Pritzker Declares 'BTS Days' Coinciding With Group's Sold-Out Shows At Soldier Field

CHICAGO, IL — Gov. JB Pritzker has declared Aug. 27 and 28 "BTS Days" in celebration of the K-pop group's two sold-out shows at Soldier Field next week.

"According to global industry metrics, the globally renowned South Korean musical pop group BTS has transcended international borders and utilizes their platform to champion social causes, including mental health awareness, self-love and global philanthropy," Pritzker said in the proclamation.

Pritzker said BTS's message aligns with the civic values of Illinois, inspiring millions of their fans around the world, called ARMY, to engage in grassroots community service and match global charitable giving. Most recently, BTS fans raised over half of the total amount during the Christie's One Goal auction during the 2026 World Cup Finale, personally donating more than $50,000 to the FIFA Global Citizen Fund.

BTS will be performing as part of their Arirang World Tour at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 27 and Friday, Aug. 28 at Soldier Field.

"Thousands of visitors and residents will gather in the City of Chicago to celebrate this historic cultural exchange, boosting local commerce and highlighting Illinois as a premier arts and entertainment hub," Pritzker said.

During the concert days, Willis Tower's lights will be purple, BTS's signature color.

This will be the full group's first time performing in Chicago since 2019, when they similarly sold out two shows at Soldier Field during their Love Yourself: Speak Yourself World Tour. Individual members have performed in Illinois since then, with J-Hope headlining Lollapalooza in 2022, and both J-Hope and SUGA performing at Allstate Arena during separate tours in 2025 and 2023, respectively.