BTS is turning Singapore into a city-wide stage

Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has partnered HYBE to bring "BTS THE CITY ARIRANG" to Singapore this December, marking the city-state as the experience's first and only Southeast Asian stop in 2026.

Running from 1 to 31 December, the month-long activation will span attractions, cultural institutions, nightlife venues and landmarks across Singapore, making it the largest island-wide fan activation held for a recording artist in the country.

The experience will lead up to BTS' sold-out four-night run at the National Stadium on 17, 19, 20 and 22 December, extending the group's presence beyond the concert venue through a series of themed events, installations and experiences across the city.

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According to STB, the initiative is also the largest city-wide destination project it has collaborated on with a partner for any recording artist.

"BTS THE CITY ARIRANG" is HYBE's city-wide experience model designed to run alongside the BTS WORLD TOUR "ARIRANG", turning host cities into multi-touchpoint fan experiences through themed events, installations and programming. The concept debuted in Seoul in March this year and has since travelled to Las Vegas, Busan, London and New York. Singapore will be its final stop for 2026.

For its Singapore edition, the project will bring together tourism and lifestyle partners including Jewel Changi Airport, Mandai Wildlife Reserve, National Gallery Singapore, National Museum of Singapore, Resorts World Sentosa, Sentosa Development Corporation, The Kallang Group and Zouk Singapore.

At Jewel Changi Airport, the Rain Vortex will host a BTS-themed light and music show, while Mandai Wildlife Reserve's Exploria will receive a themed takeover. National Gallery Singapore will introduce an art trail pairing BTS music with works from its "Pop after pop: Art around us" exhibition, while the National Museum of Singapore will feature themed light and sound installations.

The experience will continue at Resorts World Sentosa, where a fireworks display choreographed to BTS music will form part of a series of themed experiences within Universal Studios Singapore.

Elsewhere on Sentosa, fans can expect a rave and drone show set to BTS music, alongside a themed race and immersive installations. The Kallang will host interactive experiences across multiple themed zones, while Zouk Singapore will stage opening and closing night takeovers featuring dedicated music and experiential programming.

The activation will also extend to Singapore's skyline. From 8 to 22 December, landmarks around Marina Bay and along the Singapore River will light up nightly in ARIRANG red.

Participating landmarks include Anderson Bridge, Cavenagh Bridge, Clemenceau Bridge, Coleman Bridge, Elgin Bridge, Gardens by the Bay, Millenia Tower, Ord Bridge, OUE Bayfront, Singapore Flyer, The Fullerton Hotel Singapore, The Helix Bridge and The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore.

STB said several of the nighttime activations are also intended to add to Singapore's nightlife offerings for visitors and locals during the period.

Oliver Chong, assistant chief executive, international group at STB, said the collaboration reflects Singapore's ability to attract major global intellectual properties and strengthen its position as a destination for live entertainment.

"This is the largest city-wide destination project we have collaborated on with a partner for any recording artist, and we are proud to bring this exclusive experience to the region for the first time," said Chong.

"Hosting the Southeast Asian debut of 'BTS THE CITY ARIRANG' is a testament to our ability to attract some of the world's most iconic IPs, reinforcing Singapore’s position as a premier destination for world-class live entertainment. We look forward to welcoming BTS fans from across the world to Singapore this December," he added.

Meanwhile, HYBE said the Singapore edition is intended to extend the excitement surrounding BTS' concerts beyond the stadium and bring fans and visitors together through experiences across the city.

"We hope 'BTS THE CITY ARIRANG SINGAPORE' will offer fans and visitors from around the world a special way to experience and celebrate the music of BTS and close out the year together," HYBE said.

The project builds on STB's partnership with HYBE and its labels, which began in 2024 and has since spanned social media content, events featuring K-pop artistes and music video productions showcasing Singapore's landmarks and attractions to global audiences.

In May last year, STB collaborated with BIGHIT MUSIC on the official music video for BTS member Jin's Don't Say You Love Me, from his second solo album Echo. Filmed in Singapore, the video featured landmarks including National Gallery Singapore, the Singapore Flyer, Gardens by the Bay and Anderson Bridge, alongside neighbourhood spots such as Keng Eng Kee Seafood and Goldhill Plaza, positioning the city as a backdrop to the song's visual storytelling.

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