Global K-pop sensation BTS unveils new album ‘Arirang’

Global K-pop sensation BTS has announced its new full-length album titled ‘Arirang,’ inspired by South Korea’s centuries-old folk song of the same name.

The album will be released on March 20, marking the group’s return with all seven members after nearly four years.

In a statement on Thursday, label Big Hit Music said the album reflects BTS’s cultural roots while expressing themes of love, longing and emotional connection. The word Arirang broadly means “My Beloved One” and holds deep emotional and cultural significance in Korea, having been sung for generations in daily life, protests and national events.

The album will feature 14 tracks and was recorded in late 2025, according to the label. BTS last released an anthology album, Proof, in June 2022. Their most recent full studio album was Map of the Soul: 7, released in 2020.

Alongside the album announcement, BTS also unveiled plans for a massive world tour, set to begin on April 9 at the Goyang Sports Complex in Gyeonggi Province of South Korea. Tour details were shared via the global fan platform Weverse.

The tour will span 34 cities across Asia, North America, Europe and South America, with a total of 79 shows, setting a record for the highest number of concerts by a single K-pop group.

Following the South Korea leg, the North American tour will start in Florida on April 25, covering 12 cities with 28 shows. The European leg will run from June to July, featuring concerts in five cities including London and Paris, before moving on to South America.

BTS last toured in 2022 with the Permission to Dance on Stage shows in Las Vegas. The upcoming album and tour mark the group’s most significant comeback in years.