BTS Reunion Album Release Date Revealed After 4-Year Hiatus

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BTS has some dynamite news.

The popular K-pop group, consisting of Jimin, Jung Kook, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, and V, is set to release new music in March. This will be their first new release in almost four years, following their 2022 album Proof.

Okay, so you will NOT believe this! I nearly fainted when I got the letter – a handwritten letter, can you even imagine?! It was from them, and it wasn’t just any letter, it was announcing their comeback album! And the date… March 20th, 2026. I’ve marked it in every calendar I own, like, a million times. Seriously, 2026.3.20 – it’s going to be legendary. I’m already counting down the days!

In a message published by Variety, Jin shared that while he performed solo in 2023 and 2024, he’s now happy to be performing with his group again.

RM shared that he’d been eagerly anticipating this moment, saying he’d waited for it more than anyone. Jungkook then asked fans to continue supporting them throughout the year.

J-Hope added, “Finally, it’s the year that we will all be together with you!!”

Fans have been eagerly anticipating their reunion. The group took a long break so its members could fulfill mandatory military service in South Korea, which all able-bodied men are required to complete.

As the oldest member of BTS, Jin was the first to begin his mandatory military service in December 2022. He completed his service and was discharged in June 2024, where he was joyfully met by his bandmates outside the base. RM even surprised him with a special welcome – playing their hit song “Dynamite” on the saxophone as Jin left.

J-Hope began his military service in April 2023, and the other four members of the group followed in December of the same year.

Jimin and Jung Kook completed their service on June 11, 2025, following RM and V, who finished theirs the day before.

The following month, BTS started teasing a musical reunion.

Jungkook shared in a July livestream that because the upcoming album will feature contributions from all the members, it will showcase everyone’s individual perspectives. He also explained they’re creating it with the same spirit they had when they first began as a group.

For more about BTS and other K-pop idols, read on…

J-Hope began his mandatory military service in April 2023. The other four members of the group then enlisted in December 2023.

Jimin and Jung Kook completed their service on June 11, 2025, following RM and V, who finished their duties the day before.

The following month, BTS started teasing a musical reunion.

Oh my gosh, Jungkook actually said this, and I’m still reeling! He was talking on livestream in July and explained that because this is a group album, it’s going to be so personal – really showing what each of us, the members, are thinking and feeling. But the best part? He said they’re making it with the same energy and passion they had when they first started out! It’s like… a full-circle moment, and I’m already obsessed!

For more about BTS and other K-pop idols, read on…

BTS, also known as the Bangtan Boys and an acronym for Beyond the Scene, is a seven-member group – RM, Suga, Jimin, Jin, Jungkook, J-Hope, and V – that formed in 2013 when they were all teenagers. The group, consisting of three rappers and four singers, has revolutionized K-pop by writing and performing songs with deeply personal and socially conscious lyrics, a departure from the traditionally polished and aspirational themes of the genre. This approach has propelled them to become the biggest K-pop group globally. They’ve achieved unprecedented success, including four consecutive number one albums on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart – a first for any Korean act. In fact, they were the first group since The Beatles to earn three number one albums in under a year. BTS has collaborated with major artists like Nicki Minaj and Halsey, appeared on Saturday Night Live, and even addressed the United Nations. Their single “Dynamite,” their first song entirely in English, finally landed them at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, a long-held ambition.

The girl group, consisting of Rose, Jennie, Lisa, and Jisoo, has achieved global success comparable to BTS. Since their debut in August 2016, they’ve become the highest-ranking female K-pop group on the Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard 200 charts. They’ve collaborated with major artists like Dua Lipa, Lady Gaga, and Cardi B, and have made appearances on popular shows such as The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and Good Morning America. They were the first K-pop girl group featured on the cover of Billboard magazine, and their music videos have broken numerous YouTube records. In 2019, they delivered a highly praised performance at the Coachella festival, a first for a K-pop girl group (Epik High performed there in 2016 as the first K-pop group overall). To experience their talent, check out their hit single “Lovesick Girls” and its stunning music video from their debut album, The Album – you’re sure to enjoy it.

