Although there have been some improvements to the ticketing system for an upcoming K-pop concert, it seems local organisers are still struggling when it comes to selecting suitable dates (and venues) for these events. As announced yesterday (Monday, 8th September), boy group ATEEZ (에이티즈) will be bringing their “In Your Fantasy” world tour to Kuala Lumpur next year.
At first, Malaysian fans were delighted to hear that the idols would finally be performing at their own concert in the country. However, excitement soon turned to disappointment once the concert date was revealed. Here’s why:
According to the announcement, ATEEZ’s KL concert is set for 22nd March 2026, on a Sunday. At first glance, some might assume fans were disappointed because they had hoped for a Saturday show, but that is not the case. The real issue is that the date falls on the second or third day of Hari Raya Aidilfitri, which has understandably upset many Muslim fans.
Dozens took to Twitter to urge Live Nation Malaysia, the organiser, to reconsider the date, asking that the concert be postponed so they could attend. Others criticised the decision, accusing the organiser of prioritising foreign fans, citing past examples such as BIGBANG’s Daesung’s show in Genting, which took place on Hari Raya Haji. Some lightened the mood by joking that fans should turn up in their Raya outfits and bring along ketupat to share with everyone, and the idols.
At the time of writing, Live Nation Malaysia has yet to respond to fans’ concerns. As ATEEZ’s concert is not scheduled until next year, there is still time for the organiser and the group’s management to adjust the date, and hopefully a suitable venue, so local fans can fully enjoy the show. Hopefully, this will prevent a repeat of the controversy that surrounded G-Dragon’s concert earlier this year.
