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BTS announced their World Tour dates on Tuesday evening. Sadly, Johannesburg did not make the cut, but there is still hope, ARMY.
Many K-pop fans in South Africa have grown accustomed to rolling their eyes at the words ‘World Tour’, and that will be the case once again for the South African and African ARMY.
The official announcement was shared today on Weverse, a South Korean fan engagement platform, confirming the talented group's World Tour.
The world tour announcement follows the group’s long-awaited return after their military enlistment hiatus, which spanned roughly two and a half years, and comes ahead of their anticipated new album release in March 2026.
Johannesburg, there is hope...
The 'More Cities To Be Announced' line has us clinging on to hope that 2027 will finally be the year we get to see the boys in the flesh.
The fact that the 'Middle East' is also mentioned adds more fuel to the hope as we've seen many bands tour the area before or after visiting South Africa, with Green Day a recent example.
The upcoming BTS album
Alongside the thrilling world tour announcement, fans are eagerly awaiting the release of the group's latest album, BTS The 5th Album.
With the official release date announced as 20 March 2026, the new album will feature 14 tracks and showcase the direction in which the acclaimed music group will be taking.
Mini guide to Joburg (for BTS)
While a tour to South Africa isn't official yet (I still believe), it has made me think about where the boys might love to visit in Jozi (or more so, our recommendations. BIGHIT MUSIC, if you are reading this, give us a ring).
Lindfield Museum
Probably akin to Run BTS's episode 24 titled BTS vs Zombies, the Lindfield Victorian House Museum in Auckland Park offers a spooky (we think it may be haunted) experience as it showcases the life of a typical wealthy family in Johannesburg from the late 19th to early 20th centuries.
Who knows, maybe the iconic Yoonji will make a reappearance (ARMY, you will get what I mean with this statement), donning the attire of the creepy dolls that adorn the museum.
Snacks and a taste of home
If there is one thing BTS is known for, it is scouting out a Korean restaurant while they are on tour, and Surasang Korean BBQ Restaurant in Johannesburg is the ideal spot for a hearty, authentic Korean meal.
Owned and operated by Koreans, Surasang offers a range of dishes from Korean fried chicken to bibimbap and more.
Snacks-wise, we would advise a visit to Market Kokoro, ideally located in one of the world's coolest neighbourhoods for 2025. Market Kokoro is home to a range of authentic Asian snacks and quick bites including ramyun.
Spotting Africa's Big 5
In a past interview, the group shared their desire to visit Johannesburg and Cape Town, with Min Yoongi mentioning that he had heard of places where giraffes approach you while you eat.
While it’s unclear which specific experience he was referring to, a fitting option would be a visit to the Bothongo Lion & Rhino Nature Reserve, more specifically, the Neck & Deck Restaurant, where diners may enjoy a meal with the chance of the reserve’s giraffes interacting with them.
While we will have to wait a bit longer to hear the echoes of 'Idol' streaming through the FNB Stadium, we just know that when that official announcement lands one day, it's going to hit like an ARMY bomb.
We will keep you up to date with any future announcements, so stay tuned.
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