern dates are on the way, with additional dates likely to be added as the tour unfolds into 2027.
What we do know is this: the BTS world tour dates kick off on 9 April 2026 in Goyang, South Korea, before moving through major cities across multiple continents, with the run scheduled to continue into March 2027. In other words, there’s time on the calendar for more stops. If a Middle East leg is confirmed, expect the usual high-demand scramble for tickets and stadium-scale production that matches the group’s global pull.
BTS, short for Bangtan Sonyeondan (also known as Beyond The Scene), debuted in 2013 and has since become one of the most influential acts in modern pop. The group’s music has long blended stadium-ready hooks with themes around self-belief, mental health, and social commentary, helping to build a fanbase that spans generations and borders.
Expect the setlists to draw from era-defining hits such as “Dynamite,” “Butter,” “Permission to Dance,” “Boy With Luv,” “Fake Love,” “Life Goes On,” “Black Swan,” “Fire,” and more, alongside newer material tied to the band’s comeback album. Their trophy cabinet is just as headline-worthy, with major wins across US award shows and continued recognition on the world stage.
This tour also carries extra significance as it follows BTS’s hiatus for mandatory military service in South Korea, where, as “all men aged 18 to 28 are required by law to complete 18-21 months of service”.
For now, Gulf fans will need to stay alert for further announcements. When UAE and Saudi dates land, they are unlikely to stay available for long.
GO: Visit www.livenation.com for more information.