In a heartwarming and personal New Year's surprise, the global K-pop sensation BTS has officially announced their grand return as a full group. The seven-member band, comprising RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook, sent handwritten letters to their devoted fanbase, ARMY, revealing plans for a major new album and a subsequent world tour, marking the end of their hiatus.
The Big Announcement: Album Date and Tour Plans
The central revelation in the letters was the confirmation of a new BTS album. The album is scheduled for release on March 20, 2026. This date is significant as it will come almost four years after their last group release, the anthology album "Proof," which dropped on June 10, 2022. The upcoming project signals the end of the group's temporary suspension of activities, which began as members enlisted for South Korea's mandatory military service.
During this period, each member pursued successful solo projects, but the New Year letters confirm the highly anticipated full-group reunion. The management company, BigHit Music, corroborated the news with an official post on its X (formerly Twitter) account, as reported by Variety.
Members Express Joy and Anticipation
The handwritten notes were filled with emotional messages from the members, expressing their own excitement about reuniting. Leader RM shared that he had been "waiting for this moment more desperately than anyone." Jin, who debuted as a soloist in 2023, wrote, "I greeted you all as a soloist in 2023 and 2024, but I can finally greet you as part of a team again."
J-Hope's message echoed the collective sentiment, stating, "Finally, it’s the year that we will all be together with you!!" Jungkook added a humble request, "Please take good care of us this year as well." The announcements from Suga, Jimin, and V were also part of this special communication, solidifying the group's unified comeback.
ARMY's Ecstatic Reaction on Social Media
The news sent shockwaves of joy across social media platforms, with fans expressing overwhelming excitement. One fan celebrated the unique announcement style, writing, "This is the most touching way of BTS to communicate the new album release date. A physical letter to Army! Friday, March 20, 2026. Everyone, take that date as the most important day of the last 3 years."
Another fan highlighted the group's enduring legacy, commenting, "I wish that we stop with the Beatles narrative... They’re the BTS of the 21st century." The prospect of both new music and a world tour led to declarations like, "Last day of 2025, if u really think about it... we are getting bts new album and a world tour concert. we r winning fr."
This strategic and personal reveal has successfully set the stage for a monumental year in 2026 for BTS and ARMY worldwide, promising a major album release and the return of their iconic world tours.
