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BTS has officially announced the release date for their long-awaited reunion album, marking the group's first full comeback in nearly four years. The K-pop superstars will drop the new project on March 20, 2026, following an extended hiatus to complete South Korea's mandatory military service.
The announcement was revealed through handwritten letters sent to select members of the group's official fan club, BTS ARMY, each bearing the date "2026.3.20." The news was later confirmed by South Korean media outlets.
The upcoming album will be BTS' first group release since Proof, which arrived in June 2022 shortly before the band paused group activities. Since then, all seven members — RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook — have pursued solo projects while fulfilling their national service obligations.
Several members shared personal messages alongside the announcement. Jin reflected on the journey back to group work, writing that after years of solo activities, he can finally greet fans "as part of a team again." RM described the reunion as a moment he had been eagerly waiting for, while Jung Kook asked fans to continue supporting the group as they enter a new chapter together. J-Hope added that 2026 marks the year BTS will finally be reunited with their audience as a complete group.
BTS' hiatus began as the members enlisted for military service, a legal requirement for all able-bodied men in South Korea. Jin, the oldest member, enlisted first in December 2022 and was discharged in June 2024, with his bandmates welcoming him back at the military base. J-Hope followed in April 2023, while RM, Suga, Jimin, V and Jung Kook enlisted in December 2023. Jimin and Jung Kook were the final members to complete their service on June 11, 2025.
The group began teasing their return shortly after the final discharges. During a livestream in July, Jung Kook shared that the album would reflect the ideas and perspectives of all seven members, noting that BTS is approaching the project with the same mindset they had at the start of their career. The group also confirmed plans to tour following the album's release.
Formed in 2013, BTS rose from the K-pop scene to global superstardom, becoming one of the most successful music acts of their generation with multiple Billboard No. 1 hits and albums. Their reunion album is already shaping up to be one of the most highly anticipated releases of 2026.
