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March 2026 will go down in history as the month of BTS's big return, with their much-hyped new album ARIRANG finally dropping, a long-anticipated world tour starting soon after, and a two-part partnership with Netflix also kicking off. In the lead-up to the releases, the members began sharing key details about their comeback, their first together since completing their respective military service.
In case you missed a chapter or two, BTS, as a group, has been on somewhat of a hiatus since December 2022, when Jin became the first member of the group to begin his mandatory military service, with J-Hope joining shortly after, and all of the remaining members following suit by December 2023.
One by one—and twice in pairs—the members of BTS have been discharged from the South Korean military, igniting fans' hopes for the septet's next chapter. When Suga officially became the last member to finish his service on June 21, 2025, we finally got some answers: The group was working on a comeback and a tour—and it will reportedly be their biggest tour to date. Continue reading for everything we know about BTS's big return after their military service with ARIRANG.
When did BTS announce their new album and tour?
All seven members of BTS jointly announced their first post-military album and tour on July 1, 2025, during a live broadcast on the fan platform Weverse.
The broadcast marked the first time all members appeared together on a stream since September 2022. According to data shared by HYBE representatives, the septet garnered over 7.3 million real-time total views.
When will BTS release their new album?
In June 2025, The Korea Herald reported that BTS's comeback would be in March 2026, as confirmed by a HYBE representative, although it also stated that the full comeback schedule was “yet to be finalized.” Then, HYBE formally confirmed the release date of BTS's fifth studio album to be March 20, 2026.
“The album reflects the culmination of BTS’s journey to date and defines the group on their own terms,” reads a press release. “The members devoted themselves to the album’s creation in the second half of 2025. Comprising a total of 14 tracks (more on that below), the album is driven by each member’s honest introspection as they collectively shaped its direction by weaving their individual perspectives into the music.”
Previously, BTS shared during a live stream that the album "reflects each member’s thoughts and ideas. We’re approaching the album with the same mindset we had when we first started.”
As The Korea Herald reported, HYBE CEO Lee Jae-sang said BTS would be “preparing alongside top-tier producers" and also noted that “the artists also need time to reflect and prepare.”
On December 6, 2025, leader RM gave fans an update on the preparation process in a live broadcast held on Weverse. During the stream, RM confirmed that the members had been shooting content that very same day and clarified that the group was still preparing for their comeback then.
“The album is almost here. It really is on its way. We practiced together yesterday, too,” RM told fans, per a fan translation. “We are filming and practicing every day.” During the livestream, RM also said “there were reasons why we decided not to do activities for the year-end [of 2025] or in the second half of the year,” but added he couldn't share any specifics.
He also shared that he was eager to return to BTS and that the group planned to continue practicing and filming content throughout December. He added: “In order to release something that we are truly satisfied with, we cannot take our comeback lightly.”
What is BTS's fifth studio album called?
BTS's fifth full-length studio album is called ARIRANG. The upcoming project is described as “a deeply reflective body of work that explores their identity and roots.” The album is said to “reflect on the culmination of BTS's journey to date and define the group on their own terms.”
We know that BTS's ARIRANG album will feature 14 tracks, which the members worked on in tandem during the second half of 2025. The album's title references a popular Korean folk song that BTS has previously covered.
Which songs will be on ARIRANG?
BTS unveiled the tracklist for ARIRANG on March 3. The list of songs included in the album is as follows:
- “Body to Body”
- “Hooligan”
- “Aliens”
- “FYA”
- “2.0”
- “No. 19” (Interlude track)
- “SWIM” (Lead single)
- “Merry Go Round”
- “NORMAL”
- “Like Animals”
- “they don't know 'bout us”
- “One More Night”
- “Please”
- “Into the Sun”
HYBE also shared some of the producers and songwriters who have worked on the album, which include Mike WiLL Made-It, Flume, El Guincho, JPEGMAFIA, Diplo, Ryan Tedder, Jasper Harris, Tyler Spry, Tame Impala's Kevin Parker, and more.
The label has also confirmed that all of the members have credits of their own across the project. You can see all of the credits in detail in the image below:
When will BTS begin their 2026 tour?
Alongside the album announcement, BTS also announced they are preparing for a world tour. “We’re also planning a world tour alongside the new album. We’ll be visiting fans all around the world, so we hope you’re as excited as we are," the members said.
The official tour announcement was made in January 2026. BTS will begin their global tour, officially named BTS WORLD TOUR ARIRANG, across Asia, North America, Europe, Latin America, and Australia, with three dates in Goyang, South Korea, on April 9 and April 11–12, 2026, and will then proceed to Tokyo.
Initially, the North American leg was to feature 12 cities and 28 shows. Additional shows have since been added to select cities due to demand. Stops include Tampa, Florida; El Paso, Texas; Mexico City, Mexico; Stanford, California; Las Vegas, Nevada; East Rutherford, New Jersey; and additional cities to be announced. That leg will end with four shows in Los Angeles.
In June and July, BTS will head to Europe for shows in Madrid, Spain; Brussels, Belgium; London, United Kingdom; Munich, Germany; and Paris, France. After Europe, it's on to Latin America and back to Asia, including major regions such as São Paulo, Brazil; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Bangkok, Thailand; and Jakarta, Indonesia, plus more dates TBD.
