BTS are coming back with their highly anticipated albums are like everyone expected, they are creating a new record everyday. The band is already rewriting
history with their comeback album ARIRANG, and the album has not even been released yet! The global K-pop icons have crossed a staggering 4 million pre-orders within just one week, sending ARMYs into celebration mode worldwide. The achievement has proven one thing - no band in the world can rival BTS' global popularity. Read on to know how BTS is setting new records with ARIRANG and if they can surpass one of the world's biggest popstar - Taylor Swift.
BTS album ARIRANG pre-sales on fire
According to album distributor YG Plus, BTS’ fifth full-length album ARIRANG recorded 4.06 million pre-orders as of January 22, just seven days after pre-orders opened on January 16. The number has already surpassed the group’s previous record set by their 2020 album MAP OF THE SOUL: 7, which registered 3.42 million pre-orders in its first week and later crossed 5 million total sales on the Circle Chart. This album is special because ARMYs will get to see their favourite boyband together, performing as a group after a gap of 3 years. The excitement is getting reflected in the tremendous numbers.
What makes this milestone even more impressive is the speed at which ARIRANG is gaining momentum. With nearly two months still left before the album’s official release on March 20, 2026, it will be interesting to see how high the final pre-order count will climb.
Will BTS break Taylor Swift's record?
The excitement around BTS’ comeback is visible across multiple platforms. Following the announcement of the album and the accompanying world tour on Weverse, BTS’ official fan club membership reportedly tripled in subscriptions. On Spotify, ARIRANG’s pre-save numbers crossed 1 million within just two days, doubled to 2 million by the fourth day, and continue to rise rapidly. Many fans are now wondering if BTS will surpass the current record for most pre-saves, held by Taylor Swift’s album The Life of A Showgirl at a mammoth 6 million.
More about ARIRANG
BTS officially unveiled the album title ARIRANG on January 15 in an emotional and creative way. Each of the seven members shared a special audio message, allowing fans to hear Jin, RM, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook together again after years of wait. The announcement came shortly after the group revealed the schedule for their massive world tour, which will kick off following the album release.
