After nearly four years, global sensation BTS is preparing to embark on a highly anticipated world tour and release a new album.
The K-pop megastars had announced a hiatus in 2022 to allow all seven members to fulfill their mandatory military service obligations in South Korea.
Following their reunion last summer, the group is set to release a new album and has unveiled plans for an extensive 79-date world tour.
The tour is scheduled to commence in South Korea in April, with the group slated to perform at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for two nights on July 6 and 7.
This announcement marks a momentous occasion for devoted fans – known as the ARMY – who have eagerly awaited the news since it was initially hinted at months ago.
In anticipation of the official announcement, BBC Newsbeat has spoken with dedicated BTS fans to explore the group’s unique appeal, as well as consulted an expert to analyze the strategic planning behind their comeback, designed to maximize anticipation and impact.
BTS’s previous tour, Permission to Dance on Stage, comprised 12 dates between 2021 and 2022.
Ashia, a UK-based fan, is among those preparing to secure tickets for the upcoming tour.
Speaking to BBC Newsbeat, she shared that she “fell in love” with BTS in 2017 and has been a dedicated fan ever since.
“I can’t let BTS be in the UK and not be at the concert,” she stated.
Ashia last saw the group perform live in London in 2018 – a year before BTS made history as the first K-pop band to headline consecutive shows at Wembley Stadium.
Those performances marked the last time UK fans had the opportunity to see BTS live, as numerous dates on their subsequent tour were canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Anticipating significant demand, Ashia expressed her willingness to travel to multiple countries if necessary, should she be unable to obtain tickets for the London shows.
Despite the extended absence of live performances, BTS fans have remained engaged through various means.
At first glance, it might appear that BTS’s hiatus has led to a decline in interest in the group.
According to data provided by Spotify, global streams of their music experienced a 24% decrease in 2023 and a 30% decrease in 2024.
However, numbers remained steady in 2025, and the streaming platform anticipates a surge in 2026.
What these figures do not fully convey is the carefully orchestrated management of BTS’s absence during their military service.
Dr. Felicity Davies explains that rather than a complete void, the hiatus was marked by a consistent flow of content, including solo projects and tours, as well as live streams from individual members.
Dr. Davies, who specializes in South Korean culture, told Newsbeat that the requirement for military service is “well-established.”
“Fans know of it very well. They’re preparing for it,” she says.
While all South Korean men are required to complete military service between the ages of 18 and 28, the government amended the law to permit K-pop stars to defer their service until the age of 30.
In BTS’s case, each member strategically staggered their approximately 20-month service periods to minimize disruptions when all seven members were absent.
Even as streams for the entire band declined, several solo projects achieved significant success.
Singer Jung Kook’s debut single, Seven, broke a streaming record, surpassing 2.5 billion streams, while his total solo output has exceeded 9 billion.
BTS’s comeback represents a significant event not only for fans but also for South Korea as a whole.
The band played a pivotal role in the Hallyu phenomenon, which refers to the global spread of South Korean pop culture.
This includes skincare products, dramas such as Squid Game, and other K-pop groups dominating social media platforms.
Felicity says there have been fears for a while now that the “bubble would burst” and K-pop’s global influence would start to decline.
She says the band’s 2019 Wembley performance was “the moment – now we’re going to see the downfall of Hallyu”.
But Korean culture keeps proving her wrong.
Just when she thinks things have reached a peak, Felicity says “something will come along” to give K-pop “this whole new lens and lease of life”.
K-Pop Demon Hunters, which won a Golden Globe this week, was 2025’s success story, and it’s likely BTS will rule 2026.
But do fans think they’ve still got what it takes?
Lauryn Adene, 22, from Buckingham, has been a fan since 2021 and feels there’s just something about BTS.
“They have a special bond between themselves and between their fans as well,” she says.
“I’m really inspired by how hard-working they are.”
And while the band’s solo projects have kept fans going, she says there’s no substitute for the full package.
“It’s like a puzzle where all the pieces are just fitting together really nicely,” she says.
“So whatever they come out with, I can just trust that it’s going to be good.”
Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays – or listen back here.
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