BTS closed the first night of the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Festival at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on September 18, bringing all seven members to the stage for a four-song performance that mixed new material from ARIRANG with a familiar hit from the group's earlier catalog.
RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook performed “SWIM,” “2.0,” “MIC Drop” and “FYA” in that order. Three songs came from ARIRANG, while “MIC Drop” took the audience back to the group's 2017 release Love Yourself: Her.
The performance opened with “SWIM,” the lead single from ARIRANG, before moving into “2.0.” After briefly addressing the audience, BTS performed “MIC Drop” and finished with “FYA,” accompanied by fire imagery across the stage screens and bursts of flames during the finale.
The group had the closing slot on Friday's multi-genre lineup, which also featured Kenny Chesney, Weezer, Goo Goo Dolls, Cardi B and Zara Larsson.
BTS iHeartRadio Music Festival 2026 Setlist: Four Songs, Three from ARIRANG
BTS used most of its limited festival stage time to showcase its 2026 album. With only four songs in the set, the selection placed the group's newer material at the center of the performance.
“SWIM” opened the show, followed immediately by “2.0.” The lead single had already reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, giving the opening song a notable connection to the U.S. music market.
“MIC Drop” was the only selection from the group's earlier catalog. Originally released on Love Yourself: Her in 2017, it provided a familiar moment between two tracks from ARIRANG.
The complete BTS setlist was:
- SWIM
- 2.0
- MIC Drop
- FYA
The final song brought the performance to a fiery conclusion. According to iHeartRadio's coverage, flames appeared on the screens and bursts of fire lit up the stage as BTS finished “FYA.”
What Is the iHeartRadio Music Festival?
The iHeartRadio Music Festival is an annual music event organized by iHeartMedia in Las Vegas. Its lineup brings together performers from different genres, including pop, hip-hop, rock and country.
The 2026 edition took place on September 18 and 19 at T-Mobile Arena. Alongside BTS, the two-day festival featured Cardi B, Snoop Dogg, Benson Boone, Kenny Chesney, Muse, Weezer, The Smashing Pumpkins, Ciara, Lainey Wilson, Zara Larsson, Goo Goo Dolls and Major Lazer.
LE SSERAFIM also appeared at the festival, performing on the second night.
The event extends beyond the arena through iHeartMedia's broadcasting network. Both nights were carried live by iHeartMedia radio stations across more than 150 U.S. markets, while Disney+ and Hulu served as the festival's official livestreaming platforms.
That distribution allowed audiences outside Las Vegas to follow performances from a lineup spanning several generations and styles of popular music.
BTS Beyond the Main Stage
BTS also had a presence outside T-Mobile Arena through the iHeartRadio House of Music, an interactive experience set up near the venue.
The installation included a BTS-themed room inspired by “SWIM.” Its interactive pool gave visitors a way to engage with the song's imagery beyond the main-stage performance.
Other artist-inspired spaces included experiences connected to Cardi B, Kenny Chesney and Zara Larsson.
Inside the arena, BTS had the final performance of Friday's program. The group's four-song set ended with “FYA,” closing a night that had moved through country, rock, hip-hop and pop.
The festival continued on September 19 with performances by Benson Boone, LE SSERAFIM, Muse, The Smashing Pumpkins, Lainey Wilson, Ciara and Snoop Dogg, among others. Major Lazer also performed at the House of Music after the main-stage program.
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