McDonald's Partnered with BTS For the Second Time on New Meal
Colin Smith — August 20, 2025 — Business
References: nrn
McDonald’s will launch the TinyTAN Happy Meal in September, marking its second collaboration with the Grammy-nominated K-pop group BTS since the original BTS Meal in 2021. The 2021 promotion featured a 10-piece Chicken McNuggets, medium fries, a medium Coke and two dipping sauces, Sweet Chili and Cajun, drawn from McDonald’s South Korea menu, and was offered across multiple global markets. For the new partnership, each Happy Meal will include one of two collectible TinyTAN toy sets: the Throwback Edition, showcasing characters in their 2021 BTS Meal promotional outfits, and the Encore Edition, debuting fresh looks that nod to the latest campaign. The Encore toys become available starting September 23, while the initial wave launches on September 3.
Each TinyTAN Happy Meal box incorporates a QR code that, when scanned, generates popular BTS tracks for an enhanced digital experience, bridging the physical and virtual realms of fandom. To celebrate the rollout, McDonald’s will host a “Magic Meetup” on September 27 and 28 at nya West in Los Angeles, offering fans an immersive, multisensory event featuring music, games and themed Happy Meal activations. This release follows a series of recent McDonald’s collaborations such as Hello Kitty and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Happy Meals in August, “Lil McDonald’s” mini toy sets in July, and adult-oriented offerings like the McDonaldland and Minecraft meals, demonstrating the chain’s ongoing strategy to leverage pop culture partnerships for customer engagement and sales growth.
Image Credit: McDonald's, TinyTan
Each TinyTAN Happy Meal box incorporates a QR code that, when scanned, generates popular BTS tracks for an enhanced digital experience, bridging the physical and virtual realms of fandom. To celebrate the rollout, McDonald’s will host a “Magic Meetup” on September 27 and 28 at nya West in Los Angeles, offering fans an immersive, multisensory event featuring music, games and themed Happy Meal activations. This release follows a series of recent McDonald’s collaborations such as Hello Kitty and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Happy Meals in August, “Lil McDonald’s” mini toy sets in July, and adult-oriented offerings like the McDonaldland and Minecraft meals, demonstrating the chain’s ongoing strategy to leverage pop culture partnerships for customer engagement and sales growth.
Image Credit: McDonald's, TinyTan
Trend Themes
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Cultural Collaborations — Fast-food chains increasingly collaborate with global pop icons, creating unique offerings that tap into the artists' huge fanbases and foster international cultural connections.
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Enhanced Collectible Experience — The use of QR codes in meal promotions introduces a digital layer that enhances the collectible experience with music and exclusive content, blending physical products and digital fandom.
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Immersive Fan Events — Experiential events like the 'Magic Meetup' offer fans multisensory engagement opportunities that go beyond traditional promotional strategies, fostering deeper brand loyalty and interaction.
Industry Implications
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Fast-food Industry — The fast-food sector is capitalizing on celebrity collaborations to craft unique marketing campaigns that drive brand differentiation and consumer interest.
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Music Industry — The music business is seeing innovative cross-promotional strategies as artists partner with major brands to expand their presence and engage fans beyond traditional music platforms.
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Toys and Collectibles Industry — The integration of collectible toys in meal offerings is transforming how brands interact with consumers, offering endless avenues for creating bespoke, limited-edition items with cultural resonance.
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