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BTS has announced a takeover of London with pop-ups, light shows and a Thames boat installation

K-pop’s biggest boyband is at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this weekend for their first London shows in seven years

Amy Houghton
Written by
Amy Houghton
Contributing writer
BTS press shot, 2026 world tour
Image: courtesy of HYBE | BTS press shot, 2026 world tour
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More artists than we can count have come out of hiatus in the past year and a bit and, as a result, London’s programme of gigs this summer has already been massive. We’ve had long-awaited shows from Harry Styles, Bad Bunny, Lily Allen, Take That and Gorillaz – and there are still loads of stellar concerts to come. One of the biggest and most hotly-anticipated of them all will be BTS at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this weekend. 

Indisputably the biggest boyband to come out of Korea and probably the biggest in the entire world right now, BTS will be in the capital as part of their ARIRANG World Tour. The two huge shows will be the group’s first in London in seven years, so they’re worthy of big celebrations. 

Besides the shows themselves, London will fill with a series of BTS-themed activations to get fans hyped for the main event. Even the London Eye is getting involved. Here’s what to expect. 

What is BTS ‘The City’ London?

Coinciding with BTS’s two enormous shows at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (on July 6 and 7) , BTS The City ARIRANG London will bring music, Korean culture and fan experiences to multiple parts of London.

See stage outfits at the Korean Cultural Centre UK

Things will kick off at the Korean Cultural Centre on the Strand on July 4. There’ll be music video screenings and photo zones but most excitingly there’ll be an exhibition of iconic stage outfits from BTS’ historic Wembley performances. It’ll be open to visitors until July 10 but you should reserve your spot in advance. 

A red London Eye

Yes, the actual London Eye will be illuminated vivid ARIRANG red for the boys on July 6 from 9.30pm until 11pm.

Map of BTS The City ARIRANG London
Image: Courtesy of HYBE/BIGHIT MUSICMap of BTS The City ARIRANG London

River Thames boat

An ARIRANG boat featuring a sculpture with album’s logo on will set sail down the Thames at 5pm on July 6 and will be visible until 2am.  

Outernet pop-ups

From July 8 to July 10, Outernet will turn into a BTS fanzone and fill with immersive experiences and exclusive merch. There’ll be opportunities to leave a personal message for BTS members using Galaxy AI Interpreter and to create a one-of-a-kind BTS sticker. 

BTS Korean food collaborations

The City will also involve partnerships with London’s Korean restaurants and cafes. Participating businesses include Tokkia in Covent Garden, Seoul Bird in White City, DOPI in Bethnal Green, Deun Deun in Tower Hamlets and Look Left in Hackney. 

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