At the present time, the return of BTS with a complete lineup after a three-year hiatus due to military service is one of the most talked-about topics. Ever since BTS announced their comeback plans in early July this year, fans, netizens, and the media have expressed immense excitement and anticipation.
Many industry experts have also shared their αѕѕessments and outlook on the return of the world’s top K-pop superstars, based on the strong global fan response.
In an article by FN News, they mentioned: "BTS’ 2026 world tour is expected to last eight months, from May to December, with 65 performances and an au∂ιєnce of 4 million people. The average au∂ιєnce per show is expected to remain above 60,000. Operating profits are projected to rise to 100 billion won starting in Q2 next year, when the tour begins."
Lee Hyun-ji, a researcher at Yuanta Securities, stated: “As BTS’s activities begin in earnest next year, the growth in performance will expand significantly."
Hyundai Motor Securities also named HYBE as the top stock in the кσяєαn content sector, raising its target price to ₩380,000 — the highest level in recent years and significantly above rival companies. The key investment driver lies in BTS’s upcoming activities, with the highlight being their album and world tour.
Recently, Billboard also joined the discussion regarding the enormous figure BTS is expected to generate with their comeback in 2026. The report estimates that BTS could earn over 1 billion USD within 12 months after their official return. This mαѕѕive figure includes revenue from four main categories: concert tours, album sales, merchandise & commercial licensing, and streaming revenue – once again affirming the unrivaled position of “the kings of K-pop” on the global music map.
According to Billboard, BTS’s world tour in 2026 is expected to be the main contributor to the total revenue. With 65 shows spread evenly across three major regions (North αмєяι¢α, Europe, and Asia), an average of 60,000 attendees per show, the group could sell up to 3.9 million tickets. With an average ticket price of around 150 USD, total ticket revenue is estimated to reach 664.1 million USD – far surpαѕѕing Coldplay’s top-grossing 2024 tour (which generated 401 million USD from 3 million tickets).
Moreover, BTS’s brand power is also clearly reflected in merchandise sales. Billboard reported that with 47% of fans purchasing items at concerts and 68% continuing to spend money on products online or at pop-up stores, total merchandise revenue is expected to reach 352.7 million USD. This figure includes official products, special editions, and licensed collaborations — clear proof of the phenomenal purchasing power of the global ARMY fandom.
Another significant portion comes from the new album – projected to sell at least 4 million copies within 12 months at an average price of 20 USD per copy, equivalent to 80 million USD in revenue. Adding streaming revenue (estimated to reach 9.22 billion streams – similar to the 2022 level), BTS could earn an additional 33.2 million USD solely from digital platforms.
Altogether, the four major segments – concerts, merchandise & licensing, album sales, and streaming – are expected to generate around 1.05 billion USD in total revenue. The return of BTS not only brings record-breaking numbers but also marks a revival of the K-pop industry, which has shown signs of stagnation in recent years.
It is noteworthy that BTS has been active for 13 years and has just gone through a three-year break. This demonstrates the group’s impressive ability to maintain their influence in the K-pop scene — where the cycle of elimination is relentless.
On the other hand, during their hiatus, each member has proven strong individual influence through solo projects, further solidifying BTS’s position as a global cultural phenomenon. Therefore, when they reunite, the “global cultural earthquake” will become even more explosive.
Meanwhile, the production process of the new album and the planning for next year’s major events by the BTS members have been revealed to be smooth and progressing rapidly. In Jimin’s latest Weverse Live in early October, he mentioned: “It’s (the progress) been going smoothly, everyone’s working hard and all, and just like I’ve mentioned before, I think we’re just nervous, excited and all since we’re not sure how you guys will react to it.”
In a recent interview with W кσяєα, leader RM revealed that they are filming the jacket photos, music video, and have even returned to the practice room to rehearse choreography. Regarding the world tour and fan-related content, he also mentioned that the members and staff have been meeting multiple times and are gradually finalizing plans.
Although BTS is under tight preparation schedules and immense pressure for this comeback, RM also clearly affirmed the group’s unwavering determination: "Anyways, it's getting harder by the day you know, trying to do soмєтнing. No matter how heavy the weight gets, we'll keep doing our thing without getting crushed under it. We'll contain all those concerns and thoughts into the album."
