BTS Returns from Hiatus with New Album 'ARIRANG' and Multi-Continent World Tour

BTS returns from a four-year hiatus with the album "ARIRANG" and a massive world tour, marking the group's first activities since completing mandatory military service.

The comeback concert in Seoul drew hundreds of thousands of fans and millions of global viewers.

Group Hiatus and Military Service

All seven members of BTS—RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook—completed South Korea's mandatory military service, which requires able-bodied men aged 18 to 28 to perform 18-21 months of duty.

• Jin began his service in 2022.
• SUGA was the final member to be discharged in June 2025. He served as a social service agent due to a shoulder injury; the other six members served in the army.
• All seven members completed their service by 2025.
• During the group's hiatus, each member pursued solo music projects.

New Album: 'ARIRANG'

BTS's fifth studio album, "ARIRANG," was released in March 2026. The album shares its name with a traditional Korean folk song.

• The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, becoming the group's sixth No. 1 on that chart since 2020.
• HYBE reported nearly 4 million copies sold on its first day.
• Spotify reported that "ARIRANG" became the platform's most-streamed album in a single day in 2026 and set a new record as the most-streamed K-pop album in Spotify history.
• The album's single "SWIM" also reached top chart positions.

The album explores themes of identity and belonging. The 14-track album was recorded in Los Angeles over six months. It references Korean cultural elements, including the traditional folk ballad "Arirang" and the song "No. 29," which features a recording of Korea's 1,255-year-old Divine Bell of King Seongdeok.

Comeback Concert in Seoul

BTS held a free comeback concert, "BTS The Comeback Live | Arirang," on March 21, 2026, at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul. Gyeongbokgung Palace was integrated into the stage backdrop, marking the first time the historic palace was used for a pop concert. The concert was live-streamed globally on Netflix.

• An estimated 22,000 fans were granted designated seats. Additional thousands gathered in the square and adjacent areas.
• Attendance figures varied: Some sources reported over 100,000 attendees; others estimated up to 260,000 people in the vicinity.
• The concert attracted 18.4 million global viewers on Netflix, achieving the top spot in 24 countries and reaching the weekly top 10 in 80 countries.

The show ran for approximately two hours, featuring tracks from "ARIRANG" (including "Body to Body," "Hooligan," "2.0," "Aliens," "FYA," "Swim," "Like Animals," and "Normal") alongside older hits like "Fake Love," "Mic Drop," "Idol," "Butter," "Dynamite," "Black Swan," and "Mikrokosmos."

The concert incorporated traditional Korean cultural elements, including traditional music interludes, a Korean flag motif, and a 360-degree pavilion inspired by Gyeonghoeru Pavilion.

The production was directed by British director Hamish Hamilton, with stage design by Guy Carrington and Florian Wieder. Netflix used a 23-camera production setup. Over 1,000 local and international production personnel were involved.

Security was extensive: Thousands of police and security personnel were deployed. Streets and roads around Gwanghwamun Square were closed, subway and bus services were halted, and nearby buildings were sealed off. The main road between Gwanghwamun and Seoul City Hall was closed to cars for over 30 hours. These measures led to the closure of nearby shops and required police to transport wedding guests to a nearby venue. South Korean officials have increased crowd safety measures since a 2022 Halloween incident. Some critics suggested the controls were excessive.

RM performed despite an ankle injury sustained during rehearsals. Big Hit reported: "a sprain of the accessory navicular, a partial ligament tear, and a talus contusion," which limited his on-stage performance. He wore an ankle boot and used a stool for support during parts of the show.

Global Tour Details

The "World Tour Arirang" commenced in South Korea in April 2026 and is scheduled to run through March 2027.

• Promoter Live Nation describes the tour as spanning 34 regions and 79-82 shows.
• This is the group's first headline tour since their 2021-2022 Permission to Dance on Stage tour.
• The group's previous world tour generated approximately $246 million.
• Billboard projects that BTS and HYBE could generate over $1 billion from the reunion through concerts, merchandise, licensing, album sales, and streaming revenue over a 12-month period.

