At a Glance
- BTS will release their first group album since 2022 on March 20, 2026
- A 79-show world tour kicks off April 9 in South Korea and hits 34 regions
- All seven members reunite after completing mandatory military service
- Why it matters: This marks the K-pop supergroup’s long-awaited return to global stages
BTS is officially back. The seven-member K-pop phenomenon has announced a new album and massive world tour for 2026, marking their first full-group comeback since 2022.
First Group Album Since 2022
BTS’ fifth studio album arrives March 20, 2026, at 1 p.m. KST (March 19 at 11 p.m. ET). The release date appeared in handwritten notes the members sent to select ARMY fan club members in December 2025.
Pre-orders open January 16 at 1 p.m. KST. The 14-track album follows 2022’s anthology Proof and will be their first joint project after completing South Korea’s mandatory military service.
During a July 2025 livestream, the group teased the project: “Since it will be a group album, it will reflect each member’s thoughts and ideas. We’re approaching the album with the same mindset we had when we first started.”
79 Shows Across Six Continents
The Permission to Dance singers revealed a sprawling tour schedule starting April 9 in Goyang, South Korea. The 79-date trek spans:
- Asia: South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia
- North America: United States, Mexico, Canada
- South America: Colombia, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Brazil
- Europe: Spain, Belgium, United Kingdom, Germany, France
The tour continues into 2027 with additional dates planned for Australia, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, the Middle East, and more cities to be announced.
Stadium-Ready Production
According to the tour announcement, each venue will feature “a 360-degree, in-the-round stage design, creating an immersive setup that places the audience at the center of the experience while allowing for increased capacity at every venue.”
The production marks BTS’ first headline performances as a complete group since their Permission to Dance on Stage shows in 2021 and 2022.
Ticket Details
ARMY membership holders can access presale tickets beginning January 22, with select shows opening January 23. General onsale starts January 24 through Live Nation, with times varying by location.
Tracklist and Album Themes
The upcoming album features 14 tracks described as “honest stories that BTS wants to share with ARMY, who have been waiting for their comeback as a whole group.”
A press release stated the project is “filled with the music that’s most true to BTS” and serves as “their heartfelt way of saying thank you to ARMY, who have been there this whole time.”
Solo Ventures During Hiatus
While this marks their first group album since 2022, all seven members have maintained solo careers during the hiatus:
- RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook each released at least one solo album
- Individual projects allowed members to explore different musical styles
- The break also accommodated their military service requirements
Full Tour Schedule
April 2026
- Apr 9, 11-12 – Goyang, South Korea
- Apr 17-18 – Tokyo, Japan
- Apr 25-26 – Tampa, Florida
May 2026
- May 2-3 – El Paso, Texas
- May 7, 9-10 – Mexico City, Mexico
- May 16-17 – Stanford, California
- May 23-24, 27 – Las Vegas, Nevada
June 2026
- Jun 12-13 – Busan, South Korea
- Jun 26-27 – Madrid, Spain
July 2026
- Jul 1-2 – Brussels, Belgium
- Jul 6-7 – London, England
- Jul 11-12 – Munich, Germany
- Jul 17-18 – Paris, France
August 2026
- Aug 1-2 – East Rutherford, New Jersey
- Aug 5-6 – Foxborough, Massachusetts
- Aug 10-11 – Baltimore, Maryland
- Aug 15-16 – Arlington, Virginia
- Aug 22-23 – Toronto, Canada
- Aug 27-28 – Chicago, Illinois
September 2026
- Sep 1-2, 5-6 – Los Angeles, California
October 2026
- Oct 2-3 – Bogotá, Colombia
- Oct 9-10 – Lima, Peru
- Oct 16-17 – Santiago, Chile
- Oct 23-24 – Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Oct 28, 30-31 – São Paulo, Brazil
November 2026
- Nov 19, 21-22 – Kaohsiung, Taiwan
December 2026
- Dec 3, 5-6 – Bangkok, Thailand
- Dec 12-13 – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Dec 17, 19-20, 22 – Singapore
- Dec 26-27 – Jakarta, Indonesia
The group will announce additional 2027 dates for Australia, Hong Kong, the Philippines, and more Japanese and Middle Eastern cities at a later date.
Key Takeaways
- BTS returns with their first complete group album in four years
- The 14-track project drops March 20, 2026, with pre-orders opening January 16
- A massive 79-show world tour launches April 9 in South Korea
- The tour covers 34 regions across six continents through 2027
- Tickets go on sale January 22-24, 2026
