October 31, 2026 | K-POP News | São Paulo, Brazil
The BTS São Paulo concert on October 28 was a reunion seven years in the making. As the seven members stepped onto the 360-degree stage at MorumBIS, tens of thousands of Brazilian fans finally got the night they had been waiting for since 2019. The first stop of the group’s three-night run mixed new ARIRANG songs with familiar hits, Portuguese greetings and a few unexpected moments.
According to CNN Brasil and Exame, about 85,000 people attended the opening show. Other local reports, citing organizers, gave a figure closer to 81,000. These are differing reported estimates, not a confirmed final turnstile count. Either way, the sold-out stadium made a powerful case for the depth of BTS’s audience in Brazil.
Inside the BTS São Paulo concert: Portuguese greetings and “Arirang”
RM, Jin, Suga, j-hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook opened with “Hooligan” and moved through songs from the new album alongside “Run BTS,” “FAKE LOVE” and “SWIM.” But some of the loudest cheers came when the music stopped and the members tried speaking to the crowd in Portuguese.
Jimin acknowledged how long the group had been away; V seemed delighted by the size of the audience. The brief exchanges felt like more than scripted greetings. After years of watching the group from afar, Brazilian ARMY could finally answer back in person.
One of the night’s most remarkable moments came during “Body to Body.” As a passage of the traditional Korean song “Arirang” rang out, fans joined the melody. For a tour named after that song, hearing a stadium in São Paulo sing along gave the performance a meaning no screen or stage effect could manufacture.
“Black Swan,” “Silver Spoon” and a Brazilian dance break
BTS chose “Black Swan” and “Silver Spoon (Baepsae)” as the October 28 surprise songs. Fans had carried signs requesting “Silver Spoon,” so hearing its opening notes became a reward for the patient crowd. During “Butter,” the members also joined in the Brazilian Passinho do Jamal and a shoulder move associated with footballer Lucas Paquetá—small gestures that quickly became talking points online.
The performance of “IDOL” was different from earlier tour dates. Just before the show, organizers announced that the members would not make their customary circuit around the stadium for safety reasons. Instead, the seven danced the entire number together on the central stage. Some fans loved seeing the full choreography; others missed the chance to see the group closer to their seats.
Watch a local Reel from the October 28 show
Billboard Brasil shared this Instagram Reel of V performing at MorumBIS on the opening night. The clip was filmed during the October 28 BTS São Paulo concert, rather than at an earlier tour stop. It offers a brief, on-the-ground view of the atmosphere described above.
Instagram Reel: Billboard Brasil — V onstage at BTS WORLD TOUR: ARIRANG, MorumBIS, October 28, 2026. Open the original Reel.
Outside MorumBIS, the wait was less comfortable
The BTS São Paulo concert also brought some familiar stadium headaches. Fans arrived hours early, queues stretched through the streets around MorumBIS and rain made the wait harder. UOL’s reporting from outside the venue described congested access roads and complaints about queue management. Some ticket holders also raised concerns about sightlines and the size of the video screens.
Live Nation said the event was operating within the authorized capacity and that isolated entrance problems had been addressed. It is worth reporting those concerns alongside the music: for fans who spent a full day traveling and waiting, getting safely through the gates was part of the experience too.
Why this opening night mattered
The October 28 opener was the first of three sold-out BTS concerts at MorumBIS, followed by October 30 and 31. São Paulo closes the Latin American leg of the ARIRANG world tour after stops in Bogotá, Lima, Santiago and Buenos Aires. The return also came after a long pause in the group’s full-member touring schedule.
For the fans who spent years waiting, the first night will probably be remembered for its smaller details as much as its scale: Jimin attempting Portuguese, the stadium singing “Arirang” and the sudden opening notes of “Silver Spoon.” The crowd was enormous, but the best moments still felt personal.
BTS São Paulo concert: quick facts
- Date: October 28, 2026 (opening night)
- Venue: Estádio do MorumBIS, São Paulo, Brazil
- Tour: BTS WORLD TOUR: ARIRANG
- Reported attendance: about 85,000 in CNN Brasil and Exame; other estimates around 81,000
- Surprise songs: “Black Swan” and “Silver Spoon (Baepsae)”
- Further São Paulo dates: October 30 and 31, 2026
Sources
CNN Brasil — BTS no Brasil: primeiro show teve passinho brasileiro, português e lotação (October 29, 2026); Billboard Brasil — Os melhores momentos do primeiro show em SP (October 29, 2026); Exame — first-night attendance and stage coverage (October 29, 2026); UOL / Estadão — venue access and crowd coverage (October 28–30, 2026).
Related reading: BTS South America Tour 2026 · BTS A–Z Artist Profile.