After a full year of speculation and rumors, BTS finally gave the update millions of fans were waiting to hear: BTS is officially back.
During a 30-minute livestream session on superfan platform Weverse that drew a massive 7.3 million real‑time viewers, members RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, j‑hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook came together to share the news and what’s on their hearts following their mandatory military duties completed. Marking their first full-group broadcast together in almost three years, the reunion included BTS’ plans for a new album in Spring 2026, followed by a world tour and more promises to show that the global phenomenon that is BTS is truly reignited.
“We’ll be releasing a new BTS album in the spring of next year,” the guys confirmed to the millions of viewers. “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. We’re approaching the album with the same mindset we had when we first started.”
The 2026 record will be the group’s first new body of work after the 2022 anthology project Proof that looked back at nine years of music alongside new tracks like “Yet to Come” and “For Youth.”
New BTS World Tour Coming Soon, Too
Alongside the new music news, BTS added they’ll head on tour to mark their first since their “Permission to Dance on Stage” treks that acted like mini residencies with four or more stadium shows in Seoul, Los Angeles and Las Vegas.
“We’ll be visiting fans all around the world,” the group added. “We hope you’re as excited as we are.”
Before the comeback officially begins, BTS’ solo activities will keep the momentum alive: Jin just kicked off his #RUNSEOKJIN_EP.TOUR live trek that is set to visit North America, Asia and Europe this summer. Plus, j-hope is slated to headline Lollapalooza Berlin on July 13.
Showing BTS’ brotherly bond continues to this day, the members showered one another with praise during the livestream as well. They commented how Jin’s Seoul shows at the end of June created “such a great show — Jin was amazing on the piano, and it was a show that only Jin could pull off.” They also hyped up j-hope’s upcoming headlining slot saying “We’re really looking forward to the performance. He’s going to do great.”
But First: BTS’ New Live Album
Before the comeback festivities officially begin, the K-pop kings recently announced plans to release their first-ever live album with PERMISSION TO DANCE ON STAGE – LIVE out on July 18. The live LP will include 22 tracks performed during the “Permission to Dance on Stage” stadium tour including massive hits such as “Dynamite,” “Butter,” “Life Goes On,” “Boy With Luv,” “ON,” and more.
The album marks new territory for BTS and their fans. The group has sent six albums to Number One on the Billboard 200 since first hitting the top spot with 2018’s historic Love Yourself: Tear. If BTS manage to land a seventh chart-topper in America, it will see the group reclaim their title as the K-pop act with the most Number One albums in America.