BTS Named Honored Guest of Bogotá; Show Seen Driving $28M

Sunset over downtown Bogotá, with a skyscraper lit purple and the Andes foothills behind it

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As of October 2, 2026, Bogotá, Colombia's capital, has named BTS an honored guest of the city. Fan spending tied to the group's first-ever Colombia shows, on Oct. 2 and 3, is projected at about 40.6 billion won (roughly $28 million).

about 40.6 billion won (~$28M)Projected local fan spending

46.6%Rise in flight bookings to Bogotá over the five days around the shows

about 18%Share of tickets sold outside Colombia

2Number of Bogotá shows

Key points

Big Hit Music announced on Oct. 2 that BTS has been named an honored guest of Bogotá.
Bogotá's tourism data office projects that audience spending across the two shows will top 40 billion won (about $28 million).
This is BTS's first-ever show in Colombia, and the South America leg continues to Peru, Chile, Argentina and Brazil.
The city will light up a landmark downtown building purple and add public transit service on show days.

Big Hit Music said on Oct. 2 that Bogotá has granted BTS honored guest status. The title is a ceremonial distinction run by the city for prominent visitors who have contributed to Bogotá's development and the well-being of its residents across various fields. Per a Korean report citing local media, it's the first such designation in roughly a decade.

City officials gave two reasons. The group, which debuted in 2013, has raised the profile of Korean pop culture worldwide and has had a major influence on young people. They also signaled hope that the visit will cement Bogotá's image as a hub for the creative and cultural industries and a host city for international events.

The shows take place Oct. 2 and 3 at Estadio El Campín. It will be BTS's first time performing in Colombia. An observatory under Bogotá's tourism authority added up what fans are expected to spend on food and drink, lodging, getting around the city, and shopping and souvenirs, and came up with more than 40 billion won.

Demand indicators stand out, too. One outlet reported that flight bookings to Bogotá for the five days around the shows ran 46.6% above the same period a year earlier. About 18% of tickets were sold outside Colombia, roughly double the foreign share of a typical local concert, according to the report.

To mark the shows, the city will light a landmark downtown building purple and beef up public transit on show days. The tour kicks off in Bogotá and continues to Peru, Chile, Argentina and Brazil.

In Korea right nowIn Korea, attention is on how BTS's overseas run is turning into city-level hospitality and real economic impact. Coverage says BTS has become the first pop group to top $500 million in cumulative world tour revenue, and reports also noted its three-award sweep at the MTV VMAs in the U.S. late last month. Against that backdrop, the honored guest title reads as a sign of how big a deal the Colombia debut is.

FAQ

What is the honored guest title?

It's a ceremonial distinction from the city of Bogotá for prominent visitors who have contributed to the city's development or residents' well-being. Figures from politics, the arts, sports, science and other fields can receive it.

Is this BTS's first time performing in Colombia?

Yes. The two Bogotá shows on Oct. 2 and 3 are its first in Colombia, and the South America tour continues afterward.

What does the 40.6 billion won estimate include?

It's audience spending estimated by an observatory under Bogotá's tourism authority, covering food and drink, lodging, local transportation, and shopping and souvenirs.