After 20 years of music, memories, iconic performances and many songs that have permanently lived in our heads, BIGBANG is bringing their XX : COSMOS World Tour to the Oakland Coliseum for two nights only: Friday, September 4 and Saturday, September 5, 2026.
Whether you're flying in for the show, road-tripping with your fellow VIPs, or lucky enough to have tickets to both nights, consider this your unofficial itinerary for a BIGBANG weekend in Oakland, complete with Korean food, late-night karaoke, K-pop shopping, coffee, brunch and the easiest ways to get around.
Friday: Fuel up before BIGBANG
Start with dinner
If Friday is your concert night, give yourself plenty of time to eat before heading to the Oakland Coliseum. The Town has a thriving Korean food scene, with options ranging from elevated Korean-Californian cooking to classic Korean barbecue.
For an elevated sit-down meal, make your way to JooDooBoo, an Oakland favorite focused on house-made tofu and fresh banchan with a California twist. The restaurant is open Friday evening from 4:30–8 p.m. so it can work nicely for an early dinner before the show.
VIP tip: JooDooBoo does not take reservations, so plan accordingly and leave yourself plenty of time to get to the Oakland Coliseum.
Craving Korean barbecue instead? Mugunghwa is a great choice for a classic, hearty meal, while Don Blanc, located in Koreana Plaza, is another option for Korean BBQ before the concert.
Or make it a pre-concert drink
If a full dinner isn't part of the plan, head To The Moon, a Korean-style pub where you can grab a drink and a bite before making your way to the show. Just keep an eye on the clock. You don't want to be the VIP who hears the opening notes from the parking lot.
BIGBANG's Oakland concerts start at 8 p.m., with doors opening at 6 p.m. Give yourself extra time to arrive, especially if you're meeting friends, picking up merchandise or planning to take photos before the show.
Oakland Coliseum's current guidelines prohibit backpacks and large bags, so check the venue's A-Z guide before heading out to make sure what you're bringing is allowed.
After the Concert: Don't let the night end
The lights come up. Your heart is full. Your voice is gone. Naturally, you’ll want to keep the night going. Head to Dan Sung Sa for late-night Korean food and drinks. It's the kind of place that makes sense when you're not quite ready to go home and you're still processing everything that just happened.
Still have a voice? Prove it.
If you somehow still have a voice after a BIGBANG concert, Jaguar Karaoke is calling. Grab your friends, pick your songs and see how long you can last.
Where to Stay: Sleep, Recharge, Repeat
After a night of dancing, singing and taking over a thousand videos of the concert, you'll want somewhere comfortable to recharge. If you're traveling to Oakland for the weekend, the Holiday Inn & Suites Oakland - Airport is a convenient home base near the Oakland Coliseum and Oakland International Airport. For options near Embarcadero, you can check out the Executive Inn & Suites.
Looking for more options? Check out all of our Oakland hotels and make sure to take advantage of our Stay One Night, Uber on Us deal.
Saturday: Coffee, Brunch & K-POP
Whether you went to Friday's show or you're getting ready for Saturday night, Saturday is your chance to slow down and explore a little more of Oakland.
Start with coffee at Olivia Coffee & Flower
Ease into the morning at Olivia Coffee & Flower, a cozy Oakland café pairing specialty coffee with a beautiful floral atmosphere. It's a great stop for coffee and pastries before a day of exploring, especially if you're looking for somewhere that feels a little different from your standard coffee run.
Or go all in on brunch
For a bigger Saturday morning meal, head to Kitchen Story in Rockridge. Known for its creative brunch menu and Asian-inspired dishes, it's a solid choice when you need to refuel after a very long night. Give yourself some extra time, weekend brunch here can get busy.
After Brunch: Time to go shopping
What's a K-pop weekend without a little merch hunting? Head to KPOP Nation, an East Bay K-pop shop on Telegraph Avenue, where you can browse albums, photocards, fan merchandise and other K-pop collectibles. It's also a good place to look for those last-minute concert essentials you suddenly realized you forgot.
PC: KPOP Nation
For even more Korean and Asian groceries, snacks and ingredients, head over to KP Asian Market in Oakland's Koreatown area. This is your chance to stock up on Korean snacks for the hotel room, because no one said the BIGBANG weekend had to be nutritionally balanced.
Saturday Night: Round Two
If you have tickets to Saturday's BIGBANG show, congratulations. You get to do it all over again. Grab dinner before the concert at Pyeong Chang Tofu House, a longtime Oakland spot for comforting Korean dishes and tofu stew.
Or check out Moo Bong Ri, where hearty Korean soups, stews and shareable dishes make it another great option for fueling up before another night at the Oakland Coliseum. Then make your way back to the Coliseum, because round two is about to begin.
BIGBANG Oakland Concert Quick Facts
What: BIGBANG 2026–2027 WORLD TOUR
Where: Oakland Arena, 7000 Coliseum Way, Oakland, CA
When: Friday, September 4 & Saturday, September 5, 2026
Concert: 8 p.m. both nights
Doors: 6 p.m. both nights
Getting there: BART, AC Transit, rideshare or driving
BART: Coliseum Station
Fandom: V.I.P
Why Oakland: Korean food, K-pop culture, nightlife, music and plenty to do before and after the show
Planning to attend? Check the Oakland Coliseum website and BIGBANG's official tour information for the latest event, transportation, entry and venue updates before you go.