“Further details regarding the 2027 tour regions and dates will be announced at a later time,” HYBE confirmed in a press release. The press release also teased “an immersive setup that places the audience at the center of the experience,” and an “in-the-round stage design.”
The tour will be the group's first tour since 2022's Permission to Dance on Stage, which saw the group performing in Seoul, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas. The group also later held a free concert in Busan, South Korea, on October 15, 2022, titled Yet to Come in Busan.
In his livestream from December 6, leader RM said that while the group is eager to go back to touring again, “time has passed [and] a lot has changed, so preparation is necessary.”
See the complete list of BTS tour dates (so far) below:
- Apr 9, Apr 11-12 — Goyang, South Korea
- Apr 17-18 — Tokyo, Japan
- Apr 25-26, Apr 28 — Tampa, USA
- May 2-3 — El Paso, USA
- May 7, May 9-10 — Mexico City, Mexico
- May 16-17, May 19 — Stanford, USA
- May 23-24, May 27-28 — Las Vegas, USA
- Jun 12-13 — Busan, South Korea
- Jun 26-27 — Madrid, Spain
- Jul 1-2 — Brussels, Belgium
- Jul 6-7 — London, United Kingdom
- Jul 11-12 — Munich, Germany
- Jul 17-18 — Paris, France
- Aug 1-2 — East Rutherford, USA
- Aug 5-6 — Foxborough, USA
- Aug 10-11 — Baltimore, USA
- Aug 15-16 — Arlington, USA
- Aug 22-23 — Toronto, Canada
- Aug 27-28 — Chicago, USA
- Sep 1-2, Sep 5-6 — Los Angeles, USA
- Oct 2-3 — Bogotá, Colombia
- Oct 9-10 — Lima, Peru
- Oct 16-17 — Santiago, Chile
- Oct 23-24 — Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Oct 28, Oct 30-31 — São Paulo, Brazil
- Nov 19, Nov 21-22 — Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Dec 3, Dec 5-6 — Bangkok, Thailand
- Dec 12-13 — Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Dec 17, Dec 19-20, Dec 22 — Singapore
- Dec 26-27 — Jakarta, Indonesia
2027
- Feb 12-13 — Melbourne, Australia
- Feb 20-21 — Sydney, Australia
- Mar 4, Mar 6-7 — Hong Kong
- Mar 13-14 — Manila, Philippines
The North American and European legs of the tour, as well as all three Goyang shows, are now sold out.
Will BTS's ARIRANG tour be livestreamed?
It's not uncommon for BTS to livestream some of their concerts, and some ARIRANG tour stops will air on our screens—more on that below. However, before then, BTS will host an ARIRANG livestream on Netflix prior to the tour.
On Feb. 3, 2026, Korean time, the streamer made the announcement that, one day after the album's release, BTS THE COMEBACK LIVE | ARIRANG will be streaming exclusively on Netflix. The livestream will begin on March 21 at 8:00 p.m. KST (3:00 a.m. PST/6:00 a.m. EST).
While it's not a tour concert per se, the comeback live is being described as “a landmark live performance” that will introduce the group's new era. The event will be broadcast live from Gwanghwamun, a gate of the Gyeongbokgung palace and one of Seoul's most iconic and symbolic landmarks.
It has also been confirmed that the Goyang and Tokyo stops of the tour will be livestreamed on cinemas worldwide. The showings will take place on April 11 and April 17, respectively. Tickets and full screening details for each territory are available at www.btsliveviewing.com. Screening times will vary by territory, Trafalgar Releasing has confirmed. Each territory will screen each concert twice, with some timings being scheduled later to accommodate local time zones.
Is there more content coming from Netflix?
Yes! BTS is also releasing its very own documentary on Netflix. Following the broadcast, you'll be able to see BTS on Netflix once again with BTS: The Return, “an intimate documentary film chronicling the making of the band’s new album.”
BTS: The Return will premiere globally on Netflix on March 27, 2026, and will offer a “rare, behind-the-scenes look at the journey behind BTS’s highly-anticipated return. The project will be a feature-length documentary from acclaimed director Bao Nguyen (The Stringer, The Greatest Night in Pop).
“The film offers unprecedented access, following BTS as they come back together to begin a reunion set to be etched in pop culture history, while reflecting on the journey that transformed seven Korean members into global icons,” Netflix has shared. “After completing South Korea’s mandatory military service, the seven members reunite in Los Angeles to make music together, returning to a shared creative space shaped by time apart and personal change. As millions of fans await the comeback of the decade, BTS confronts quieter questions: how to begin again, how to honor the past without being bound by it, and how to move forward together. Through moments of doubt, laughter, and rediscovery, they create new music that reflects who they are now—culminating in what will become a landmark album of its time. Intimate, emotional, and often joyful, BTS: The Return is a story of resilience, brotherhood, and reinvention.”
You can watch the trailer for the documentary below:
This post will continue to be updated as news about BTS's ARIRANG comeback and tour breaks.
