BTS draws French president to Paris concert ahead of World Cup halftime show

French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron attended the recent BTS concert at the Stade de France in Paris. The presidential couple watched the performance from the stands during the European finale of the band's world tour. Their appearance on the stadium screens drew significant cheers from the crowd as the couple held official BTS light sticks. The French leader posted a welcome message on social media to commemorate the event.

This attendance marks a moment of diplomatic significance during the 140th anniversary of Korea and France relations. Brigitte Macron has shown public interest in K-pop in the past. During a state visit to Korea this April, the French First Lady received gifts including signed CDs from K-pop artists. Her grandchildren are also known fans of the genre.

The two-day Paris event attracted 92,000 spectators on the first night alone. This high attendance follows the continued success of the band's music, with their fifth studio album tracks maintaining strong positions on global streaming charts. The album lead track stayed in the top 10 for over three weeks.

Following the Paris shows, the group traveled to New Jersey for the 2026 FIFA World Cup final halftime performance. They are scheduled to share the stage with artists including Madonna, Shakira, and Justin Bieber. This event marks the first time a concert of this scale is part of a World Cup final match. The match features Spain competing against Argentina for the trophy.