$1 billion in sight: BTS world tour earnings before Arirang 2026-27

But what if Bangtan rises?

Yes, purple-blooded friends, After what feels like forever, we’re waiting for Suga’s 'Mianhae, omma', RM’s 'Is this your first time to Bangtan?', Jin’s vocals on Epiphany and his hook for Fire, Jimin bringing the magic of Blood Sweat & Tears to life on stage, V’s long-missed Jump chorus, and Jungkook’s soulful tunes for ON.

In short, it’s been an eternity since all seven of them shared the stage together. But Arirang is almost here, folks. And the upcoming world tour, according to Billboard and BBC, could potentially cross $1 billion in revenue.

So, before BTS kicks off the tour, here’s a look back at their key world tours—because honestly, $1 billion doesn’t seem that far-fetched. (By the way, this isn't even counting the solo tours that Jin, J-Hope and Suga did).

BTS’ first solo concert tour marked their rise from promising K-pop rookies to international performers. Starting in Asia and expanding to Australia, North and South America, the tour attracted 80,000 spectators across 22 shows, as Naver Star once

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Building on their Asian momentum, BTS held their first Japanese tour. Over six shows, 25,000 fans witnessed the group’s growing international appeal, as quoted by Maeil Business Newspaper.

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A painful time, but I Need U sealed the deal.

This tour coincided with the Most Beautiful Moment in Life albums, bringing BTS’ evolving sound and storytelling to cities across Asia. With 182,500 tickets sold, it solidified their regional popularity, according to Sports Chosun, Osen and Herald Biz.

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BTS stepped onto the global stage, performing in 17 cities across 10 countries, including South America, North America, Asia, and Oceania. The tour drew 550,000 spectators and grossed over $6.6 million from three shows, according to Billboard.

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This record-breaking tour took BTS across four continents, though fans later realised it was one of the most difficult years for the boys. With 2,019,800 attendees and $187.5 million gross from 38 shows, it became the highest-grossing tour by a primarily non-English-language act, according to Yonhap News and Billboard.

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Planned as a continuation of BTS’ global dominance, this tour was cancelled due to the pandemic. The initial four shows in South Korea were postponed, and the full 18-city tour was eventually canceled on August 19, 2021.

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BTS adapted to pandemic challenges with hybrid concerts. Starting with an online-only event in Seoul, they then performed in-person shows at SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles and Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, attracting over 4 million attendees globally.

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Significance: These intimate events strengthened the BTS-ARMY bond, setting the stage for record-breaking global tours.