BTS 2020 Map of the Soul world tour cancelled

The band's label Big Hit made the announcement citing 'changing circumstances beyond our control'

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  BTS through the years: the K-pop band at the Korean Culture Convention (K-Con), held at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena on August 10, 2014. AFP

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  Members of BTS arrive on the red carpet for K-Con 2014. AFP

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  BTS on the red carpet for the Asia Artist Awards in Seoul on November 16, 2016. AFP

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  Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V and JungKook of BTS at Music Choice in New York City on March 22, 2017. Getty

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  BTS perform Fake Love at the Billboard Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on May 20, 2018. AP

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  BTS accept the Top Social Artist award at the Billboard Music Awards on May 20, 2018. Reuters

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  BTS attend the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly on September 24, 2018. AP

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  BTS perform during a Korean cultural event in Paris as part of the South Korean president's official visit to France on October 14, 2018. AFP

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  BTS on the red carpet at the Mnet Asian Music Awards in Hong Kong on December 14, 2018. AP

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  BTS at the Seoul Music Awards on January 15, 2019. Getty

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  BTS present the award for Best R&B Album during the 61st Grammy Awards on February 10, 2019, in Los Angeles. AFP

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  BTS perform on Saturday Night Live on April 11, 2019. Getty

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  BTS before rehearsals for KBS 2TV's Music Bank in Yeouido, Seoul, on April 19, 2019. Getty

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  BTS perform at concert to promote 18th Fina World Championships at a stadium in Gwangju, South Korea on April 28, 2019. EPA

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  BTS and Halsey performing Boy With Luv at the Billboard Music Awards on May 1, 2019. Reuters

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  BTS attend Youth Day at the Presidential Blue House in Seoul on September 19, 2020. Reuters

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  BTS present a purple gift box to President Moon Jae-in during the inaugural Youth Day event in Seoul on September 19, 2020. EPA

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  BTS on the red carpet during the annual Mama Awards at Nagoya Dome in Nagoya, Japan, on December 4, 2019. Reuters

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  BTS at the 34st annual Golden Disk Awards ceremony in Seoul on January 4, 2020. EPA

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  BTS arrive at the 62nd annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on January 26, 2020. AP

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  BTS visit the Today Show at Rockefeller Plaza in New York City on February 21, 2020. AFP

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  BTS give an address as part of the YouTube Originals Dear Class of 2020 speeches. YouTube Originals

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  BTS performing as part of the YouTube Originals Dear Class of 2020 speeches. YouTube Originals

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  BTS perform 'Dynamite' during the MTV Video Music Awards on August 30, 2020. Reuters

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  BTS accept the award for Best Pop Video for 'On' during the MTV Video Music Awards on August 30, 2020. AP

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  BTS arrives to security check-in at the United Nations headquarters during the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York on September 20, 2021. AFP

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  V, Suga, Jin, Jungkook, RM, Jimin and J-Hope of BTS arrive at the 2021 American Music Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California on November 21, 2021. Reuters

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  BTS accepts the award for artist of the year at the American Music Awards in 2021 at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. AP

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  Jin, Suga, V, Jungkook, RM, Jimin, and J-Hope of BTS hold their award for the Favourite Pop Song, Favourite Duo or Group and Artist of the Year awards during the 2021 American Music Awards. Reuters

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  BTS pose on red carpet of iHeartRadio Jingle Ball concert in California on December 3, 2021. Reuters

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  BTS perform at Jamsil Olympic Park in southern Seoul, South Korea on March 10, 2022. EPA

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  BTS pose on red carpet of 64th Annual Grammy Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on April 3, 2022. Reuters

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  BTS perform Butter during 64th Annual Grammy Awards show in Las Vegas, Nevada on April 3, 2022. Reuters

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  BTS Permission to Dance concert in Las Vegas on April 10, 2022. Photo: Big Hit Music

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  Members of BTS join Karine Jean-Pierre, White House press secretary, centre, during a news conference at the White House in Washington DC on May 31, 2022. Photo: Oliver Contreras / Sipa / Bloomberg

It was one of the most anticipated musical events but nearly a year after it was supposed to have ended, K-pop boy band BTS have officially announced the cancellation of their 2020 Map of the Soul world tour.

The tour was originally postponed because of the pandemic but after more delays and rising cases owing to the Delta variant, the group’s label, Big Hit Music, announced the cancellation.

“Our company has worked hard to resume preparations for the BTS Map of the Soul tour, knowing that all fans have been waiting eagerly and long for the tour,” said the agency.

Scroll through our gallery above to see BTS through the years.

“However, due to changing circumstances beyond our control, it has become difficult to resume performances at the same scale and timeline as previously planned. Therefore we must announce the cancellation of the BTS Map of the Soul tour.”

The 39-date tour was originally planned to begin in Seoul in April 2020 and continue until September, with stops in Asia, Europe and North America. There were no dates announced for the Middle East.

However, Covid cases are on the rise again in South Korea. BTS live in Seoul where social distancing rules are at a Level 4, the highest possible level, which limits gatherings of more than two people after 6pm.

Although the group has not been able to leave the country, they’ve still found ways to stay connected to their fans through online interactions. In addition to web series In the Soop and Run BTS!, they’ve still been able to perform for award shows from the South Korean capital and have also hosted live events online.

The first was a concert called Bang Bang Con: the Live in June 2020, followed by another live-streamed concert called Map of the Soul ON:E in October. Then in June 2021, to celebrate their eighth anniversary, the group hosted BTS 2021 Muster Sowoozoo, a two-day event that featured performances and live interactions.

Presumably, BTS will continue to fill the void left by the cancelled tour in other ways. Big Hit said: “We are working to prepare a viable schedule and performance format that can meet your expectations, and we will provide updated notices as soon as possible.”