Not only are BTS set to tour the world once more, but they’ve just announced that they’re set to return to music with their upcoming album ARIRANG. Set for release on March 20, 2026 (Friday), the album is available for pre-ordering at both online and offline retailers. Pre-save the fourteen-track album on your preferred digital streaming site here.
While details about the album’s tracklist and the like have yet to be revealed, it’s been noted that the album’s title packs a lot of meaning in the music cultural landscape of South Korea. “Arirang,” literally translated as “my beloved one,” is a traditional Korean folk song that has been included twice on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list.
During the Japanese occupation of Korea, the song became an anthem of resistance when it became a criminal offense for anyone to sing patriotic songs, including the country’s national anthem. Today, the song has become a symbol of patriotism and cultural identity for both North and South Korea, being translated into more than 60 versions.
This follows the recent announcement of BTS’s upcoming World Tour, scheduled to take place from 2026 to 2027 in nations worldwide. Notably, the seven-piece boy group will be visiting the Philippines for the first time in nine years, bringing their live music to Manila for two nights. From tour dates to concert locations, find out more about BTS’s upcoming World Tour here.
In anticipation of ARIRANG, listen to Proof here: