BTS is receiving a special welcome in Illinois as the group returns to Chicago’s Soldier Field for the first time in more than seven years.
According to BIGHIT MUSIC, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker officially designated August 27 and 28 as BTS Day in Illinois, coinciding with BTS’s ARIRANG IN Chicago concerts at Soldier Field.
The official proclamation highlighted BTS’s influence beyond music, including the group’s efforts to promote mental health awareness, self-love, charity, and community service. It also noted that BTS has inspired millions of fans around the world to take part in volunteer work and donations.
Illinois officials said the concerts are expected to attract thousands of visitors to Chicago, bringing attention to the state as a destination for culture, arts, and entertainment while also supporting the local economy.
The Chicago shows also mark a meaningful return for BTS. The group last performed at Soldier Field in May 2019 during BTS WORLD TOUR ‘LOVE YOURSELF: SPEAK YOURSELF’, becoming the first Korean act to hold a solo concert at the stadium.
BTS has received similar welcomes during other stops on its current tour. Toronto previously designated August 22 and 23 as BTS Weekend and temporarily renamed part of a road BTS Boulevard.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore also released a welcome video ahead of the group’s Baltimore performance, while El Paso County in Texas declared an El Paso BTS Weekend.
The group has also received attention from international political leaders. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum met BTS and presented the members with a commemorative plaque, while French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron attended the group’s concert at Stade de France in Paris.
BTS has also maintained a long history of charitable activities. The group partnered with UNICEF Korea in 2017 for its LOVE MYSELF campaign, which supported programs aimed at preventing violence and providing psychological support for children and young people.
In 2020, BTS donated 1 million USD to Live Nation’s Crew Nation campaign to support concert industry workers affected by the pandemic.
The group is currently continuing its North American tour after performing in Toronto on August 22.
BTS will take the stage at Chicago’s Soldier Field on August 27 and 28, making their return to the venue approximately seven years and three months after their previous concerts there.
Meanwhile, BTS’s fifth full-length album ARIRANG continues to perform strongly on the Billboard 200, while title track SWIM has been nominated for Song of the Year at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards.