South Korea

• April 9, 11-12: Goyang

Asia

• April 17-18: Tokyo, Japan

North America (2026)

• April 25-26: Tampa, Florida
• May 2-3: El Paso, Texas
• May 7, 9-10: Mexico City, Mexico
• May 16-17: Stanford, California
• May 23-24, 27: Las Vegas, Nevada
• June 12-13: Busan, South Korea
• August 1-2: East Rutherford, New Jersey
• August 5-6: Foxborough, Massachusetts
• August 10-11: Baltimore, Maryland
• August 15-16: Arlington, Texas
• August 22-23: Toronto, Canada
• August 27-28: Chicago, Illinois
• September 1-2, 5-6: Los Angeles, California

Europe (2026)

• June 26-27: Madrid, Spain
• July 1-2: Brussels, Belgium
• July 6-7: London, United Kingdom
• July 11-12: Munich, Germany
• July 17-18: Paris, France

South America (2026)

• October 2-3: Bogotá, Colombia
• October 9-10: Lima, Peru
• October 16-17: Santiago, Chile
• October 23-24: Buenos Aires, Argentina
• October 28, 30-31: São Paulo, Brazil

Asia (2026-2027)

• November 19, 21-22: Kaohsiung, Taiwan
• December 3, 5-6: Bangkok, Thailand
• December 12-13: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
• December 17, 19-20, 22: Singapore
• December 26-27: Jakarta, Indonesia

Australia (2027)

• February 10, 12, 13: Melbourne, AUS — Marvel Stadium
• February 20, 21: Sydney, AUS — Accor Stadium

Presale tickets were available on January 22 and 23 for ARMY Membership holders registered on Weverse. General sales began on January 24.

The tour officially began on April 9, 2026, at Goyang Stadium near Seoul, South Korea, to a sold-out crowd of over 40,000 fans despite heavy rain.

• The setlist included songs from "ARIRANG" and past hits.
• Members performed in the rain. RM referenced his ankle injury. SUGA described the venue as "a water park."
• Fans arrived as early as 6:30 a.m. Approximately half a million viewers watched a three-hour livestream of the stadium's exterior.

BTS held the first of three sold-out concerts at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida on April 25, 2026. The set list included the tour debut of "Permission to Dance" and the first performance of "Magic Shop" since 2019.

Pre-Tour Promotional Activities

Prior to the tour, BTS appeared in the United States for promotional activities.

• The group performed at a Spotify event (SWIMSIDE) in the US.
• The group appeared on NBC's The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
• The group was scheduled to appear at the American Music Awards on May 25, 2025.

Other Notable Events and Facts

• BTS is scheduled to release "BTS: The Return," a documentary about the making of "ARIRANG," via Netflix on March 27, 2026.
• HYBE organized "BTS The City" activation in Las Vegas during the group's performances there.
• The Sphere in Las Vegas displayed "Arirang" on its rotation.
• BTS's previous album "Proof" (2022) reached number one in 18 countries and has accumulated approximately 16.7 billion streams globally.
• The group met with former US President Joe Biden in 2022 to discuss anti-Asian hate crimes.
• BTS formed in 2010 by Big Hit Entertainment and debuted in June 2013. They have since released nine studio albums, received multiple Grammy nominations, and broken 25 Guinness World Records.

Financial Impact and Industry Context

• HYBE's operating profit decreased by approximately 37.5% during the band's hiatus, which the company partially attributed to BTS's temporary break.
• Following the Seoul comeback concert, shares in Hybe decreased by 15%. Sources indicated the decline reflected investor concerns regarding lower-than-anticipated attendance, with local authorities reporting just over 100,000 fans, less than the forecast of 260,000.
• Despite the drop, Nomura raised its target price for Hybe stock to 410,000 won from 354,000 won in January, citing a "larger than expected" number of tour dates.
• The K-pop industry has seen increased competition during BTS's hiatus, as well as internal challenges, including a legal dispute involving the group NewJeans and Hybe subsidiary Ador.