Tens of thousands of fans gathered at Singapore’s National Stadium on October 17 for BigBang’s concert, undeterred by heavy rain and the haze that enveloped the city. The concert, part of BigBang’s XX: Cosmos world tour celebrating their 20th anniversary, marked the group’s return to touring after a nine-year hiatus.

Despite air quality concerns, with the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) ranging from 129 to 196 and the one-hour PM2.5 concentration recorded between 101 and 199 shortly before the 7 p.m. start, attendees remained enthusiastic. Most fans opted not to wear face masks as they cheered on members G-Dragon, Taeyang, and Daesung during the first of two scheduled performances, with a second show set for October 18.

Among the attendees were sisters Tiffany, 28, and Emily Widjaja, 27, who traveled from Indonesia along with two friends specifically to see the group live. Both expressed surprise at the haze severity in Singapore, noting it was worse than in their home regions. Emily, who arrived from Samarinda in East Kalimantan—a site known for forest fires—said she did not expect Singapore to have denser haze. Tiffany, based in Jakarta, shared a similar observation about the unexpected conditions.

Locals and international visitors alike expressed mixed feelings about the environmental conditions. Singaporean fan Aqilah Sariman, 22, admitted she had concerns the concert might be canceled due to the poor air quality. Meanwhile, Long Li, a 30-year-old visitor from Beijing, was unfazed by the haze, comparing it to the more severe smog she frequently encounters in her home city.

Despite the challenging weather and air quality, the crowd’s excitement underscored the enduring popularity of BigBang and their significant return to the stage. The group’s performances drew fans intent on celebrating a milestone year and reconnecting with the artists after nearly a decade apart.