BTS Announces The 5th Album and World Tour: March 20, 2026 Comeback Ends Nearly Four-Year Hiatus

After years of waiting, silence, solo eras, and global anticipation, BTS is officially back.

BigHit Music has confirmed that BTS will release BTS The 5th Album on March 20, 2026, marking their first full-group album in three years and nine months. Alongside the album announcement, the group also revealed plans for a global world tour, signaling the true end of BTS’ hiatus following mandatory military service.

This comeback is more than just a release date — it represents a reset, a reunion, and a redefinition of BTS’ future as a group. With all seven members reunited and creatively involved, 2026 is shaping up to be one of the most important years in BTS history.

BTS The 5th Album: A Meaningful Return After Years Apart

According to BigHit Music, BTS The 5th Album holds special significance for both the group and ARMY.

This is not a continuation — it’s a new chapter.

The album:

• Is BTS’ first group album since 2022’s Proof

• Comes after nearly four years of hiatus

• Reflects the members’ personal growth, struggles, and emotions

• Represents the musical direction BTS will take going forward

BigHit Music emphasized that all seven members were deeply involved in the songwriting and creative process, infusing the album with their individual colors while staying true to BTS’ core identity.

Tracklist and Theme: Honest, Personal, and True to BTS

BTS The 5th Album features 14 tracks, each designed as a message to ARMY — fans who waited patiently through enlistments, solo projects, and uncertainty.

The label describes the album as:

• Honest

• Emotionally grounded

• Musically “most true to BTS”

Rather than chasing trends, the group approached this project with the same mindset they had at the beginning of their career — sincerity first.

As BTS themselves previously stated:

“Since it will be a group album, it will reflect each member’s thoughts and ideas. We’re approaching it with the same mindset we had when we first started.”

Release Date and Pre-Order Details

Here’s everything confirmed so far:

• Album Title: BTS The 5th Album

• Pre-Order Opens: January 16, 2026 at 11 AM (KST)

• Release Date: March 20, 2026 at 1 PM (KST)

The March release officially ends BTS’s longest group hiatus since debut.

BTS World Tour Announcement: Dates Coming Soon

Alongside the album, BigHit Music also confirmed that BTS will embark on a world tour following the release.

While full details are still under wraps:

• World Tour Schedule Announcement: January 14, 2026 at 12 AM (KST)

• Tour will follow the album release

• Global dates expected across major regions

This will be BTS’ first world tour since the pre-enlistment era, making it one of the most anticipated live music events of the decade.

Military Service Complete: All Seven Members Reunited

The comeback comes after all seven members completed South Korea’s mandatory military service.

• Suga was the final member discharged in June 2025, serving as a social service agent due to a shoulder injury

• RM, Jin, Jimin, V, Jung Kook, and j-hope served in the military

• Enlistments were staggered, allowing members to release solo music during the hiatus

With enlistment now behind them, BTS is officially reunited — creatively and physically — for the first time since 2022.

Why BTS’ 2026 Comeback Is So Important

This album isn’t just another BTS release.

It marks:

• Their first full studio album since Be (2020)

• Their first group release after military service

• A creative reset rather than a nostalgia play

• The beginning of BTS’ next long-term era

Rather than rushing back, BTS took time to live, reflect, and grow — and that lived experience is expected to shape the music deeply.

What Comes Next for BTS and ARMY

With:

• A confirmed album date

• A world tour on the way

• Full creative involvement from all seven members

2026 is shaping up to be a defining year not just for BTS, but for K-pop globally.

BigHit Music closed their announcement with a direct message to fans:

“We sincerely thank all the ARMY who have waited patiently for so long.”

That wait is finally over.

BTS The 5th Album is not about reclaiming past success — it’s about moving forward together.

After nearly four years apart as a group, BTS returns with new stories, deeper emotions, and a renewed sense of purpose. With a world tour looming and millions of fans ready, March 20, 2026 won’t just be a comeback date — it will be a cultural moment.

ARMY waited.

BTS returned.

And 2026 is about to change everything.