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What is the story about?
BTS has officially announced the title of their highly anticipated fifth studio album. It's titled Arirang. The album is scheduled for a global release on March 20, 2026, at 1 pm KST, which translates to 9:30 am IST.
Arirang holds special significance, for it marks their first collaboration since the 2022 anthology album Proof. The new record consists of 14 tracks.
According to the group's label BigHit Music,the album highlights BTS' identity as a group formed in Korea, as well as "the longing and deep love that lie within their hearts."
"AsBTS prepares for its long-awaited return, it naturally looked back on its roots, beginnings and inner stories," BigHit said in a statement.
Arirang is a cherished Korean folk song, boasting roughly 3,600 variations across 60 different versions. Each rendition consistently incorporates a refrain similar to "arirang, arirang, arariyo." Estimated to be over 600 years old, the song holds a unique and central place in the Korean national identity.
Linguistic research indicates that the term Arirang carries profound, layered meanings, with ‘ari’ signifying ‘beautiful’ and ‘rang’ referring to ‘the groom’ in ancient Korean, leading to the common translation "my beloved one."
The song is believed to have originated in Jeongseon, Gangwon Province, with its earliest documented appearance dating back to a 1756 manuscript.
Following the release, BTS will go on a world tour beginning April 9 at the Goyang Sports Complex outside Seoul. The tour will include 34 cities and 79 events, making it the largest in K-pop history, and will have a 360-degree stage design.
The group last held a global tour in 2022, which concluded with their Permission to Dance on Stage concerts in Las Vegas. According to Billboard Boxscore, the tour generated $75.4 million in revenue from 11 shows.
As part of their comeback, BTS has also launched a new official website, where more information about the album and tour will be unveiled in the coming weeks.
BTS's fifth studio album will be released in an extensive array of physical and digital formats to provide fans with various options for their collection. The standard release features two distinct editions: ARIRANG (Rooted in Korea Ver) and ARIRANG (Rooted in Music Ver). While both versions include a photobook, CD-R, photo card sets, and exclusive packaging, the contents will vary by version.
Arirang holds special significance, for it marks their first collaboration since the 2022 anthology album Proof. The new record consists of 14 tracks.
'ARIRANG'
Pre-order Notice
???? https://t.co/8085O9DrBs#BTS #방탄소년단 #BTS_ARIRANG
— BTS_official (@bts_bighit) January 16, 2026
According to the group's label BigHit Music,the album highlights BTS' identity as a group formed in Korea, as well as "the longing and deep love that lie within their hearts."
"AsBTS prepares for its long-awaited return, it naturally looked back on its roots, beginnings and inner stories," BigHit said in a statement.
Arirang is a cherished Korean folk song, boasting roughly 3,600 variations across 60 different versions. Each rendition consistently incorporates a refrain similar to "arirang, arirang, arariyo." Estimated to be over 600 years old, the song holds a unique and central place in the Korean national identity.
Linguistic research indicates that the term Arirang carries profound, layered meanings, with ‘ari’ signifying ‘beautiful’ and ‘rang’ referring to ‘the groom’ in ancient Korean, leading to the common translation "my beloved one."
The song is believed to have originated in Jeongseon, Gangwon Province, with its earliest documented appearance dating back to a 1756 manuscript.
Following the release, BTS will go on a world tour beginning April 9 at the Goyang Sports Complex outside Seoul. The tour will include 34 cities and 79 events, making it the largest in K-pop history, and will have a 360-degree stage design.
The group last held a global tour in 2022, which concluded with their Permission to Dance on Stage concerts in Las Vegas. According to Billboard Boxscore, the tour generated $75.4 million in revenue from 11 shows.
As part of their comeback, BTS has also launched a new official website, where more information about the album and tour will be unveiled in the coming weeks.
BTS's fifth studio album will be released in an extensive array of physical and digital formats to provide fans with various options for their collection. The standard release features two distinct editions: ARIRANG (Rooted in Korea Ver) and ARIRANG (Rooted in Music Ver). While both versions include a photobook, CD-R, photo card sets, and exclusive packaging, the contents will vary by version.
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