The global K-pop phenomenon BTS has officially announced its return, confirming plans for a new album and world tour in spring 2026. This eagerly anticipated comeback follows a period of individual solo projects and mandatory military service for all seven members, which began in 2022.
The announcement came during a Weverse livestream on Tuesday, marking the first time all seven members — Jin, RM, V, Jimin, J-Hope, Jung Kook, and Suga — have broadcast live together since September 2022. The 30-minute stream was watched by over 7.3 million fans globally in real time, underscoring the immense anticipation for their reunion.
New Music and Global Performances
The group shared their collective excitement for the upcoming release. “We’ll be releasing a new BTS album in the spring of next year,” the band stated. “Starting in July, all seven of us will begin working closely together on new music. Since it will be a group album, it will reflect each member’s thoughts and ideas. We’re approaching the album with the same mindset we had when we first started.”
The members also revealed plans to travel to the United States this month to commence music production. The forthcoming album will mark their first group release since ‘Proof’ in 2022. It follows a period where all members released solo music, including Jung Kook’s 2023 album ‘Golden,’ V’s 2023 album ‘Layover,’ and RM’s 2024 release ‘Right Place, Wrong Person.’
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Accompanying the new album will be a world tour, their first in nearly four years. The group’s previous “Permission to Dance on Stage” tour concluded almost four years ago and attracted over 4 million attendees. On the upcoming tour, BTS said, “We’ll be visiting fans all around the world, so we hope you’re as excited as we are.”
Military Service Completed and a Long-Awaited Reunion
The confirmation of their return comes after all seven members completed their mandatory military service, a requirement for all able-bodied South Korean men aged 18 to 28 due to ongoing tensions with North Korea. Six members served in the army, while Suga fulfilled his duty as a social service agent, an alternative form of military service. Jin, the oldest member, was discharged in June 2024, with other members following suit in recent months.
The band had previously received a deferral in 2020, following a revision to South Korea’s Military Service Act that allowed K-pop stars to postpone enlistment until age 30. However, they opted to serve their terms without special exemptions.
J-Hope had previously hinted at the group’s return, stating in an interview with Apple Music 1, “I look forward to June when our members will have completed their service. We will quickly get together and talk about what BTS can do in the future. I think it’s going to be a massive energy.” He also told Weverse Magazine, “When we’re all back together as a group, it’s going to have a huge impact, and everybody’s going to be watching. I’m excited to see what it’ll feel like when we perform together again. I want to come back in style and say, ‘This is us. This is BTS.’ I can’t speak for everyone, but I can tell you the other members feel the same way.”
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The announcement of their 2026 comeback has sent ripples of excitement through their global fanbase, setting the stage for a highly anticipated new chapter in the history of K-pop.
