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BTS world tour ticket wars? Filipino ARMYs share their ticket-buying plans
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News of BTS’ upcoming tour shocked the world, with ARMYs from all over the globe already strategizing plans for buying tickets and even traveling to other countries just to see their favorite boys.
‘I was ecstatic!’
We asked Filipino ARMY how they felt about BTS having a Philippine stop on their “Arirang” world tour, and they gave a resounding, “I was ecstatic.”
A few ARMYs, like 29-year-old researched Jahziel Lantin, and 41-year-old PR practitioner Charisse Vilchez, looked back on J-Hope’s recent “Hope on the Stage” world tour.
"J-hope promised during ‘HOTS Tour’ that BTS would be back and they fulfilled that promise,” Jahziel told GMA News Online in an email interview.
“The PH crowd was amazing during J-hope’s concert and I’m sure it will be ten times more awesome with them as a group!” Charisse added.
“The Filipino crowd is something else, and knowing how BTS loves to hear ARMY's enthusiastic reactions, I'm so excited for them to enjoy the classic Filipino concert hospitality (aka screaming and crying),” Pauline Pinero, a 28-year-old account manager from Cagayan De Oro City, said.
For Owen Maddela, learning about the Philippine stop made him think, “they simply have to,” and “This will be chaotic.”
Ticketing Anxiety
Shortly after the tour's announcement, anxiety has come to grip many of the fans.
Jahziel admitted to feeling worried, “because I know the competition for tickets would be tough." "I'm really hoping to secure tickets here in the Philippines," she said.
For Laura Magat, a 22-year-old college student who has been an ARMY since 2017, learning about the Philippine stop made her feel “thrilled, excited, and doubtful all at the same.”
Having only watched fan-posted videos online, Magat said “I would always imagine what it would be like if I were to be given the chance to watch them live. So, knowing that they’re coming back to Manila was more than thrilling to me.”
She explained that she felt doubtful, knowing how fast tickets sell out and how expensive these can get.
“Either way, I’m excited and happy for the Filipino fans that they can rewatch or watch BTS live here in the Philippines,” Magat said.
Princess, a 38-year-old ARMY, said she was not expecting Manila to be part of the BTS tour, and already planned to watch the concert in other Asian countries.
“I wasn’t that excited at first because I know how ticketing works here and honestly, it’s cheaper to watch outside the country,” she said. “Still, I’ll try my luck. It would be nice to experience it with fellow Filipino ARMYs.”
BTS will play a two-night show in Manila on March 13 and 14, 2027. It will be their first show in the Philippines after 10 years.
BTS Abroad
The world tour will take the K-Pop superstars to 34 regions and across five continents, with a total of 79 shows so far.
The tour will launch with three shows in Goyang, South Korea, before the boys fly to Tokyo and then to North America and Europe. They will go to South America before returning to Asia and the Pacific.
In Asia, Singapore is getting the most performances. BTS slated to perform four nights in December 2026.
Jay Pangilinan, a 40-year-old Filipino ARMY based in Singapore, said he wasn’t surprised that the Little Red Dot is included in the world tour. It has great infrastructure and crowd control, after all.
“I've stepped out from National Stadium and got home in 40 minutes door to door. Four days sounds about right,” he said.
Ticket-buying plans
Fans are already preparing for the ticketing wars that are likely going to happen. For some, the plans have just begun right after the announcement, whereas others have been planning for this world tour for years.
Jizelle, an ARMY from Manila and Toronto but now based in Amsterdam, has been preparing for this moment for years. The capital Netherlands has yet to be listed as a stop in the BTS world tour but no matter. She already has spreadsheets prepared to track flights, hotels, vacation days, time zone conversions, and presale schedules.
She's also started saving money, saving vacation days (she now has 53), and building friendships with ARMYs around the world “so we can look out for each other during ticketing wars."
"That support system is priceless," she tells GMA News Online.
Jizelle is also part of a Facebook group called Borahae from Manila, where over 32,000 Filipino ARMYs help each other “with tips, information, and emotional survival.”
“Having a community you can trust makes the experience of fangirling and being an ARMY all the more special,” Jizelle said.
