BTS’s World Tour Drives HYBE’s Record-Quietest Quarterly Revenue of 1.45 Trillion Won

BTS’s “Arirang” world tour was responsible for driving HYBE’s highest quarterly earnings in the company’s history. On the 28th, HYBE announced that it achieved revenue of 1.45 trillion won and operating profit of 170.9 billion won during the second quarter of 2026.

This marks the first time quarterly revenue has exceeded 1 trillion won, and operating profit has also surpassed 100 billion won for the first time. Quarterly sales have also crossed 2 trillion won for the first time. Compared to the same period last year, revenue increased by 105.5%, while operating profit rose by 159.4%.

The concert sector played a key role in this growth. Revenue from live performances, which fall under direct participation-based sales, reached 647.7 billion won, while music album sales generated 326.8 billion won. MD and licensing activities also hit 310.6 billion won, setting a new record. Even just in the first half of the year, all three categories—concerts, albums, and MD products—showed strong growth.

BTS began its world tour in April. Their comeback album “Arirang” topped sales charts for vinyl and CD albums in the United States, contributing to South Korea rising to third place as the world’s top music exporter behind the United States and the United Kingdom.

BTS’s world tours have generated significant economic impacts in every region where they are held. When BTS performed during the halftime show of the World Cup final on the 20th (Korean time), their U.S. concerts alone created an economic impact of approximately 450 billion won.

HYBE achieved a double-digit operating profit margin of 11.8%, demonstrating solid financial health alongside quantitative growth. Among the top 10 best-selling CD albums in the United States during the first half of this year, half were by artists from HYBE’s music groups.

In South Korea, including BTS, seven groups—TOMORROW X TOGETHER, ENHYPEN, &TEAM, BOYNEXTDOOR, TWS, CORTIS, and Hankook—have achieved million-seller status. This shows that HYBE’s music groups are building a more diversified foundation for revenue generation.

These results stem from a combination of BTS’s and other artists’ Comebacks, the launch of world tours, and rising ticket prices. HYBE plans to maintain this growth momentum through additional Comebacks and expanded tours by more artists in the second half of the year.