BTS Announces Full-Group Return in 2026 with New Album and World Tour, Pioneering an Era for Groups That Completed Military Service

BTS is officially resuming group activities. After making their first appearance since 2022 via a Weverse livestream on July 1, the group confirmed the release of a new album titled “ARIRANG” in March 2026, along with a spring season world tour. All seven members completed their mandatory military service in South Korea around June 2025, marking the first time since their debut in 2013 that every member had finished serving in the army. RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook discussed their military service periods, their relationship as a group, and their new project in a joint interview with GQ. Leader RM enlisted in December 2023 and served in the 15th Infantry Division Band of the Army, being discharged on June 10 of this year. During this time, the members continued with their solo activities. RM released two albums, “Indigo” in 2022 and “Right Place, Wrong Person” in 2024, and is also known for his interest in literature. V said in the GQ interview that RM is “like the identity of this group” and described him as “the core leader” of the group. BTS’s approach to managing the gap caused by their military service periods set a new standard in the industry. From the time they announced their enlistment in 2022, they outlined each member’s enlistment schedule and solo activity roadmap, assuming a “second act with the full group.” This strategy allowed them to maintain the group’s presence by sequentially releasing solo albums, documentaries, and variety show content throughout their military service. Other artists under HYBE Music Group, such as SEVENTEEN and ENHYPEN, are now following this approach, which has become a model enabling older boy groups to continue active careers for longer periods. Since their debut in 2013, BTS has left a profound impact on global music history. In 2020, they became the first K-pop group to top the Billboard Hot 100 with “Dynamite,” followed by three more number-one hits with “Butter,” “Permission to Dance,” and “Life Goes On.” That same year, they also became the first K-pop group to receive Grammy Award nominations. According to the “2025 Annual Report” released by international content analysis firm Parrot Analytics, BTS was named first in the “Talents of the Year Under 30” category. The report described BTS as having served as “the focal point of 2025” even though their group activities were limited, as they generated repeated surges in demand. It explained that BTS FESTA and each member’s solo activities gave them an overwhelming advantage in terms of visibility and interest. This indicates that BTS’s very existence has become an event at every moment and a cultural infrastructure in itself. Music industry experts are paying close attention to the impact BTS’s return will have on the K-pop market. This is because the trend of older boy groups continuing to be active and maintain their fanbases after completing military service is spreading. At the same time, this also acts as a factor that restricts growth opportunities for new male idol groups. With BTS’s return, it is expected that the position of veteran groups representing the second generation in the global K-pop market will become even stronger.