The global phenomenon BTS has officially set the stage for their long-awaited group comeback. After nearly two years focused on military service and solo projects, the septet is preparing to reunite with fans worldwide through a brand-new album in spring 2026 and a massive world tour.
The reunion became possible after all members fulfilled their mandatory service. The final four, RM, V, Jimin, and Jungkook, were discharged in June 2025, which officially cleared the way for BTS’s group return.
BTS Album Arriving in Early 2026
Official Announcement
On July 1, 2025, BTS made their long-awaited return as a complete group through a special Weverse livestream. RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook appeared together for the first time in nearly three years, the last time being September 2022. It is hardly a surprise that the live stream attracted more than 7.3 million fans in real time. During the broadcast, they confirmed plans for a new album and world tour.
The members stressed the collaborative nature of the project, saying, “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.”
Recording Progress
BTS began recording in the United States in July with international producers. This will be their first group release since the 2022 anthology ‘Proof’, the 2021 Japanese compilation ‘BTS, the Best’, and their last studio album ‘BE’ from 2020.
Before group preparations, solo activities continued: Jin dropped his second solo album, Echo, on May 16, 2025. j-hope released multiple digital singles and remix albums, including Killin’ It Girl (feat. GloRilla), Sweet Dreams, and Mona Lisa.
From the stories shared by BTS members with Charlie Puth, it appears they may have been collaborating with the pop star and music producer for the new album.
BTS Second Livestream to Share Progress Update
Then, on August 17, 2025, BTS held a surprise Weverse live from a Los Angeles beach, where they shared candid updates about the progress of their long-awaited group album. The members revealed they are fully immersed in preparations for a spring 2026 release. They even called the session a rare break from their “factory-like” daily routine of workouts, studio work, and little rest.
RM reassured fans of their well-being, while Suga confirmed they were “working hard on the album.” Jin detailed their strict schedule, and both Jimin and Jungkook admitted the pace was exhausting but necessary for a strong comeback, with the former describing the broadcast as a “survival report.”
BTS 2026 World Tour
The upcoming world tour will be BTS’s first since the ‘Permission to Dance on Stage’ tour (2021–22), which drew more than 4 million fans globally. During the July 2025 livestream, the group declared:
We’ll be visiting fans all around the world, so we hope you’re as excited as we are.
Though exact dates and cities remain unannounced, excitement is already visible across fan forums and ticket platforms, where ARMYs are preparing for intense competition to secure seats.
There have been fewer updates on the BTS tour happening next month. However, it is expected to be the biggest K-pop tour, with stops in cities they have never visited before.
In the meantime, BTS released Permission to Dance on Stage – Live on July 18, which became the first Korean live album to enter the Billboard 200 Top 10. Fans can also look forward to BTS Movie Weeks from September 24 to October 5, 2025. The event will screen four remastered concert films, covering high points in BTS’s history, from breakthrough performances to iconic concerts like Wembley and their 2021 anniversary show.
