01:21 / 02.07.2025

BTS are back: K-pop stars announce new album and world tour

Great news for K-pop fans — BTS are back. The globally famous South Korean boy band has officially confirmed that a new album and a world tour are scheduled for spring 2026.

The announcement came during their first live stream since all members had completed their military service. During the stream, BTS members said they would travel to the US later this month to begin working on new music.

"Hello everyone, we're back," said Jimin. The group added: "Our new album will be released in spring 2026. Alongside the album, we are also planning a world tour. We want to meet all our fans around the world. We hope you're as excited as we are."

This will be BTS's first global tour since their Permission to Dance on Stage tour in 2022. The upcoming album will also be the group's first full-length release since 2020.

As a reminder, under South Korean law, every male citizen must complete 18 months of mandatory military service. Due to this requirement, BTS had to pause their careers at the height of global fame in 2022.

On the fan platform Weverse, the band wrote the following:
"Starting in July, all seven of us will begin working together on new music. Since it will be a group album, it will reflect the thoughts and feelings of each member. We’re approaching this project with the same mindset we had when we first started our career."

BTS fans — known as the "ARMY" — had been eagerly waiting to see the group reunited after a long break. The final member, Suga, completed his military service last month.

According to reports, BTS members staggered their service time so that the group would not be inactive for more than six months. J-Hope, who was discharged in October 2023, completed a solo world tour and is scheduled to perform at Lollapalooza Berlin on July 13, 2025.

BTS debuted in 2013 after forming in 2010. The group quickly became the most successful K-pop act globally. They were the best-selling music artists in the world in both 2020 and 2021. BTS had six albums and six singles that reached number one on US music charts.