K-pop has now exploded around the world but BIGBANG have well and truly established themselves as the OG K-pop group. Reforming after their various solo exploits, which saw G-Dragon sell out two shows at Qudos Bank Arena (now Afterpay Arena) by himself last year, with Daesung and Taeyang also performing solo gigs in Sydney in the past few years, it was incredibly exciting to see the three members reunite for this Australian-exclusive show at Accor Stadium.

The level of demand for this concert was incredibly high as evidenced by the fact that they sold out the massive stadium, which was teeming with anticipation. The show was high energy from the beginning as the three remaining members of the group entered with “Fantastic Baby”, which is arguably the quintessential K-pop song and a perfect way to kick things off. Their dancing was impeccable, their singing was strong and the energy in the room was like nothing I have ever experienced. There was just such joy and an incredible atmosphere throughout the stadium, as the whole crowd sang back the words with a real power and energy that felt very special. With everybody standing, the energy continued with “Hands Up” and “Tonight” before the whole crowd was lit up with the band’s blue lightsticks for “Blue”.

“Thank you for waiting for us,” they said to their adoring fans.

The three members divided up the arrangements quite well and showed off exceptional stage presence throughout, with each bringing something different to the group. The energy lifted again for “Bad Boy” and “Haru Haru”, with the latter’s slowed-down arrangement feeling like a particularly special moment in the arena. While some of the songs in this first section were shortened, it did not matter with the crowd clearly enjoying the opportunity to hear their idols perform them live.

The second section slowed things down a bit, with each member performing selected numbers from their solo catalogues. In this regard, Daesung started with “Universe” before dancing into the crowd with “Wings”, while Taeyang also came out with some of his solo material showcasing his vocal abilities and presence. G-Dragon then performed “POWER”, “CRAYON” and “Crooked”, which really brought the energy back to the crowd. It was nice to see them both in their elements as solo artists but also as a cohesive group as they nailed both.

There were some close calls with lightning threatening to disrupt the show at many points. The band said that if there was one more lightning strike, the show would have had to be postponed or cancelled but the crowd was still having a blast despite the rain. It was a testament to just how much people wanted to be there and how much the occasion meant to the fans and a stroke of luck that we got through the concert unscathed.

For their third act, they performed some of their biggest hits as the group, with “BANG BANG BANG” having the whole audience up and dancing and singing along. This was accompanied by “WE LIKE 2 PARTY”, “BAE BAE” and “HOME SWEET HOME”, keeping the energy levels high. The group then performed an extended encore, with a lot of talking, which did drag out the night a little bit and resulted in many people leaving early. Ultimately, though, it did not matter, with “My Heaven”, “Sunset Glow” and “Last Farewell” all featuring before they closed out with “Flower Road” and “Still Life”, incorporating the vocals of former member T.O.P., whose parts played through the screen. It was a particularly fitting way to finish the concert and a great night of music.

Overall, this was a fantastic show which really demonstrated just how exciting K-pop is. It was so fun and powerful while also showing off the incredible stage presence and individual talents of all three members. This just felt like the perfectly curated and executed set and clearly the audience felt the same. A superlative concert and a triumphant return to Australian stages.

Rating: ★★★★★

BIGBANG – Accor Stadium – 31 October 2026

Photo credit: BIGBANG