This seven-member group – featuring JB, Mark, Jackson, Jinyoung, Youngjae, BamBam, and Youngyeom – is considered a strong contender against BTS for the Top Social Artist award at this year’s Billboard Music Awards. Debuting in January 2014, the group is impressively international, with members from Korea, Hong Kong, Thailand, and the United States. Although they haven’t yet reached the same level of fame as BTS, they recently achieved a significant milestone: they became the first Korean act to appear on Billboard’s Artist 100 chart since PSY in April 2016, entering at number 45. Their song “Lullaby,” a smooth and R&B-influenced track, is a great example of their music and has already garnered over 110 million views on YouTube.

Another group competing at the BBMAs is Exo, a boy band that originally had 12 members divided into two subgroups – Exo-K and Exo-M – performing in Korean and Mandarin. Since 2014, the group has streamlined to nine members: Xiumin, Suho, Lay, Baekhyun, Chen, Chanyeol, D.O., Kai, and Sehun. When they debuted in 2012, they were presented with a fantastical backstory about being extraterrestrial beings with superpowers. Beyond the elaborate concept, Exo is known for their innovative music, with each song offering a unique sound. Their fifth studio album, Don’t Mess Up My Tempo, released in November 2018, reached No. 23 on the Billboard 200, their best chart performance to date. A good example of their style is the reggae-influenced song “Ko Ko Bop.” This album also marked their last release as a full nine-member group. Because military service is required in South Korea, Xiumin and D.O. were unable to participate in 2019’s Obsession, and Lay only appeared on the Chinese version. With only six members, Obsession peaked at No. 182 on the Billboard 200.

This girl group first debuted in 2007 and has evolved their music over the years. They started with a bright, electropop sound, but have since blended in elements of EDM, hip-hop, and R&B. They gained international recognition in 2013 when their song “I Got a Boy” won a YouTube Music Award. Billboard later named them the best K-pop girl group of the 2010s. The group’s future became uncertain when three members—Tiffany, Sooyoung, and Seohyun—left their agency, SM Entertainment, to focus on acting and solo careers. In 2018, the remaining five members—Sunny, Taeyeon, Yoona, Yuri, and Hyoyeon—formed a subgroup called Oh!GG and released their first album, Lil’ Touch. If you want to hear what made them famous, check out their hit song, “Gee.”

The seven members of Monsta X – Shownu, Wonho, Minhyuk, Kihyun, Hyungwon, Joohoney, and I.M. – were chosen by fans through the South Korean reality competition show, No.Mercy. The group’s name, Monsta X, has two meanings: it represents “monsters taking over the K-pop world,” and also a play on the French word “mon,” meaning “my,” creating “my star.” Known for their sophisticated performances, they offer a more mature style compared to many other K-pop boy bands. After gaining attention with a 2018 performance at KIIS-FM Jingle Ball – a first for a K-pop group – and a collaboration with Steve Aoki in 2019, the group faced a setback with Wonho’s departure that October. They achieved their breakthrough with the release of All About Luv in February 2020, their first full English-language album. This album marked their first appearance on the Billboard 200 chart, where it reached No. 5.

This eight-member guy group, comprised of Hongjoong, Seonghwa, Yunho, Yeosang, San, Mingi, Wooyoung, and Jongho, only released their debut album in October 2018 after a YouTube series chronicled their training in Los Angeles. While their name sounds like a reference to a decade no member was alive during, it actually stands for “A TEEnager Z,” which is better than the original moniker of KQ Fellaz, named after their label KQ Entertainment. Check out “Say My Name” to see them in all their tightly choreographed glory. 

Though called ‘Seventeen,’ this group actually consists of 13 members, split into three specialized teams: Hip-Hop, Vocal, and Performance. Before officially debuting with a live show in May 2015, the members were featured on the show ‘Seventeen TV,’ which followed their training process. Known for being a “self-producing” group – meaning they write their own songs – they quickly became prominent in the American K-pop scene, even without major chart hits. Just two years into their career, they earned a coveted closing spot at KCON 2017 LA, a large K-pop convention in Los Angeles – a position typically reserved for the most popular artists. For a stunning example of their synchronized dancing, check out the music video for their smooth track, “Home.”

