BTS FESTA 2026: 20130613 Congratulations BTS 🎉

(Image source: BTS Weverse)

HAPPY 13TH BIRTHDAY, BTS!!! You're officially a teenager!

This is my 9th FESTA, and to celebrate, my friend Iris and I went to the theatre to watch the ARIRANG World Tour in Busan Live Viewing, which was AMAZING (they played "Dimple," "Ddaeng," AND "Magic Shop" for BTS Karaoke tonight!!!) except for girl sitting behind us who quite literally SCREECHED LIKE A BANSHEE every time Jungkook came on the screen. (I get that you're excited and I agree that Jungkook is a delicious specimen of a man, but please save your voice for an actual live concert, not a live viewing of a concert at a theatre because YOUR VOICE DOES NOT GET DROWNED OUT IN A THEATRE.) Oh, and Iris also got me a pack of the BTS x Oreo cookies, which taste exactly like brown sugar boba with a hint of maple and are delicious AF (and I have to limit myself to one per day because WOW THAT IS A LOT OF SUGAR). They're supposed to taste like hotteok, which is slightly nuttier and more cinnamon-based, but hey, close enough. 

HAPPY FESTA, EVERYONE!

BTS FESTA 2026: BTS Dinner Party 2.0

I can't believe it's already been 4 years. Their last FESTA dinner together was bittersweet and emotional and marked the end of an era. That having been said, I think they've been able to explore who they are outside the comfort of their group, and really grown up as independent people, artists, and musicians. And now that they're back together, BTS 2.0 is stronger than ever and taking over the world once again as if they'd never left. I am so glad I stayed on this roller coaster with them.

BTS FESTA 2026: Jungkook's NORMAL LOG

THE ORIGINAL MUSCLE PIG!

You know how people say, "Just watching you eat makes me full," and it's not true at all? Well, just watching them work out makes me fit.

BTS FESTA 2026: V's NORMAL LOG

This is why I could never be a celebrity. Or, at least, someone that has to look good. Or be fit. Or need stamina. 

BTS FESTA 2026: Jimin's NORMAL LOG

Further proof that packing is a universally hated task. I hate packing even for a weekend trip, so I can't even imagine having to pack for a world tour. Apparently it doesn't matter how rich and famous you are or how many assistants or managers you have. They won't help you pack, either. 

BTS FESTA 2026: Jin's NORMAL LOG

"People are supposed to get healthier when they rest, so why do we have to work out to get healthier?"

Ah, Jin always asking the important questions.

BTS FESTA 2026: SUGA's NORMAL LOG

I love how Yoongi has become such a pure guitar nerd. Like, you can tell he would just love to start a YouTube channel showcasing guitar gear. That's all to say that I can't wait for a BTS rock side project… (Oh, and hey, Red Hot Chili Peppers.) 

BTS FESTA 2026: J-Hope's NORMAL LOG

Okay, the headband he puts on before washing his face is such a throwback to my teenage years. Even the way he looks at himself and scoffs at how ridiculous his hair looks with it on is accurate… 

Also, I'm pretty sure his "casual" outfit costs, like, half my annual income.

BTS FESTA 2026: RM's NORMAL LOG

Yes, I really did just watch Kim Namjoon read a book for six minutes. On that note, I wonder why he hasn't gotten laser eye surgery. I also have really high eye prescriptions and if I had the money, I would absolutely be getting it. Not to mention, it's a third of the price in Korea than it is here. Maybe his cornea is a weird shape...

BTS FESTA 2026: BTS — "Hooligan" Official Performance Video

It quietly snuck up past "Fake Love" and "ON," but I can safely say that the "Hooligan" aesthetic is officially my favourite now — across all members. I mean, these fits? In leather and metal?! Fucking GOD-TIER. 11/10, A+++, and a hundred gold stars to whoever styled them for this.

God, I cannot fucking wait to see this performance live in person.