“On announcement day alone, I had four ‘executive meetings:’ with ARMY friends in Amsterdam, Manila, Bucharest, and Toronto,” Jizelle added.
For J-Hope’s last tour, she went to seven shows. “Three in Seoul for the kickoff, two in Chicago, and two for the encore. I'm praying that I can do a similar scale for this tour," she said.
Learning of the tour, she wasn't just thrilled for herself, "but even more for my family."
“My mom is 71 years old and a massive V stan. Watching her experience that kind of joy? That’s everything,” Jizelle said.
"I travel extensively to see the BTS members, so knowing they’re coming closer to home means so much.”
Ela, a 37-year-old ARMY from Manila, has been reaching out to different groups for ticketing advice and tips.
“I've even asked an ARMY friend's sister to do ‘ticket acquisition training’,” Ela laughed.
“My IG algorithm even has simulators on how fast ticketing goes. It seems crazy! I might even try it myself as ‘training,’" Ela added.
According to Charisse, she will employ the same strategy as J-Hope’s last tour, which is to “just keep trying.”
“I don’t stop at the ARMY Membership presale; my friends and I were able to score lower box tickets during the General Admission slots just by being persistent,” she said. “And I promise you, there are no bad seats in a BTS show!”
Pauline and Jay have purchased the BTS ARMY Membership on Weverse, as members have the benefit of purchasing tickets a day or two before the general sale.
“Lots of refreshing, a bit of luck, and fingers crossed,” Jay said, adding "it’s really just hoping people manage to get tickets without too much heartbreak.”
Meanwhile, Princess, who likewise has an ARMY Membership, plans to file a leave from work on ticket-selling day to focus on queuing and buying without any distractions. She also plans to enlist help from friends who have more experience in buying K-Pop concert tickets.
“I did the same for Jin’s encore and even asked a friend from overseas to help, since the internet connection there is more stable,” Princess said.
Jahziel intends to line up online and ask her friends to queue for her. “I wouldn't say I would use my life savings, but I admit that I have been saving for BTS concert tickets,” she said.
Laura also intends to save money for the Manila show by "selling a few of my things or possibly my laptop just to have enough money."
"My last resort would be asking my mom for some money,” she added.
“I think I would literally sell anything in my room that can be sold just to have at least some money and save up the rest,” Laura added.
Jahziel also has a reminder for Armys to spend responsibly. “Do not spend beyond your means,” she said.
Plan B(TS)
ARMY also have backup plans just in case.
Owen is eyeing the Asian stops towards the end of the year, and the ones in early 2027, in case tickets to the Manila show prove elusive. Traveling to the US is also an option for him.
Ela will also try buying tickets in other Asian stops, while CDO-based Pauline has listed attending the BTS shows in other ASEAN counters as her first priority with Manila as her second option.
“I figured it would have the same cost as me flying to Manila from CDO, as the expenses will be the same (i.e. getting a hotel, booking a car to and from the venue),” she said.
And since the dates for the Asia tour will be in the latter part of the year, Pauline plans to use the first few months of 2026 to save for tickets and travel funds.
“Hopefully we still have time,” Pauline said. “My mom is also a die-hard ARMY, so I was hoping I could share this experience with her too."
Singapore-based Jay said he is also planning to try for tickets in Goyang, Busan, Tokyo, Taiwan, and Kuala Lumpur.
“You can never be 100% sure where you’ll get lucky, so it’s really just trying everywhere and hoping something works out,” he said.
Princess is eyeing tickets for the kick-off shows in Goyang, but if she can’t secure them, she will pre-register for the Japan lottery system and try her luck.
“My friends and I are already set for Singapore, but we’re also considering Bangkok since the concert dates fall on Jin’s birthday. I’ve also heard great reviews about Kaohsiung, so I’m looking into that option as well,” said Princess, who has already booked cancelable hotel accommodations.
“This makes things much easier, now all we need to focus on is securing concert tickets, and airline tickets will follow after.”
For Jizelle, she “simply [refuses] to entertain the thought” that she won’t be getting BTS tickets.
“I am officially declaring to the universe that I will get tickets—VIP with soundcheck BARRICADE—and the universe will comply,” she said.
“Manifestation is an ARMY skill at this point,” Jizelle said. — LA, GMA Integrated News
