BTS returns to France after seven years, draws 88,000 to Stade de France with Macron in attendance

A long-awaited return

Seven years after their last French concert in 2019, BTS returned to the stage at Stade de France on Friday, 17 July 2026. The hiatus was shaped by the global pandemic and the group's mandatory 18-month military service in South Korea, which paused activities for three years. The new album "Arirang", released in March 2026, provided the setlist backbone for the evening. All 88,000 tickets were sold, making it the largest audience in BTS history, as member Suga later confirmed from the stage.

The show

The concert began at 19:30 with "Hooligan", a track from the new album that blends rap and R&B. Over 2 hours and 15 minutes, the seven members performed 23 songs on a 360-degree cross-shaped stage beneath 12 giant screens. The set included "Body to body", which incorporated the traditional Korean folk song "Arirang" as a nod to their heritage, and the older hit "Idol", during which the group circled the stadium floor. The evening closed with the ballad "Into The Sun" and a fireworks display.

Presidential Army

Among the 88,000 fans were French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron, both known K-pop enthusiasts. They were spotted in the crowd waving "Army Bomb" lightsticks, and their appearance on the giant screens during "Idol" drew loud cheers. Italian daily Il Fatto Quotidiano noted the moment came during a politically significant part of the show, though the Macrons blended in with the sea of fans.

Words from the stage

The members addressed the audience in a mix of Korean and French, often through an interpreter. Jimin said, "Thank you all for coming. This is the largest audience in the history of all BTS concerts. I will never forget this moment and that in Paris all these people are waiting for us. I think we have to come back!" Suga added, "Tonight you are 88,000! It was the biggest audience and it will be unforgettable." RM declared, "I am very happy to be in Paris. Paris, you are the hottest. Today you were the best. Paris is magic. Paris is unbeatable." Jin, who visited Paris right after his military service, called it "an unforgettable day." V listed his French favourites: "I love snails, croissants, waffles." Jungkook closed with, "I was really happy tonight. Take care going home. I love you."

Fan devotion

Fans, known as ARMY, began queuing early in the morning. Three teenagers on metro line 13, dressed in the red and black dress code of the "Arirang" album, told Franceinfo they had discovered BTS in 2020 and would not have missed the concert for anything. After the show, Laurianne, who had seen the group in 2019, said, "It was just as good, just as crazy. They are very generous with their fans, the atmosphere was crazy." The crowd sang along in Korean during "Body to body", a moment that left members V, Suga, and RM visibly emotional.