BTS are coming back! In their first collective WeVerse stream in nearly three years, the seven-piece supergroup revealed plans to officially return in 2026. That spring will see the arrival of the first BTS studio album since Be, which arrived in 2020, as well as the follow-up to their Permission to Dance On Stage Tour.
“We’ll be releasing a new BTS album in the spring of next year. Starting in July, all seven of us will begin working closely together on new music,” BTS shared. “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 … 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.”
In March 2022, BTS announced an extended hiatus, which made time for V, Suga, Jin, Jungkook, RM, Jimin, and J-Hope to complete their mandatory military service in South Korea and pursue solo endeavors as musicians.
Jin was the first to enlist in December 2022 and the first to be discharged last June. A few months later, J-hope was discharged as well, telling Rolling Stone that the time away was “invaluable.” He said, “The thoughts I had during those times have become an inseparable part of me, nurturing and shaping who I am today. Ultimately, they have influenced the stories I tell, the music I aspire to create.” In early June 2025, RM and V completed their service, followed by Jungkook and Jimin. Suga was discharged just a few days later.
“Please convey your warm regards and encouragement in your hearts. We are always grateful for your unwavering love and support for SUGA,” the group’s label, Big Hit, said at the time. “Our company will continue to put our utmost effort into supporting our artists. Thank you once again for your continued love and support for BTS.”
In a statement, Suga reflected on his time away from BTS and their fans. “I think that over the past two years, I took time to think about myself,” he said. “In particular, I also felt that I needed to temporarily distance myself and step back from the work I’d been doing for a long time. Before, I’d only been racing forward without looking back on myself, but this time gave me the opportunity to reflect on myself once again.” He added, “I wanted to sincerely thank my fans for waiting for me until now. I really missed you.”
From Rolling Stone US
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