The members of BTS met on Wednesday (May 6) with Mexico‘s president Claudia Sheinbaum at the National Palace. From one of the balconies of the presidential headquarters, the K-pop superband greeted about 50,000 people who had gathered in the Zócalo square, according to figures from the capital’s government.
Addressing the crowd gathered in the country’s main public square, the South Korean band delivered messages in Spanish and English to their fandom, known as ARMY, sparking applause, smiles and even tears. Under intense heat, their local fans waited for hours ahead of the three concerts they are set to perform starting Thursday (May 7) in the capital as part of their ARIRANG tour.
BTS spent only five minutes on the balcony, but it was enough time to fulfill the dream of many who longed to see their idols up close.
The members of BTS greet ARMY from a balcony of the National Palace in Mexico City, on May 6, 2026.
YURI CORTEZ / AFP via Getty Images
RM was the first to take the microphone to express his gratitude for the love from their Mexican fans in a brief message. “Muchas gracias for having us,” he said in a mix of Spanish and English. “We can’t wait for tomorrow’s concert on stage. Let’s have fun together! Te amo. Te quiero, Muchas gracias.”
“Hello. I don’t speak Spanish very well, but I will try,” V said. “I’ve missed you. We’ve missed Mexico so much. The energy here is incredible. Thank you so much for loving us so much. See you next time. Goodbye,” he added, reading the message in Spanish from his phone.
The band appeared impressed by the turnout in the Constitution Plaza (the official name of the Zócalo). The group members, dressed in elegant beige and navy-blue suits, tried to capture the energy and euphoria of their fans with their phones’ cameras.
“I already told them that they have to come back next year,” Sheinbaum said in a very brief message to the crowd, voicing the wish of many to see BTS perform in a free concert at the Zócalo.
Later, the Mexican president posted a message on her social media accompanied by a photograph with the seven members of the K-pop giant. “I warmly welcome one of the most beloved groups among the youth of Mexico: BTS,” she wrote. “Music and values unite Mexico and South Korea.”
Sheinbaum’s invitation to BTS to the presidential headquarters sparked a wave of criticism from some members of ARMY on social media, who asked the Mexican leader not to politicize the group’s visit.
BTS returned to Mexico to perform three concerts at the GNP Seguros Stadium this Thursday (May 7), Saturday (May 9) and Sunday (May 10). For these sold-out shows, promoter Ocesa reported selling over 136,000 tickets.
Sheinbaum has embraced the desire of ARMY Mexico members after tickets for BTS’s three concerts sold out in less than an hour. Through a letter, the president asked her South Korean counterpart, Lee Jae Myung, for more concerts in the country, as she revealed herself on January 26. Three weeks later, she announced that the South Korean government responded saying it had forwarded the request to HYBE, the company managing the supergroup.