Debuting in 2006, this five-member group has become incredibly influential in K-pop and one of the best-selling boy bands globally. They’ve sold over 140 million records worldwide, surpassing groups like the Backstreet Boys and the Jackson Five. In 2016 and 2017, they made history as the first Korean artists to be featured on Forbes’ Celebrity 100 list and their 30 Under 30 list of influential musicians. The group faced challenges in early 2019 when Seungri retired from the entertainment industry following allegations of involvement in a prostitution ring, leading them to continue as a four-member group.

This girl group, consisting of 12 members, first appeared on the scene in 2016, initially performing as three smaller groups. It wasn’t until 2018, with the release of their debut EP, [++], that all 12 vocalists finally came together. You can see them perform their popular and uniquely titled lead single, “favOriTe,” in the official music video.

This popular K-pop group, originally five members but now four, is known as the Princes of K-pop due to their significant influence in Korea. They started in 2008 with a modern R&B style and have since explored various genres like funk rock, hip-hop, and EDM. In 2011, they made history as the first Asian artists to perform at the legendary Abbey Road Studios in London. Sadly, in December 2017, they experienced a great loss with the death of founding member Jonghyun.

The group, consisting of Seulgi, Irene, Wendy, Joy, and Yeri, explores the many sides of womanhood through their music. They switch between upbeat, pop-focused songs representing their “red” side and more mature, R&B tracks showcasing their “velvet” side. Their first single, “Happiness,” released in August 2014, was produced with help from Chad Hugo of The Neptunes. By 2015, the video for “Dumb Dumb” was recognized by Rolling Stone as one of the year’s best music videos, despite not being in English. In 2019, they made history as the first K-pop girl group in three years to tour North America. That year, they also collaborated with Ellie Goulding and Diplo, adding Korean lyrics to a remix of their song “Close to Me.”

NCT is a unique and ambitious project in the world of K-pop. It’s not a single group, but rather a system that allows for an unlimited number of members to be divided into different sub-units based in cities around the globe. Currently, NCT has 23 members split into four main groups: NCT U (a rotating group formed for specific projects), NCT 127 (based in Seoul), NCT Dream (focused on youth, with members who ‘graduate’ at age 18), and WayV (based in China). The name NCT stands for Neo Culture Technology. All of the members came together for the first time on a project in 2018 with the release of NCT 2018 Empathy, and again in October 2020 with NCT 2020 Resonance Pt. 1. This album included all 21 members of NCT 127, NCT Dream, and WayV, as well as new members Shotaro and Sungchan. You can see many of them perform together in the visually stunning video for “Make a Wish (Birthday Song).”

Okay, so listen, I’ve been following K-Pop for years, and when SM Entertainment announced SuperM in 2019, I nearly lost it! It wasn’t just a new group, it was a dream team! Each of the seven members already had a huge, dedicated fanbase because they were already stars! Like, Taemin from SHINee? Iconic. Baekhyun and Kai from EXO? Forget about it! And then Taeyong and Mark from NCT 127, plus Ten and Lucas from WayV? Seriously, SM knew what they were doing! Everyone was calling them the Avengers of K-Pop, and honestly, it fit! Their very first EP just shot to number one on the Billboard 200 – can you believe it? The first Asian artist to ever do that on their debut! And then in 2020, they dropped ‘Super One,’ which was amazing, and they did a collab with Marvel?! I mean, come on, it was everything I ever wanted and more. I’ve been obsessed ever since!

The group, consisting of Soobin, Yeonjun, Beomgyu, Taehyun, and Huening Kai, first became known in 2019 with their debut EP, The Dream Chapter: Star. This album reached No. 140 on the Billboard 200 chart, which was a great accomplishment for a new group. Since then, they’ve released six more albums.

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2026-01-02 03:18