On a cold, slightly drizzling Monday, fans lined up in anticipation for the free Spotify X BTS: SWIMSIDE event, hosted at The Rooftop at Pier 17 in New York City. The event was designed as a collaboration to promote BTS’s latest album ARIRANG, released on March 20th, 2026. Since its release, ARIRANG has received almost universal acclaim by prominent publications, and critics and fans alike have praised the album.
Identified as the top 1% of BTS listeners in the NYC area, the waiting fans were sent invites from Spotify a few days in advance of the exclusive event. The location was kept secret until approximately 11 AM the morning of the event. By the time check-in rolled around at 5:30 PM, hundreds of people were queued at the venue, some having braved several hours in the elements.
A Rooftop Experience to Remember
Once at the rooftop, fans could get event merch (including a baseball cap and stickers commemorating the event), snacks, and non-alcoholic drinks, all complimentary to attendees. A nice perk, the rooftop was littered with backgrounds where fans can take pictures for social media.
Once the time arrived, BTS entered the stage to thunderous cheers. Moderated by Suki Waterhouse, the interview included questions ranging from intimate to light-hearted. Waterhouse was a great choice as the interviewer. She had great rapport with the members, and the seven men were at ease during the conversation. Members responded in English and Korean throughout the session. The dedicated translator’s Korean-to-English translations left much to be desired, at times only briefly summarizing a member’s heartfelt answer. While this didn’t go unnoticed, it didn’t sour the mood or enthusiasm of the crowd, who showed their support through cheers throughout the interview.
Spotify X BTS:SWIMSIDE Event
Then there was a segment of the interview where members were given paddles. One side signifying that a member found something to be “alien”. The other representing that they found something to be “normal,” references to the tracks on the new album.
It was entertaining to see how members would tease each other for their responses as well as heartwarming to see how they have grown since debut. Throughout the night the crowd was imbued with ecstasy, joy, and endearment for the band.
Anticipation Builds Before the Performance
There was a brief intermission between the interview and the performance. While BTS was preparing for their first performance in the US since 2022, organizers played the whole ARIRANG album. However, they didn’t play the tracks the group was to perform next. The album had been out for less than a week, yet fans were singing along, almost word-for-word for some songs. Once the last track “Into the Sun” concluded, BTS returned to the stage! The group performed “2.0,” “NORMAL,” and their title track “SWIM.” The performances served as a sneak peak to show fans at this Spotify event of what’s to come on tour, kicking off on April 9th.
Article and Photo by Rachel Bui
