BTS fever grips Lima ahead of first-ever Peru concerts

BTS is set to perform its first concerts in Peru starting Wednesday, with the group’s arrival prompting a series of citywide events in Lima ranging from a temporarily renamed street to landmark illuminations.

The group is set to perform at Estadio San Marcos on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday as part of the South American leg of its “Arirang” world tour.

Ahead of the concerts, the Santiago de Surco district decided to temporarily rename a street “Avenida BTS” — “BTS Avenue” in English — until Sunday, installing signs around the street to mark the occasion.

Other parts of the city are also joining the welcome. The Arco Morisco at Parque de la Amistad in Surco was lit in purple on Monday and is set to host a nightly light show dedicated to BTS through Sunday.

A BTS-themed program is also being held at the Fuento de la Fantasia inside Lima’s Circuito Magico del Agua, combining music, lighting and water-screen displays over the same period.

The group’s visit has also drawn attention from Peru’s tourism sector. Peru Travel, the country’s official tourism website, highlighted the concerts as an opportunity to introduce visiting fans to local food, culture and attractions, including destinations beyond Lima such as Paracas and Machu Picchu.

According to Peru's export and tourism promotion agency, PromPeru, more than 521,000 people lined up for a chance to snag tickets to BTS' Lima shows. While exact ticket numbers for each night are not publicly known, the three concerts are expected to draw between 96,000 and 156,000 people in total. Fans are also organizing what has been billed as South America’s first BTS tribute drone show at Lima’s Costa Verde, a coastal strip known for its beaches and cliffs.

The Lima dates follow BTS’ opening South American concerts in Bogota on Oct. 2 and 3, where the group performed for a combined audience of around 100,000 at Estadio El Campin.

Lima is the second stop on the South American leg of BTS’ “Arirang” world tour. Following its three shows in the Peruvian capital, the group will head to Santiago, Buenos Aires and Sao Paulo.