Cortis wraps successful North American tour as group marks first debut anniversary
K-pop boy group Cortis wrapped up its 2026 North American tour on a high note, with all shows selling out immediately as the group capped its six-city run in San Francisco on Aug. 15 and 16.
The “Put Your Phone Down” tour took the five-member group to Toronto, New York, Atlanta, Irving, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, giving fans a chance to see Cortis up close just days before the group marked its first debut anniversary on Aug. 18.
True to the tour’s title, Cortis encouraged fans to put their phones down and be fully present during the performances. The members took that idea quite literally, stepping off the stage and performing alongside the crowd, while the PYPD app captured the energy and movement generated during the shows.
The members also made each stop its own experience. In Irving, for instance, they took the stage in cowboy hats, a nod to Texas that quickly made its way onto social media.
The tour came shortly after Cortis’ Lollapalooza Chicago debut on Aug. 1, where the group performed before an estimated 50,000 people despite the rain.
The busy North American run capped a remarkable first year for Cortis.
Since debuting, the group has become the fastest K-pop act to reach 15 million followers on Instagram. It has also amassed 16.3 million followers on TikTok and 6.3 million YouTube subscribers, the highest figures among K-pop boy groups that debuted within the past five years.
The group’s 14 released tracks have also accumulated 1.1 billion Spotify streams as of Aug. 13, while its second mini-album “GREENGREEN” climbed 75 spots on the Billboard 200, from No. 114 to No. 39 in its 13th week on the chart.
With their first year already packed with milestones, the members took the occasion of their debut anniversary to thank the fans who helped them get there.
Martin said the year passed so quickly that the anniversary “doesn't feel real,” adding that he feels he has grown both as an artist and as a person.
“I am truly grateful to Coer, the members, and the staff at the company for staying with me so I wouldn't lose my strength,” he said. “It is a great happiness and a stroke of luck, and I am thinking the most that I need to work even harder in the future.”
James echoed that sentiment, saying everything moved so quickly that he reached the anniversary before he realized it.
“It still doesn't feel real. I will work hard to repay the immense love I have received over the past year,” he said.
For Juhoon, reaching the first anniversary was something the group could celebrate because of Coer, Cortis’ fandom.
“When we first debuted, many things were uncertain. Thanks to the Coer who always believed in us, we were able to fill the past year with good memories,” he said, promising to show fans “an even more mature version” of Cortis in its second year.
Seonghyeon also looked back on a year filled with milestones and memories, saying the first anniversary would not have held the same meaning without the fans.
“This is just the beginning, so please stay with us with this same great momentum!” he said.
Keonho, meanwhile, admitted that he is not usually the type to celebrate anniversaries, but said Cortis’ first year was different.
“I think our first debut anniversary holds great significance,” he said, thanking everyone who supported the group from its formation through its first year. He ended his message simply: “And Coers, I love you.”