BTS to Return as a Complete Group with New Songs and World Tour in 2026

The iconic K-pop group BTS will return as a complete unit in 2026 through the release of new songs and a world tour. HYBE Music announced on July 1 that the members will launch new music and embark on a tour during that year. BTS began their military service starting with Jin in December 2022, with RM, SUGA, V, Jimin, and Jung Kook completing their service last June, thereby finishing all of their mandatory service. Under South Korean law, men aged 18 to 28 are required to serve in the military for 18 to 21 months, and all BTS members fulfilled this requirement. During their service, the members continued to interact with their fans. In a letter published on Weverse last June, RM expressed that he “missed the members terribly” and said he “looks forward to reunifying next summer.” He added that he “realized once again that many people still remember us, wait for us, and love us.” Last December, j-hope shared his excitement about the reunion in an interview with Weverse Magazine, saying he was “happy to gather together again after pursuing our individual activities.” All seven members showcased their individual artistic skills through solo projects during their service. They released a variety of works, including singles, EPs, full-length albums, and collaborations with other prominent artists, to keep their fans engaged. The 2026 world tour has already seen performances scheduled at Sun Bowl Stadium in El Paso, Texas (May 2–3) and AT&T Stadium in Arlington (August 15–16). According to Ticketmaster, early ticket sales will begin on January 22 before the regular sales phase. Meanwhile, BTS was named number one in Parrot Analytics’ “Talents of the Year Under 30” category for 2025, a global content analysis firm. Parrot Analytics noted that “despite limited group activities in 2025, they generated repeated surges in demand and served as the focal point of the year.” BTS held a dominant position in terms of popularity and attention through events like “BTS FESTA” and their individual solo activities. BTS will release new music for the first time in about five years since the release of their fourth full-length album, “MAP OF THE SOUL: PERSONA,” in 2019. Their previous full-length album, “BE,” reached number one on the Billboard 200 chart, while its tracks “Dynamite” and “Life Goes On” topped the Billboard Hot 100.