BTS Releases New Album “ARIRANG” After Nearly Four Years, Announces 2026 World Tour

BTS has released their new album, ARIRANG, along with the single “SWIM” and its official music video. This marks the group’s first album release in three years and nine months.

The single “SWIM,” produced by Tyler Spry and Leclair, focuses on BTS’s determination to move forward despite life’s challenges. The music video, directed by Tanu Muino—who previously worked with Jungkook on the 2023 hit “Standing Next to You”—accompanies the release.

The album generated four million pre-orders in its first week, breaking BTS’s own previous record. Producers involved in ARIRANG include Diplo, Ryan Tedder, El Guincho, and the group’s longtime collaborator Pdogg.

The album title is derived from a traditional Korean song known both domestically and internationally. This song, transcending time and generations, is often associated with themes of connection, distance, and reunion.

ARIRANG serves as a reflection on BTS’s identity and origins. Known for authentic storytelling through their music, the group presents narratives unique to their experience. The album explores feelings of nostalgia, desire, and life’s fluctuations, choosing the title for its resonance with their journey so far. Additionally, the project addresses universal emotions of longing and love, aiming to connect with fans worldwide and across generations.

BTS will perform a live event titled BTS The Comeback Live: Arirang at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul tomorrow. The event will be streamed on Netflix on March 21.

Starting March 27, Netflix will release the documentary BTS: THE RETURN. Directed by Bao Nguyen and produced by This Machine and HYBE, the film offers an unprecedented look at BTS’s return as they begin a new chapter, reflecting on the path that transformed seven young Koreans into global cultural figures.

BTS also announced a worldwide stadium tour beginning in April 2026. The tour will start at Goyang Stadium on April 9, 2026, with stops planned in Japan, the United States, Europe, South America, Australia, and other countries.

Tracklist for ARIRANG:

1. Body to Body

2. Hooligan

3. Aliens

4. FYA

5. 2.0

6. No. 29

7. SWIM

8. Merry Go Round

9. NORMAL

10. Like Animals

11. they don’t know ’bout us

12. One More Night

13. Please

14. Into the Sun

History of BTS

BTS, short for Bangtan Sonyeondan or “Beyond the Scene,” is a South Korean group that debuted in 2013 and has become a global K-pop icon. The members are RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook. Known for authentic, self-produced music and dynamic performances, BTS has broken numerous world records and built a large international fanbase known as ARMY.

The group is recognized for spreading positive messages through campaigns such as “LOVE MYSELF” and their United Nations speech “Speak Yourself.” BTS has achieved six number-one hits on the Billboard Hot 100 within just over a year and sold out stadiums worldwide. They were named TIME’s “Entertainer of the Year” in 2020 and have received multiple nominations for “Best Group of the Year” at the Grammy Awards, along with awards from Billboard Music Awards, American Music Awards, and MTV Video Music Awards.