Standing in the crowd in London on 26th September 2026, watching BIGBANG command the stage at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for the XX: Cosmos World Tour, felt entirely surreal. For many longtime fans, seeing the kings back where they belong wasn’t just another stadium stop on a massive world tour—it was a monumental celebration of a 20-year legacy that shaped the modern global landscape of K-pop.
To understand why this night meant so much, you have to wind the clock back to 2012. For me personally—and for anyone who has followed my writing, interviews, media coverage and content over the years—this group is where it all started. Back in 2012, right as the cultural phenomenon of “FANTASTIC BABY” took over the world, BIGBANG became the very first group that introduced me to K-pop. Without them, I wouldn’t be doing what I do today. They shattered the mould, defied every conventional idol label, and proved that Korean music could be avant-garde, boundary-pushing art.
Now, celebrating their milestone 20th anniversary alongside a landmark world tour, BIGBANG’s enduring cultural impact feels even more profound. Formed in 2006 under YG Entertainment, G-Dragon, Taeyang, and Daesung (alongside foundational milestones built with T.O.P) redefined what an idol group could be by taking creative control of their own destiny, producing their own records, and pioneering the hip-hop-infused sonic identity that laid the groundwork for today’s global Hallyu wave. From legendary anthems like “Lies” and “Haru Haru” to the cultural reset of the MADE series and their historic Coachella return, their discography remains unmatched.
If you want to dive deeper into the evolution of their timeless catalogue, the stories behind the tracks, and what makes their artistry so untouchable, you can check out my video podcast episode on Davide K-Talk, where I break down their journey from 2006 to today-ish (excluding the lastest digital single BiiiG).
The fire is far from out, and seeing them live in London proved that some legends don’t just stay in the history books—they keep writing them.
As soon as I stepped into the stadium, I could feel the anticipation and the excitement of all the VIPs waiting for BIGBANG to kickoff the show… and right on time at 7 PM sharp, the show started with an entertaining video that introduced Act I: BIGBANG. As soon as the first notes of “Fantastic Baby” started playing, the whole stadium started screaming and cheering. I can still feel the goosebumps while I’m writing this, just thinking about it. And there they appeared on stage, just a few metres away from where it all started… BIGBANG kicked off the show with a legit bang! Actually, with a BOOOM SHAKALAKA! Everyone was screaming, dancing, and screaming. It was just the first song, and I could already tell that we were in for a special treat!
The set continued with “Hands Up” and the iconic “Tonight”—these three songs made us feel like we were back in 2012. BIGBANG then switched the mood with “Blue” and the iconic “Loser,” followed by “If You.” The first act continued with “Bad Boy” and “Bae Bae,” which brought the energy right back up.
The group took a short break to interact with fans and introduced the fan-favourite “Haru Haru.” It was so heartwarming; the whole stadium was singing along with them. Since BIGBANG announced their 20th anniversary with this tour, “Haru Haru” has gone viral on social media—you might have seen it on your timeline as well! The first act then wrapped up with another masterpiece, “Lies,” which led straight into an interlude with a live band appearing on stage. That was such a nice surprise, and it totally made so much more sense of why the whole first act felt even better than anticipated: BIGBANG was accompanied by a live band!
Act II: CHAOS was all about solo stages. First in line was Daesung, who performed “Universe,” “Wings,” “Hando-Chogua,” and “Look at Me, Gwisun.” Daesung’s set was so fun; his personality shined through and really made our hearts feel lighter than ever. He gave us such good energy. Daesung feels like that one friend you can go to when you’re feeling down, there for you to give you a good laugh and make you feel better—that was the exact feeling after his solo stage. Between the songs, he also took a moment to chat with the fans and express how much he loves Queen and Freddie Mercury, even doing a little tribute to Freddie a cappella. It was insane!
Second in line, there he was… my favourite artist ever, Taeyang. Finally seeing him live felt like a full-circle moment for me and made me fall in love with his artistry even more. Taeyang kicked off with “Bad” from his latest album, QUINTESSENCE. The whole stage setup was incredible, just like in the “Bad” music video: he started singing, jumped on top of a dancer, and continued singing and dancing so smoothly. We were standing in front of a true king of talent! And I dare to say, a lot of recent idols take a lot of inspiration from Taeyang, and it shows. He is the one who led the way and set the perfect example of how an idol should perform. Taeyang then continued with the iconic “Ringa Linga” and his latest single, “Life Fast Die Slow,” which started slow and easy before diving into the electric, energetic track that it is! Taeyang’s stage felt a little too short, and I was surprised that “Eyes, Nose, Lips” was not included in the set… but that just leads to my next point: we need a Taeyang solo tour in the West as well! Come to London, Taeyang!
The king himself, G-Dragon, wrapped up the solo stages with “POWER,” “Crayon,” and “Crooked”—the most iconic tracks. I still remember how obsessed I was back in the day with “Crayon” and “Crooked” when they first came out, and seeing them performed live was mind-blowing!
After a short break, it was time for the final act: Act III: Cosmos, which kicked off with the extra-iconic “BANG BANG BANG.” If you were listening to K-pop back in 2015, you might be very familiar with this song, as it was the moment during that time—to the point that it is still loved and respected by fans and junior idols who keep covering it. “Stupid Liar” and “Sober” were up next, followed by “We Like 2 Party.” BIGBANG also took a moment to thank the fans for following them along their journey, talking about how much fun they had tonight and how happy they were to be back in London after 14 years.
Unfortunately, the show was coming to an end, but what a better way to close the main set than with their latest single, “BiiiG!” It was incredible! It definitely hit differently than the studio version, which I loved from the very beginning, but if you were wondering whether you might like it or not, the live version would have made you fall head over heels for this track!
We all know that a K-pop show ain’t a K-pop show without an encore… and what an encore that was! It was the king of all encores with a total of six songs! BIGBANG performed “Home Sweet Home,” “My Heaven,” “Sunset Glow,” “Last Farewell,” “Feeling,” and then officially closed the night with “Still Life.”
What else is left for me to say? BIGBANG performed like the amazing artists they are, even better than expected! The whole show was insane—fireworks, confetti, stage setups, a live band, dancers… the show had it all. And what made this even more special was G-Dragon, Taeyang, and Daesung’s energy and love for each other. We all know that they are talented artists, but what truly made this extra special were all the spontaneous interactions between songs and during the encore. It felt like three best friends having a good time with their fans; nothing felt forced or fake, which is what makes them even more loved by VIPs around the world.
It was an absolute pleasure to witness this show in London, which felt like a once-in-a-lifetime experience. But now, please spare us, BIGBANG—don’t let us wait another 14 years for another tour and reunion, please! We will be waiting for you.
