BTS – the record-breaking, chart-topping K-pop group – have announced plans for their long awaited return.
The seven-member group, in their first group broadcast in nearly three years, took to the Hybe-owned Weverse fan platform for a live stream Tuesday, where they laid out the plan for their post-military enlistment future. BTS told fans that they’re all heading to the U.S. this month to begin working on new music that is currently slated for a spring 2026 release.
“We’ll be releasing a new BTS album in the spring of next year. Starting in July, all seven of us will begin working closely together on new music. Since it will be a group album, it will reflect each member’s thoughts and ideas,” the group said in a statement. “We’re approaching the album with the same mindset we had when we first started.”
The supergroup also announced plans for a world tour next year, their first since their wildly successful post-pandemic string of shows, BTS: Permission to Dance on Stage, which drew 4 million attendees and viewers across in-person concerts, online live streaming, live viewing and live play, according to a release.
“We’ll be visiting fans all around the world, so we hope you’re as excited as we are,” the group said.
Until 2026, BTS members are seemingly continuing previously planned solo work, including eldest member Jin’s solo tour, which was just held in Goyang, South Korea on June 28 and June 29. J-Hope, who recently wrapped his own solo tour, is slated to headline Lollapalooza Berlin later this month.
All members of BTS reunited for the first time since 2022 last month at J-Hope’s solo concert finale in Goyang, South Korea. The reunion marked the end of a busy week for the group as members RM, V, Jimin and Jung Kook were discharged from their mandatory military service earlier that week, joining already released J-Hope and Jin. Suga completed his mandatory military service as social work personnel that following week, signaling the official return-to-active status for the group.
BTS fans have long awaited their return, although each member of the group found success with their solo work released throughout the two-year enlistment period. In October 2022, BTS performed a massive free concert, titled Yet to Come, in Busan, South Korea. The concert, which was in support of the Korean city’s bid for the 2030 World Expo, brought legions of ARMY from around the world. Days after the performance, BigHit Music announced that all seven members would be moving forward with plans to fulfill their military service, saying it was “the perfect time” and that the group’s members were honored to serve.
BTS’ Tuesday livestream, their first since September 2022, bagged over 7.3 million real-time total views, according to a release. Exact release or tour dates have yet to be announced.
