BTS will release a new album and launch a global tour in 2026, its agency HYBE confirmed, marking the official return of the K-pop supergroup after its members completed their mandatory military service.
The announcement was made during a livestream on Tuesday, the first time all seven members appeared together since 2022, which drew more than 7.3 million real-time views, according to HYBE.
The group is scheduled to fly to the United States this July to begin preparations for the album and tour. Group leader RM said the new album is set for release next spring, followed by a large-scale world tour.
This will be BTS’ first album since Proof in 2022, which sold nearly 3.5 million copies and became South Korea’s best-selling album that year.
The band had been on hiatus since late 2022 while fulfilling South Korea’s mandatory military service for men under 30. Despite calls for exemptions, the members enlisted individually over the past two years.
Before their break, the group generated over 5.5 trillion won ($4 billion) in annual economic impact, roughly 0.2 percent of South Korea’s GDP, and became the first K-pop act to top both the Billboard 200 and Billboard Artist 100 charts.
BTS remains the most-streamed group globally on Spotify. AFP
