Toronto, Canada
For the first time in over a decade, BTS brought their world tour to Toronto, headlining two sold-out nights at Rogers Stadium on August 22nd and 23rd. Since debuting in 2013, BTS has grown into the biggest K-pop act of all time, and their Toronto stop was proof of just how far that influence reaches. From attending their first American Music Award to selling out stadiums across the globe, the group has left a lasting mark on today’s pop music landscape. Their last Toronto performance was back in 2016, marking this long-awaited return all the more significant for Canadian fans.
To mark BTS’s homecoming, the City of Toronto temporarily renamed Yonge Street in North York as “BTS Boulevard,” and celebrations rolled out across the city all week long. Fans lined up for pop-ups celebrating the group’s latest album release, sampled BTS official drink, ARIH, at the Korean Toronto Festival, shopped limited-edition merchandise at the official BTS pop-up store, and stopped by cafes to collect cup sleeves.
Fans traveled from all over Canada and around the world to attend the 2-day concert at Rogers Stadium. It was their only Canada stop on this tour. Due to the number of events taking place on the same weekend, all hotels in nearby vicinity were sold out and flight tickets were expensive. Other events taking place over the weekend include Ed Sheeran’ concert at the Rogers Centre, the Toronto Korean Festival at Mel Lastman Square, and the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE).
Rain or Shine: BTS Powers Through Toronto Storm to Deliver Unforgettable Rogers Stadium Shows
Rain was no match for BTS and Army, the name for the band’s devoted fandom. Storms rolled out all weekend, and on day one, thunder and lightning began around 4PM, forcing the cancellation of other outdoor events, like the Toronto Korean Festival. As the skies darkened and thunder light up the skies, many fans feared the BTS concert might be next.
The show, however, went on. As conditions worsened, fans flooded social media platforms like TikTok with live updates from Rogers Stadium. VIP fans were already indoors – watching sound check. However, sound check was paused because of the storm. Fans who were still waiting to be let in sought refuge anywhere they could. After riding out the thunderstorm, BTS was able to finally come back on stage and finish sound check.
Fans were overjoyed the concert wasn’t cancelled. They packed into the stadium as BTS delivered a full set despite the downpour. With rain pooling across the floor seating area, many concertgoers found themselves standing ankle-deep in puddles, joking that they were “swimming” as BTS performed their newest hit, “Swim.”
Day two brought more of the same weather, with heavy rain lasting until around 5PM. The skies cleared up just before soundcheck, and by 6PM, the sun and blue skies had returned, allowing the concert to proceed as normal. BTS mostly performed songs from their newest album, Arirang. They also sprinkled performances from some older songs like “Mic Drop”, “Fire”, and “Dynamite” into the set. As part of a recurring tour tradition, the group also performs two surprise songs each night, chosen at random by the DJ. In Toronto, those picks were “Outro: Wings” and “Dope” on day one, and “00:00 (Zero O’Clock)” and “Outro: Tear” on day two.