BTS stand to make $1bn as they announce mammoth comeback tour

K-pop idols BTS have announced a globe-spanning, 79-date world tour, marking their return to the stage after a four-year hiatus.

With dates in London, Tokyo, Munich, Sydney and Los Angeles, it’s likely to be one of the biggest tours of the year, especially as the band haven’t played outside of the US and South Korea since 2018.

Their previous world tour set records for a K-pop act – earning about $246 million (£182 million) at the global box office, with BTS becoming the first Korean act to headline Wembley Stadium.

The tour will kick off with three nights in South Korea’s Goyang Stadium on 9 April , and extend into 2027, with dates across Asia, America and Europe.

It will hit London for two nights on 6 and 7 July, 2026.

According to Billboard, the group stand to make more than $1 billion (£740 million) from their reunion – derived from concerts, merchandise, licensing, album sales and streaming.

A message on the band’s website said more dates would be announced in Japan, the Middle East “and more”.

Formed in the early 2010s, BTS were at the forefront of popularising K-pop with mainstream audiences in the west, thanks to their energetic blend of slick dance pop and hip-hop, and surprisingly introspective lyrics.

Excitement has been mounting for their comeback ever since rapper and songwriter Suga completed his 18-month mandatory military service last June.

He was the last of the septet to return to civilian life, following his bandmates Jin, J-Hope, V, RM, Jung Kook and Jimin.

When the band announced plans for a comeback in a live broadcast on the fan platform Weverse last July, more than seven million people tuned in to watch.

Figures like that indicate there will be a scramble for concert tickets when they go on sale later this year.

For many fans, it will be the first chance to see the band perform live in seven years.

In that time, they scored their first US number one single with Dynamite, a fleet-footed pop song that also became their first top 10 hit in the UK.

They followed it up with the throwback disco-funk of Butter, inspired by Michael Jackson; and a smash collaboration with Coldplay, My Universe.

However, a world tour planned for 2020 had to be cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. After restrictions on live music lifted, they only managed a handful of dates before starting military service.

Their streaming numbers have declined during the hiatus – but various solo projects have kept hardcore fans invested.

When the band cleared its social media profiles and revealed the release date for their new album on New Year’s Day, Weverse was so overwhelmed by fans logging on for information that the platform crashed.

The album, which has yet to receive a title, was recorded in Los Angeles over six months last year and will hit streaming services on 26 March, 2026.

Band leader RM updated fans on the progress last August, saying the band were “working diligently”, but admitting it had been “weird” to adjust to life outside the military.

“I live, work, and play with the members. It’s a really strange experience,” he said.

“Making something ‘together’ with these friends, I’m going to commit myself to this moment… I’m looking for what I’ll become.”

J-Hope had previously said the band’s various solo projects would inform the new music.

“I think that over time, we each refined our unique identities as each of us work on their own music,” he told Apple Music’s Zane Lowe. “I’m curious to see how it’ll look like… I think it’s going to be a massive energy.”

Updating fans in December, RM said “the album is almost here. It really is on its way.”

“We practiced together yesterday, too,” he added. “We are filming and practicing every day.”

BTS sent handwritten letters to their fandom – known collectively as ARMY – ahead of announcing the new album.

Delivered directly to fans’ homes, the notes expressed gratitude and excitement about their reunion.

“The year we’ve been waiting for has finally arrived,” wrote Jimin.

“We’ve waited more earnestly than anyone else,” added RM.

Youngest member Jung Kook (who arguably had the most successful solo career during BTS’s hiatus) struck a tone of humility.

“My heart has always been the same,” he wrote. “I’ll keep doing my best, just as I always have.”

And V concluded with a message to fans: “In 2026, we’ll make even more good memories, so look forward to it!”