BTS 2026 Comeback: World Tour and New Album Confirmed After Military Service
Korean superstars announce return during emotional reunion livestream watched by 7.3 million fans
BTS has officially announced their return to music with a new album and world tour planned for spring 2026. The announcement came during an emotional Weverse livestream on July 1, 2025, marking the first time all seven members appeared together since completing their mandatory military service.
The 30-minute broadcast drew over 7.3 million real-time viewers, making it one of the platform's most-watched events. This was their first joint livestream since September 2022, before members began enlisting for military duty.
During the stream, the group made a collective statement: "We'll be releasing a new BTS album in the spring of next year ... We're also planning a world tour alongside the new album. We'll be visiting fans all around the world, so we hope you're as excited as we are."
RM revealed the group would relocate to the United States starting in July to begin working on new music together. "Starting from July, we will gather and stick together in earnest to focus on working on music," RM explained. "Our full-group album will really be released next spring, and you won't have to wait until July or August."
Jungkook emphasized their renewed focus, commenting: "This time, we're really going to go all the way back to our original mindset and gather together." Jimin added: "We'll work really hard and [prepare the album] quickly so that you won't have to wait too long. I'm just happy that we're all together."
The comeback follows the completion of all members' 18-month mandatory military service. The final members, Jimin and Jungkook, were discharged on June 11, 2025, with SUGA scheduled for discharge on June 21 as the last to complete service.
Jin was the first to enlist in December 2022, followed by j-hope in April 2023. Their return marks the end of a hiatus that began in 2022 when the group announced they would focus on solo projects and military obligations.
The upcoming release will be BTS's first new group album since 2022's anthology album "Proof." The members confirmed the album would reflect each member's individual growth and experiences from their time apart.
RM promised fans: "We'll communicate [with you] as much as possible through [Weverse] live broadcasts or social media, so if you give us just a little bit of time, we'll properly show you everything all at once."
The group confirmed their world tour would begin in spring 2026, with RM stating: "Of course, we will also be going on a tour, a world tour, starting next spring. We'll be going to see you here and there all over the world, so please look forward to it."
This will be their first global tour since the record-breaking "Permission to Dance On Stage" shows that concluded in 2022, which drew over four million fans through in-person and digital events.
While preparing for the group comeback, individual members remain active. j-hope is set to headline Lollapalooza Berlin on July 13, following his successful "HOPE ON THE STAGE" solo tour. Jin recently completed his "#RUNSEOKJIN_EP.TOUR" with emotional shows in Korea.
The spring 2026 timeline allows BTS to balance their group preparations with ongoing solo commitments while meeting fan expectations for their highly anticipated reunion.
The comeback has already influenced other HYBE artists, with reports that Enhypen shifted their comeback from March to January to avoid competing with BTS's return. Industry analysts predict significant revenue boosts for HYBE when BTS resumes full group activities.
After nearly four years apart as a complete group, BTS's return represents one of the most anticipated comebacks in K-pop history, promising to showcase both their individual growth and collective chemistry that made them global superstars.
