MANILA, Philippines — Global K-pop sensation BTS will make their long-awaited return as a complete group on March 20, ending a nearly four-year hiatus that began with mandatory military service, their agency Big Hit Music confirmed on Thursday.
The comeback will mark BTS’s first full-group album release since the anthology album “Proof” in June 2022. All seven members — RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook — have now completed their military duties. A large-scale world tour is planned to follow the album’s release, the company said.
Fans, known collectively as ARMY, first learned of the comeback date through handwritten letters sent to their homes ahead of the New Year. Each letter included the date “2026.03.20,” a subtle reveal that quickly spread across fan communities worldwide.
The letters also contained personal messages from each member. RM wrote, “We’ve waited more earnestly than anyone else,” while Jin told fans, “Thank you so much for waiting.” Suga added, “Let’s have fun together this year too. I love you.” J-Hope wrote, “What we thought of has finally become reality!” Jimin said, “The year we meet has come,” and V promised, “In 2026, we will make even more good memories, so please look forward to it!” Jungkook closed with, “We miss you! Please take care of us this year too.”
The letters were sent as a gift to fans who have maintained memberships on the global fan platform Weverse over the past three years. Fans who did not receive physical copies will be able to view the same messages digitally on Weverse later this month, Big Hit Music said.
BTS also rang in the New Year with fans during a live broadcast on Weverse on Dec. 31, appearing together as a full group. During the stream, the members reflected on the past year and shared their hopes for 2026. “I hope we can make a safe comeback this year and have a successful album,” they said. “Let’s make BTS a huge success.”
More details about the album and the upcoming world tour will be announced through the group’s official channels, according to the agency.
Source: BTS to return March 20 with first full-group album since 2022
