Global K-pop sensation BTS has officially announced their return with a new album scheduled for release on March 20, 2026, marking their first group release in nearly four years. The announcement, shared by BigHit Music on social media, confirms the seven-member group will end their hiatus following the completion of mandatory military service.
According to NBC LA Entertainment, the comeback date was revealed through a social media post that simply stated “March 20th comeback confirmed.” The group’s hiatus began as members began fulfilling South Korea’s mandatory military service requirements, with rapper Suga being the last member to complete his service in June 2025.
The upcoming album represents BTS’s first group project since their 2022 anthology “Proof,” and their first studio album since 2020’s “Be.” Consequence reports that the group had previously teased both a new album and world tour during summer 2025, noting that work on the project would begin in July of that year.
According to statements from the group, the 2026 album will incorporate input from all seven members — RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook. “Since it will be a group album, it will reflect each member’s thoughts and ideas,” they explained. “We’re approaching the album with the same mindset we had when we first started.”
The announcement comes as welcome news to the group’s massive Southern California fanbase, which has consistently shown strong support for BTS through sold-out stadium shows at venues like the Rose Bowl and SoFi Stadium. The forthcoming world tour is expected to include multiple Southern California dates, though specific venues and ticket information have not yet been released.
BTS’s strategic approach to military enlistment allowed members to pursue solo projects during the hiatus while ensuring the group could reunite for their 2026 comeback. The March 20 release date positions the album as a spring comeback, with the world tour likely extending through summer and fall 2026.
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