BTS Returns as a Full Group for the First Time in Four Years with New Album Release on March 20…Global Tour Planned

BTS will return as a full group for the first time in four years with the release of a new album on March 20. This was officially announced by their agency, HYBE, marking the first release since the 2022 album “Proof.”

Last December, BTS members hinted at this comeback in a handwritten letter sent to their official fan club, BTS ARMY. Member Jin stated, “Although we greeted you as solo artists in 2023 and 2024, we are finally able to greet you again as part of the group.” RM said, “I have been waiting for this moment more than anyone else,” while Jung Kook added, “I hope you will continue to support us this year.” J-Hope expressed, “Finally, it is a year when we can all be together with you.”

The members completed their military service in June of last year and were discharged one after another. The oldest member, Jin, enlisted in December 2022 and was discharged in June 2024, with RM playing “Dynamite” on a saxophone to celebrate at that time. J-Hope enlisted in April 2023, and the remaining four members enlisted together in December 2023. Jimin and Jung Kook were the last to be discharged on June 11, 2025.

Last July, during a live stream, Jung Kook said, “It will be a group album, so each member’s thoughts and ideas will be reflected in it,” adding, “We are approaching this album with the same mindset we had when we first started.” HYBE announced that a global tour is also being planned alongside the new album, with the tour schedule set to be released on January 14. This will mark BTS’s first full-scale tour since 2019.

Fan excitement regarding BTS’s comeback has reached extremely high levels. Since the announcement of their return, the older song “Run BTS” topped the iTunes Top Songs charts in 61 countries, including Brazil, Finland, Mexico, and Greece. This was the result of organized streaming campaigns by fans to celebrate the start of 2026 and wish for their comeback in March. “Run BTS” is a song that embodies the desire to keep moving forward together and is regarded as the track that most clearly reflects BTS’s teamwork and identity.

International media is also paying close attention to BTS’s comeback. In a recent feature article on the trajectory of K-pop, the outlet stated, “BTS’s rise and influence have played a major role in shaping K-pop’s global popularity over the past decade,” adding that they have served as cultural ambassadors through their musical talent, dedication, and accessibility. Industry experts expect BTS’s full-group return to inject new energy into the international pop market as a whole.