BTS FESTA 2026: Family Portraits

(Image source: BTS Weverse)
(Image source: BTS Weverse)
(Image source: BTS Weverse)
(Image source: BTS Weverse)
(Image source: BTS Weverse)
(Image source: BTS Weverse)

It's been 4 years since we got family portraits. 🥹🥹🥹

BTS FESTA 2026: 13th Anniversary Timeline

(Image source: BTS Official X)

IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN! 

FESTA this year seems much more curated and streamlined — no more unreleased dance practice videos from 10 years ago or having Muster/concert streaming marathons (a.k.a. BANGBANGCON)… Maybe because they just had their comeback and they're currently on tour and they're doing a global livestream of their Busan concert for FESTA (and yes, we already bought tickets for the Live Viewing — June 13 falls on a Saturday this year!). I do hope we'll get a song for FESTA, though (we got "Ddaeng" in 2018, Jin's "Tonight" in 2019, Jungkook's "Still With You" in 2020, RM's "Bicycle" in 2021, Jungkook's "My You" in 2022, "Take Two" in 2023, Jungkook's "Never Let Go" in 2024). They didn't release one last year, sadly, but it'd be nice to get one this year now that they're all back together.

But they're finally (!!!) releasing "Come Over," which is the exclusive bonus track that Suga produced for the vinyl versions of ARIRANG — and actually one of my Top 5 songs from the album. I bought the vinyl just to support it, but did I still have to convert a bootleg lyric video to MP3 just so I could listen to it on my iPhone? Yes, yes, I did. (Felt like I was back in the early 2010s again…) But I'm glad we'll finally be able to listen to it properly on streaming platforms! 

HAPPY FESTA-ING!

BTS VLOG: V's Vlog — One Lucky Day

Okay, a few things:

1. It's legal to eat everything you want if it's for work!!! THIS IS GENIUS. Now I just need to find a steady, well-paying job in which my sole responsibility is to eat really delicious foods.
2. Even BTS struggles to get tickets out of those goddamn parking payment machines. At least he didn't have to get out of the car because his arm was too short to reach it... BUT STILL! THE MACHINES DO NOT DISCRIMINATE!
3. "Why did I drag myself outside?" Ah, yes, the eternal question. The world is disappointing for everyone, even BTS. THE WORLD DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE!
4. Does it really count as shopping if you're the brand ambassador and you don't have to pay for anything? 
5. I really need to go back to Korea if only to eat those insane slabs of samgyeopsal everyday.

BANGTAN BOMB: BTS Visits Mexico's National Palace

Over 50,000 ARMYs gathered outside Mexico's National Palace to see BTS for 5 minutes with less than a few hours' notice. I gotta say, Mexican ARMYs fucking showed up and showed out. I don't think they'll be able to fit in a visit to Ottawa to visit Mark Carney when they come up here in August, but they might make some time for Drake, right?

BTS at the 52nd American Music Awards: Artist of the Year Award + "Hooligan" Live Performance

Congratulations to BTS on winning Artist of the Year, Best Male K-Pop Artist, and Song of the Summer at the AMAs this year! At this rate, HYBE will have to get another trophy room for them...

BTS EPISODE: ARIRANG World Tour in Goyang Sketch

Namjoon: "Break a leg! But not like I did!"

This reminds me, I need to start praying to Mother Nature to keep it rain-free on the Toronto dates of the tour...

BTS EPISODE: ARIRANG North America Promotions Sketch

Out of nowhere, Yoongi: "Don't I look like a museum curator?"

BTS EPISODE: BTS The Comeback Live | ARIRANG Sketch

Can we just appreciate how absolutely monumental this production was, from planning to execution? How many staff members and government officials and lawyers had to get involved, how many permits and insurance policies and liability slips had to be obtained, how many people in sound and set and video production had to be hired, how many backup dancers they had to audition for the actual performance, how many people at Netflix they had to coordinate with to film and livestream this. And that's not even including the sheer number of days (months?) BTS spent rehearsing everything (and then even more days after Namjoon sprained his ankle and they had to find workarounds). Sorry, but there's no one else out there — K-pop, Western pop, or otherwise — who can officially (and legally) shut down a main district of a major metropolitan city to perform a free concert for hundreds of thousands of people in person (and livestreamed to millions of people globally).

