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BTS returns with world tour and album after four-year break
The K-pop sensation BTS has revealed plans for a 79-date global tour and a new album, marking their first full-group comeback since completing mandatory military service in South Korea.
Tour details and fan anticipation
The tour begins in South Korea this April and includes two London performances on July 6 and 7. Die-hard fans, known as ARMY, have eagerly awaited this announcement for months.
UK-based superfan Ashia, who discovered BTS in 2017, told BBC Newsbeat she refuses to miss their UK shows. "I can't let BTS be in the UK and not be at the concert," she said. Her last BTS concert was in London in 2018, a year before their historic back-to-back Wembley Stadium performances.
Due to extreme demand, Ashia is prepared to travel internationally if she fails to secure London tickets. The band's last tour, Permission to Dance on Stage, included just 12 dates between 2021 and 2022, with later shows canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Strategic hiatus and solo success
While BTS's global streams dropped by 24% in 2023 and 30% in 2024, experts say the decline was carefully managed. Dr. Felicity Davies, a South Korean culture researcher, explained that the band's military service hiatus was not a content drought but a deliberate drip-feed of solo projects, live streams, and individual tours.
South Korean law requires men to complete military service between ages 18 and 28, though K-pop stars can delay until 30. BTS members staggered their 20-month stints to minimize the group's absence. Despite the dip in group streams, solo projects thrived-Jung Kook's debut single Seven surpassed 2.5 billion streams, with his total solo output exceeding 9 billion.
Cultural impact and future prospects
BTS's return is a pivotal moment for South Korea's Hallyu (Korean Wave) phenomenon, which has brought K-pop, skincare, and dramas like Squid Game to global audiences. Dr. Davies noted concerns that K-pop's influence might wane after BTS's 2019 Wembley shows, but recent successes like the Golden Globe-winning K-Pop Demon Hunters (2025) suggest otherwise.
Fans remain confident in the band's enduring appeal. Lauryn Adene, a 22-year-old fan from Buckingham, praised their work ethic and bond with ARMY. "It's like a puzzle where all the pieces fit together," she said. "Whatever they come out with, I trust it'll be good."
What's next
The tour's full schedule will be unveiled in the coming weeks, with ticket sales expected to draw massive demand. BTS's new album is slated for release ahead of the tour's April kickoff.
