BTS returns with record tour and sales

Jan 26, 2026, 09:01 am

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BTS will return on March 20 with its fifth full-length album Arirang. / Big Hit Music

The global music scene is buzzing as BTS prepares for a full-scale comeback marked by the largest world tour in K-pop history and record-breaking album preorders.

According to its agency Big Hit Music, BTS will resume group activities on March 20 with the release of its fifth full-length album, Arirang. The album marks the group’s first complete release in nearly three years and nine months since Proof in 2022.

The album title was chosen as the members reflected on their roots and their bond with fans. Named after the Korean folk song that symbolizes identity and shared emotion, Arirang features 14 tracks capturing the group’s collective sentiment. Following military service and solo projects, the members reunited to work across borders on music production and performance preparation.

On March 21, a day after the album’s release, BTS is set to unveil its first comeback stage at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul.

Big Hit Music said BTS has always infused its music with the members’ personal experiences and thoughts, adding that this sincerity has resonated with fans worldwide and become the driving force behind the group’s music. The agency said the new album centers on universal emotions such as longing and love and aims to deliver a deep emotional impact to global listeners.

The excitement surrounding BTS’s return is reflected in strong numbers. According to album distributor YG Plus, Arirang surpassed 4.06 million preorders within a week of its preorder launch on Jan. 22, setting a new career high and exceeding the group’s previous record set by Map of the Soul: 7 in 2020.

Anticipation for the world tour has also been intense. The “BTS World Tour Arirang” will kick off in April at Goyang Stadium in Gyeonggi Province and span 81 shows across 34 cities in Japan, North America, Europe, South America and Asia — the largest number of concerts ever staged by a K-pop artist.

International media have taken notice. BTS’s standalone concert at Stanford Stadium in the United States will make the group only the second act to headline the venue after Coldplay, underscoring its stature in the global mainstream market. All Goyang shows sold out during fan club presales.

Forbes described the tour as “setting a new benchmark in the history of Korean artists’ touring,” while USA Today predicted that BTS would “rewrite history once again through this tour.”

Beyond music, the comeback is also boosting tourism and local economies. Searches for flights to South Korea surged following the tour announcement, and hotel reservation rates near major concert venues have risen sharply, highlighting the spillover effect of concert-driven tourism.

Industry insiders view BTS’s return as a moment that could realign the global music industry. One industry official said that despite a long hiatus, the group has once again proven its brand trust, fan base strength, content quality and industrial impact, adding that the global music market is once again reorganizing itself around BTS’s movements.

#BTS #Arirang #K-pop world tour #album preorder #Big Hit Music