This comeback was crazy. I don't know if we'll experience anything like that again.

Run BTS! 2.0: BTS' Trip Ep. 3 — The Great Foot Volleyball Showdown

To summarize the episode:

"Yah, your foot's got a little anger in it!" — Jungkook

"I laughed so hard, I'm all out of energy." — Jimin

It is always a good time when BTS plays foot volleyball.

Run BTS! 2.0: BTS' Trip Ep. 2 — You've never kneeled with your hands up for an hour, have you?

Jungkook: "How about this, then? Each member picks someone and shares an idea that suits them."

Taehyung: "Uh, even if that member doesn't want to do it?"

Jungkook: "Yep. You can only listen. Listen without saying a word."

Yoongi: "We're just suggesting ideas."

Jin: "For Jimin, I think climbing the Himalayas would suit him."

Jimin: [stunned silence]

Jungkook: "You can't say anything about it, Jimin."

Namjoon: "Oh, this is how it works?"

Taehyung: "For Yoongi, I say pole dancing."

[Everyone cracks up]

Yoongi: "That'd suit me very well."

Taehyung: "Apparently, it's great for your health."

Yoongi: "It gets your blood flowing right away."

Hoseok: "I'd like to see Jin have a really serious conversation."

Taehyung: "He's actually really serious when you talk to him one-on-one."

Yoongi: "It can be something like his thoughts on the AI industry."

Jin, looking exhausted: [pinches nose bridge]

Namjoon: "Right, or his thoughts on the current Korean society."

Hoseok: "Something very intellectual."

Jimin: "Wait a minute. But why is mine climbing the Himalayas?"

Namjoon: "If we want to make Hoseok suffer, it would have to be something like, 'wear the same outfit for a whole month.'"

Hoseok: [loudest groan ever]

Taehyung: "I'd have to say personal colour analysis for Jungkook."

Jungkook: "But I did want to try that!"

Taehyung: "He only ever wears black."

Namjoon: "So he can't wear black and has to wear red, blue, purple, and green."

Jungkook: [looking scandalized]

Jimin: "How about something like a stunt show for Jungkook?"

Namjoon: "Or finding something Jungkook can't do?"

Taehyung: "He actually can't do a lot of things."

Namjoon: "Like what?"

Jin: "Jungkook's scared of things like elevators breaking down."

Namjoon: "Ah… But I'm scared of that, too."

Yoongi: "Wouldn't anyone be scared of that?"

Jin: "No, I mean, he actually gets scared every time he rides an elevator."

Jimin: "Wait a minute, everyone. You're all giving such serious thought to each member, but for me, it's off to the Himalayas?"

Jin: "Namjoon's should be something like boxing against a professional boxer. And fight until he wins."

Yoongi: "So you're basically telling him to die."

Namjoon: "Hey, if you don't want me in the group anymore, just say so."

Jin: "He could win, though!"

Yoongi: "No, there's no way he can win."

Taehyung: "Can I share something I've been thinking about?"

Everyone: "Yeah, of course."

Taehyung: "So, the last time we kneeled with our hands up for an hour was in elementary school."

Yoongi: "That's too cruel."

Taehyung: "I really want to try it."

Namjoon: "They don't do that in schools anymore. It's against the law."

Jimin: "You know what? I'm going to sleep next to you."

Jin: "Jimin?"

Jimin: "Yes?"

Jin: "Do you hear yourself right now?"

Jimin: "But I love you, Jin."

Jin: "This has nothing to do with love."

Jimin: "C'mon, baby."

I'm not sure what route Run BTS! 2.0 is taking, but it's currently like Bon Voyage meets In the Soop meets a podcast and I'm totally here for it.