After years of speculation and anticipation, global K-pop powerhouse BTS has confirmed plans for a highly anticipated return.
The seven-member group is set to release a new album and embark on a world tour in the spring of 2026, marking their first major group activities in nearly four years.
Jin, RM, V, Jimin, J-Hope, Jung Kook, and Suga made the announcement during a livestream on Weverse, the fan platform operated by their label Hybe. The livestream marked their first group appearance since September 2022.
“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,” the group shared. “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.”
According to a press release, BTS will also begin working on new material in the United States starting this month, further solidifying their creative reunion.
The new album will be the group’s first major project since their 2022 anthology Proof, the 2021 Japanese compilation BTS, the Best, and their 2020 studio album Be.
The announcement coincides with a significant milestone: the completion of military service by all seven members. RM, V, Jimin, and Jung Kook were officially discharged in June 2025, following Jin and J-Hope’s discharge in 2024. Suga completed his national service as a social service agent, an alternative to active military duty recognized in South Korea.
Under South Korean law, all able-bodied men aged 18 to 28 must serve 18 to 21 months in the military, a measure aimed at national defense preparedness. While exemptions are available to certain elite athletes and classical performers for contributions to national prestige, K-pop idols are not granted such allowances.
However, a 2020 amendment to the Military Service Act allowed top-tier K-pop artists, including BTS, to defer enlistment until the age of 30. This gave the group time to expand their global presence before fulfilling their military obligations.
Now reunited and with their service complete, BTS is preparing to launch a new era, filled with fresh music, international performances, and the trademark energy that has defined their rise to global superstardom.
