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Everything to know about BTS’ fifth studio album ARIRANG, including its March 2026 release date, 14-track tracklist, title track “SWIM” and album concept.

BTS released their fifth studio album ARIRANG on March 20, 2026, marking their first album released as a group in three years and nine months. The album contains 14 tracks and represents a new chapter for the seven-member group.

When Was BTS ARIRANG Released?

ARIRANG was released on:

March 20, 2026

BIGHIT MUSIC opened album pre-orders on January 16, 2026.

Why Is ARIRANG Important to BTS?

BIGHIT MUSIC describes ARIRANG as an important album because it marks the group’s first album in three years and nine months.

The members were deeply involved in the songwriting and production process, incorporating their thoughts, identities, emotions and reflections into the album.

BTS ARIRANG Tracklist

The album contains 14 songs:

1. Body to Body
2. Hooligan
3. Aliens
4. FYA
5. 2.0
6. No. 29
7. SWIM
8. Merry Go Round
9. NORMAL
10. Like Animals
11. they don’t know ’bout us
12. One More Night
13. Please
14. Into the Sun

The tracklist was officially revealed in March 2026.

“SWIM” — The Title Track

“SWIM” serves as the title track.

Yonhap described the song as an upbeat alternative-pop track about navigating life’s challenges. RM participated in writing the lyrics.

BTS Members’ Involvement in ARIRANG

The members participated directly in the album’s creative process.

BIGHIT MUSIC says the members were deeply involved in songwriting and production and used the album to express their own thoughts and identities.

ARIRANG’s Meaning

The album takes its title from “Arirang,” one of Korea’s best-known traditional folk songs.

The title connects the album to Korean cultural identity while also reflecting BTS’s own journey and relationship with their fans.

ARIRANG and BTS’ Return

The album marked BTS’s return to full-group musical activities after an extended period in which the members pursued individual projects and completed their required military service.

The album therefore became the starting point for a new phase of BTS’s group career.

BTS THE COMEBACK LIVE | ARIRANG

BTS held BTS THE COMEBACK LIVE | ARIRANG on March 21, 2026, at the Gwanghwamun Square area in Seoul.

The event was also streamed globally on Netflix.

ARIRANG World Tour

Following the album release, BTS launched the BTS WORLD TOUR ‘ARIRANG’.

BIGHIT MUSIC’s official tour information lists the tour as the group’s major concert activity for 2026.

ARIRANG Achievements

Since its release in March 2026, BTS’s fifth studio album ARIRANG and its title track “SWIM” have achieved major chart and award milestones internationally.

Billboard 200 No. 1

ARIRANG debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, giving BTS their seventh No. 1 album on the chart. The album opened with 641,000 equivalent album units, including 532,000 album sales.

This extended BTS’s record as the first K-pop act to reach No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and added ARIRANG to their previous No. 1 albums, including Love Yourself: Tear, Love Yourself: Answer, Map of the Soul: Persona, Map of the Soul: 7, BE and Proof.

“SWIM” Debuts at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100

The album’s title track “SWIM” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 dated April 4, 2026.

This became BTS’s seventh No. 1 song on the Billboard Hot 100, following:

• “Dynamite”
• “Savage Love (Laxed – Siren Beat)” — BTS Remix
• “Life Goes On”
• “Butter”
• “Permission to Dance”
• “My Universe” with Coldplay
• “SWIM”

All 14 ARIRANG Tracks Enter the Billboard Hot 100

BTS also achieved a major album-chart milestone when 13 of the 14 tracks from ARIRANG entered the Billboard Hot 100 during the album’s first chart week, alongside “SWIM.”

The chart positions included:

Track	Billboard Hot 100 Debut
“SWIM”	No. 1
“Body to Body”	No. 25
“Hooligan”	No. 35
“FYA”	No. 36
“NORMAL”	No. 41
“Aliens”	No. 46
“2.0”	No. 50
“Merry Go Round”	No. 52
“Like Animals”	No. 53
“they don’t know ’bout us”	No. 56
“One More Night”	No. 61
“Please”	No. 63
“Into the Sun”	No. 68

“SWIM” Tops the Billboard Global Charts

“SWIM” also performed strongly on Billboard’s global charts. The song reached No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. charts. ARIRANG tracks also occupied the top positions across the Global 200 during the album’s debut week.

Spotify Global Chart Milestone

“SWIM” remained at No. 1 on Spotify’s Daily Top Songs Global chart for 25 consecutive days, from March 20 through April 13, 2026.

Billboard Chart Longevity

ARIRANG continued charting on the Billboard 200 throughout the year. By August 2026, the album had remained on Billboard’s main albums chart for 20 consecutive weeks, ranking No. 14 that week. “SWIM” also remained on the Billboard Hot 100 for 20 weeks, tying “Butter” for BTS’s longest-charting song on that chart at that point.

MTV Video Music Awards

“SWIM” earned BTS two awards at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards:

• Song of the Year
• Best K-Pop

BTS also won Best Group, giving the group three VMA awards at the ceremony. The Song of the Year win made BTS the first K-pop group to win the category.

The Best Group victory was BTS’s fifth win in the category, following four consecutive wins from 2019 through 2022.

UK Official Albums Chart

ARIRANG also reached No. 1 on the UK’s Official Albums Chart, giving BTS another major international album-chart achievement.

Philippines Hot 100

ARIRANG also had a strong debut on the Billboard Philippines Hot 100. All 14 tracks from the album entered the chart, with “SWIM” debuting at No. 4 and “Body to Body” at No. 9.

This is especially useful for K-Wave Hub because your audience includes Filipino K-pop fans.

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ARIRANG Achievement Summary

Achievement	Result
Billboard 200	No. 1
Billboard Hot 100 — “SWIM”	No. 1
Billboard Hot 100 No. 1s for BTS	7th
UK Official Albums Chart	No. 1
Spotify Daily Top Songs Global — “SWIM”	No. 1 for 25 consecutive days
MTV VMAs — Song of the Year	Won
MTV VMAs — Best K-Pop	Won
MTV VMAs — Best Group	Won
Billboard Philippines Hot 100	All 14 tracks charted

Where to Listen to ARIRANG

Link to:

• Spotify — BTS ARIRANG
• Apple Music — BTS ARIRANG
• Amazon Music — BTS ARIRANG
• Official BTS Music Hub — ARIRANG

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