Full Breakdown
BTS Sets New Boxscore Record with “Arirang” World Tour, Surpassing Rolling Stones
6/30/2026, 3:00:26 PM
Record-Breaking May Gross
Billboard Boxscore recorded that BTS’s “Arirang” World Tour earned $127.8 million from 12 shows (May 2-28) and sold 641,000 tickets. The month’s revenue rose 68 % and attendance 54 % versus April, making BTS the top-grossing group for a single month since the chart began in 2019. The $127.8 million total also exceeds the Rolling Stones’ $95 million August 2019 record by 35 %.
Tour Momentum and Cumulative Earnings
Since the tour opened on April 9, total gross revenue has reached $204 million and 1.1 million tickets have been sold, per Billboard data cited by Star News Korea. With more than 50 dates still scheduled through 2026, the run is projected to surpass the previous BTS record of $213.9 million set by the “Love Yourself” World Tour (2018-19).
Background & Context
BTS, managed by Big Hit Music, reclaimed the Billboard Top Tours No. 1 spot in April 2024 and kept it through May 2026. Prior chart-toppers include May 2019, April 2022, and April 2024. Billboard Boxscore notes BTS’s repeated dominance alongside Bad Bunny, Beyoncé and Coldplay.
Data & Statistics
May 2026 grossed $127.8 million from 641,000 tickets across 12 shows, including a $49.5 million, 246,000-ticket run at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Other North-American venues were Stanford Stadium (3 shows), Estadio GNP Seguros (3 shows) and Sun Bowl (2 shows). Cumulative gross now $204 million with 1.1 million tickets; Boxscore revenue totals $503.1 million from 87 shows.
Official Statements & Responses
Billboard reported that BTS’s May run “placed the group at the top of the Top Tours chart for the second consecutive month” and noted a 68 % revenue rise. It added that BTS’s earnings have “passed the half-billion-dollar mark,” putting it ahead of long-standing rock acts such as Metallica, which earned $72.6 million in May. Billboard also said the Las Vegas shows “topped the Top Boxscore chart,” highlighting ticket strength in the United States.
Verbatim Quotes
- “According to Billboard on the 29th (local time), BTS's "BTS WORLD TOUR 'ARIRANG'" claimed the number one spot on the "Top Tours" chart for the second consecutive month, following April.” — Star News
- “With more than 50 performances remaining this year, this tour is expected to surpass the group's previous record of $213.9 million (approximately 331.1 billion won at Hanwha) set by 'BTS WORLD TOUR 'LOVE YOURSELF'.'” — Star News
- “BTS's Las Vegas performance topped the "Top Boxscore" chart.” — Star News
Why It Matters for the Music Industry
Surpassing the Rolling Stones’ monthly record shows the group's expanding clout in live-music markets. The feat places BTS with Bad Bunny, Beyoncé and Coldplay, acts that repeatedly dominate the Top Tours chart, signaling a shift toward broader international representation in touring revenue.
Upcoming Dates and Future Outlook
The European leg opened with back-to-back shows in Madrid (May 26-27) and will move to Brussels (June 1-2). With over 50 dates still pending, analysts expect BTS to exceed the $213.9 million benchmark, potentially ranking the “Arirang” tour among the ten highest-grossing in Boxscore history.
