culture
BTS Plays Two-Night Munich Stand at Allianz Arena in July
The K-pop group played their only two German shows in Munich on 11 and 12 July, greeting fans with a 'Servus' and Bayern shirts.
How we reported this
The South Korean group BTS turned the Allianz Arena into the centre of the K-pop world this month, playing two concerts in Munich on 11 and 12 July 2026. The shows were the band's only two dates in Germany on their 2026/27 Arirang World Tour, drawing fans from across the country and beyond to the north of the city.
Munich's football stadium, which holds around 75,000 people, hosted the group after a four-year touring hiatus. Promoters have billed the run as the largest K-pop world tour to date, spanning 79 shows across 34 regions, with a 360-degree stage production designed to increase stadium capacity and bring more of the audience closer to the performance.
According to Bavarian broadcaster BR24, the seven-member group opened their first Munich night by surprising the crowd with a friendly Bavarian 'Servus' and by wearing FC Bayern shirts, a gesture that landed well with a stadium full of fans. Reporters described an atmosphere that began building hours before the doors opened.
Much of that atmosphere was created by the fans themselves. Long before the start, members of the BTS 'ARMY' gathered in the city centre and outside the arena to swap so-called freebies, hand-made gifts exchanged between fans. Stickers, photo cards and beaded keyrings changed hands as attendees turned the weekend into a large community meet-up rather than simply a concert.
For many who travelled to Munich, the appeal went well beyond the music. The two shows became a gathering point for a fan base known for its emphasis on kindness and mutual care, with visitors describing the weekend as much about meeting like-minded people as about seeing the band on stage.
The concerts added to a busy summer of open-air music in Munich, with the Allianz Arena and the Olympiapark both hosting major touring acts. For local businesses, hotels and public transport, the two sold-out nights delivered a significant influx of visitors to the Bavarian capital in the middle of the holiday season.
The Munich dates mark the group's return to the world's big stages after last touring in 2021/22, with the band using the run to present new songs alongside established hits. Promoters have described the tour as opening a new chapter for BTS, with premieres planned in several cities that they say represent a historic moment for the group and its worldwide fan community.