BTS’ previously scheduled concerts in Chile are facing uncertainty after the country’s National Sports Institute declined to authorize the use of Santiago’s Estadio Nacional for the booked shows. These concerts are currently planned for October 14, 2026, October 16, 2026, and October 17, 2026, as part of the boy band’s ongoing “ARIRANG” world tour. Tickets reportedly sold out shortly after sales opened in April 2026, with each show expected to welcome more than 48,000 fans. However, Chilean authorities affirmed that the stadium’s central field cannot be used because of concerns about the impact of the planned 360-degree stage. The large setup would require extensive installation and removal work, leaving the playing surface with little time to recover before upcoming sporting events scheduled shortly after this year.
According to Chilean officials, the decision was made after a technical and operational review of the venue. The National Sports Institute explained that the hybrid natural grass field would remain covered for too long, making it difficult to prepare the venue for future events, including a Chile men’s national soccer team match in November 2026. Meanwhile, Interior Minister Claudio Alvarado said officials offered the concert organizers alternative spaces within the same stadium complex that could allow the concerts to continue as planned without damaging the main field. Sports Minister Natalia Duco also emphasized that the shows have not been canceled and noted that the venue had never been officially confirmed through the required government approval process.
“The National Sports Institute never confirmed the dates with the official decrees that are usually issued in these cases,” said Duco on the Chilean news program “24 Horas” on Thursday, July 2nd. “The production company was aware and knew that we hadn’t confirmed the decree, but the tickets were sold anyway.”
With fewer than four months left before the BTS concerts take place, many ARMYs (that is the name BTS fans have) are waiting for an update from the organizers. At the moment of posting, Promoter DG Medios has not yet announced whether the concerts will be relocated, redesigned, or rescheduled, and it has not provided any statement for fans who already purchased their tickets. If the “ARIRANG” world tour does take place in Chile, it will mark BTS’ first performances in the country since their “Wings” tour in March 2017.
