BTS to Make Full-Group Comeback on March 20 – First Return in 3 Years and 9 Months, with Major World Tour Also Planned

The K-pop icon group BTS is set to return as a full ensemble for the first time in 3 years and 9 months, following their last release in June 2022. Their agency, HYBE, officially announced on January 1, the first day of the new year, that “BTS will come back with a new album on March 20.”

This comeback marks the first regular studio album released after all members have completed their military service. BTS halted group activities in June 2022 after releasing the anthology album “Proof,” after which each member began serving in the military. RM, Jin, Jimin, V, Jung Kook, j-hope, and SUGA all finished their military duties by June 2025.

On New Year’s Day, BTS members delivered handwritten letters to their fandom, ARMY, to convey their sincerity about the comeback. RM wrote, “I’ve been waiting for this comeback more than anyone else,” Jin said, “Thank you so much for waiting,” Jimin expressed, “The year we’re going to meet has arrived,” and Jung Kook added, “I miss you! Please take care this year.” The letters included the date “2026. 3. 20,” officially confirming the comeback timeline.

Through Weverse Live, BTS also shared their hopes, saying, “I hope we can come back safely this year and the album does well,” and “Let’s make BTS a huge success.” They heightened expectations for the comeback by participating in New Year’s countdowns.

In a Weverse Live last December, RM mentioned, “Preparations for the new album are progressing well. The album is almost ready, we’re filming content, and we practice every day.” Recording for the album was completed in the United States several months ago, with ongoing final touches being made in South Korea.

BTS’s comeback signals more than just an album release—it预示着 a reshaping of the global music market. A large-scale world tour is scheduled to follow the album release on March 20. BTS’s world tour is estimated to generate ticket sales revenue of around 900 billion won (621 million dollars), with total earnings, including merchandise sales, expected to exceed 1.3 trillion won.

Fans around the world are also highly enthusiastic. They launched a collective streaming campaign for BTS’s 2022 song “Run BTS.” Shortly after the comeback announcement, this song topped the iTunes Top Songs chart in 61 countries, including Brazil, Finland, Mexico, and Greece. Fans reinterpreted the song’s message of “let’s run forward together” to reflect the significance of all members returning as a full group after completing their military service.

The K-pop market in 2026 is expected to be reshaped around BTS’s return. BLACKPINK is also accelerating efforts to release an album in the first half of the year, while EXO is set to release their new album “REVERXE” on January 19. The simultaneous activities of these third-generation idols are anticipated to serve as a catalyst for expanding K-pop’s market share.