BTS will release a new studio album and embark on a world tour in 2026, confirming the K-pop supergroup’s return to full-group activity following a multi-year pause tied to mandatory military service.

According to reporting that cited an agency statement, the group’s fifth full-length album is scheduled for release on March 20, 2026, arriving at midnight ET. The record is said to feature 14 tracks, with promotional materials describing the project as shaped by the members’ personal reflections and perspectives developed during the hiatus.

The announcement also points to a major live comeback. BTS are expected to tour globally in support of the album, with the tour schedule set to be announced on January 14 at midnight Korean Standard Time, according to the same report.

If confirmed as described, it would be the group’s first large-scale tour since 2022, when BTS last performed a run of stadium shows under the “Permission to Dance on Stage” banner.

BTS — long one of HYBE’s most commercially influential acts — entered a period of reduced group activity as members fulfilled South Korea’s conscription requirements, while also pursuing solo releases. The group’s return has been closely watched both by fans and by the wider music business, given BTS’ outsized role in global touring and recorded music consumption.

In the lead-up to the official confirmation, fan speculation intensified around messages shared via the group’s fan platform Weverse, including handwritten notes referencing the date “2026.03.20,” which many interpreted as a signal of a coordinated comeback.

Further details — including the album title, lead single, and the geographic scope of the tour — have not yet been formally outlined in the information shared so far. The January 14 tour announcement is expected to clarify the first set of venues and dates, along with ticketing information and any presale mechanics for BTS’ global fan community.

BTS members (group): RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V, Jung Kook.

New BTS album: Fifth full-length release, out March 20, 2026 (midnight ET)