While we’re expecting loads of new tracks from the group’s upcoming ARIRANG album, these are the super hits we’re hoping to hear when the guys hit stadiums around the globe.
Jimin, J-Hope, Jin, Jung Kook, RM, Suga and V of BTS perform during the 64th Annual GRAMMY Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 0, 2022, in Las Vegas.
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
BTS‘ forthcoming Arirang World Tour is arriving as a truly historic live trek for the pop royalty that is the Bangtan Boys — and it requires a monumental setlist to accompany it.
Originally announced with 79 shows across 34 regions in five continents, the tour has already grown in its initial size with two additional U.S. dates added in both Tampa, Florida, and Stanford, California, as the first tickets went on sale this week. The group will things kick off in Goyang, South Korea, on April 9, 2026, and continue throughout 2027 with additional cities said to soon be announced in Japan, the Middle East and beyond.
The Arirang World Tour marks BTS’ first live concert series since the Permission to Dance on Stage tour that held mini-residencies in Seoul, Los Angeles and Las Vegas in 2021 and 2022 with 22 songs in the main setlist and three songs in the encore. During the period where members handled their individual mandatory military services, BTS members Suga, J-Hope and Jin managed to embark on their own solo tours. Suga embarked on his D-Day Tour across North America and Asia in 2023 before his military enlistment, while J-Hope and Jin both went on their own solo treks post-military service in 2025.
To make the Arirang World Tour as special as possible, we’ve crafted our dream setlist that respects BTS’ career arc, solo spotlights of the members who weren’t able to head out on their solo tours and stadium-sized singalongs with 23 songs in the main set and four in the encore to ensure this is officially the biggest and greatest BTS show to date.
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“Not Today”
Image Credit: Jessica Xie Album: You Never Walk Alone (2016)
BTS have spoken about both the excitement as well as the anxiety they’re feeling with this long-awaited comeback to the music industry. Beyond the anthemic hip-hop production that opens the song, “Not Today” lets the group come together and make a direct declaration: they are back with a vengeance. Leader RM can shout his opening intro lines like a direct command to ARMY: “All the underdogs in the world: A day may come when we lose/ But it is not today, today we fight!”
It’s a perfect mantra to reintroduce themselves on the stage to anyone who counted them out or thought BTS wouldn’t come back stronger than ever.
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“IDOL”
Album: Love Yourself: Answer (2018)
Continuing the rollout of the red carpet, the regal mix of Korean instruments and brass that opens in 2018’s “IDOL” extends the epic nature of BTS’ stage return. Another track opened by RM, we can imagine him shouting, “You can call me artist/ You can call me idol!” and pausing to give the audience a chance to fully welcome the guys back, standing before them as fully developed artists and idols, before delivering the celebratory track in full.
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“Blood Sweat & Tears”
Album: Wings (2016)
A crowd-pleaser that keeps the energy and impressive stage performances of the first two songs with one of BTS’ early breakout global hits — that’s also turning 10 years old this year.
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“Like Crazy” / “Who” (Jimin Solo Section)
Image Credit: Courtesy of BIGHIT MUSIC Albums: FACE (2023) / MUSE (2024)
During the BTS hiatus, fans did get a chance to see Jin, Suga and J-Hope live on their own tours where they brought their solo releases to life. While the remaining four members haven’t gotten their chance for solo tours — yet! — we think giving RM, Jimin, V and Jung Kook their own solo sections that fit inside BTS’ Arirang World Tour is fair and a special way to celebrate what these individuals also accomplished on stage.
Seamlessly connecting with the darker dance-pop theme set by “Blood, Sweat & Tears,” Jimin taking the spotlight to perform a medley featuring his historic Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hit “Like Crazy,” as well as his 2024 Top 40 pop hit “Who,” will be a nice change of musical pace while still keeping the energy high.
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“Fake Love”
Album: Love Yourself: Tear (2018)
bookending Jimin’s solo section with two of BTS’ darker-but-beloved singles feels most appropriate as songs where the multifaceted vocalist shines and match his musical aesthetic to make the concert as seamless as possible.
Here you can find the original article; photos used in our article come from this source.
