[MADRID] Inside BTS's Madrid 'ARIRANG' Shows: ARMY Turns the City Into a Festival

MADRID — BTS met Spanish fans for the first time, 13 years after the group's debut. A Madrid stop was originally planned for August 2021 as part of BTS's "MAP OF THE SOUL TOUR," but the show was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The long wait only raised the stakes for fans who packed the venue this weekend.

BTS, made up of RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook, is performing "BTS WORLD TOUR 'ARIRANG' IN MADRID" on Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. local time at Riyadh Air Metropolitano in Madrid.

On Friday, the first day of the run, ARMY were visible from the subway transfer stations leading to the venue. Most wore official merchandise or styled themselves with light sticks, bags, keyrings, and other fan goods. Even without checking directions, you could simply follow the steady stream of ARMY and end up at the stadium.

In the hours before showtime, the area outside the venue filled with fans in personal takes on tour styling. Some wore red looks inspired by the new album "ARIRANG." Others leaned into purple, the color tied to BTS and ARMY. Groups of friends arrived in matching T-shirts. The excitement showed in what people wore.

Around the stadium, fans who had just met were taking photos for one another. Others handed out homemade keyrings, photocards, and stickers for free. Those who received the gifts smiled and said thank you. The fans giving them out smiled back. Even the wait outside became part of the memory.

The crowd cut across ages and nationalities. Families were easy to spot, and some parents brought young children. At one point, the stadium's big screen showed a male fan holding a sign that read, "My wife is happy."

The show was also a big day for local vendors. From the subway exit to the stadium gates, stalls lined the street selling jelly candy, snacks, and drinks. Sellers offered handmade fan goods too. Stands selling national flags drew particular attention. Fans draped their countries' flags over their shoulders on the way in, and flags from around the world waved across the venue. It was a clear picture of BTS's global reach.

As the concert headed into its final stretch, neighbors stopped to listen. Locals out for evening walks with family or dogs stood along the sidewalk and took in BTS's songs and ARMY's group singalongs. A few watched from the outdoor terraces of nearby restaurants. With its first show in Spain, BTS turned both the inside and the outside of the stadium into one shared celebration.