After nearly three years away from the stage to fulfill their mandatory military service, BTS is making a powerful comeback with a series of major activities—rekindling excitement among the global ARMY community and reaffirming the unwavering appeal of South кσяєα’s biggest boy group.
It all began with a live broadcast featuring all seven BTS members on July 1, which captured worldwide attention by drawing in 7.3 million global concurrent viewers. On top of that, news of OT7’s return plans was reported by both major and minor media outlets at home and abroad, dominating search trends across all social media platforms for several consecutive days.
Just weeks later, BTS reached another shining milestone with the release of their first-ever live album, Permission To Dance On Stage. Dropped on July 18, 2025, the album created a seismic impact by racking up over 14.5 million streams on Spotify within 24 hours of its release.
This achievement officially broke the previous record held by Beyoncé, whose Homecoming: The Live Album earned 8.8 million first-day streams.
It wasn’t just a win for BTS—it also marked a turning point for the live album format, which rarely sees major success on digital platforms. Thanks to BTS’s powerful fandom and world-clαѕѕ performance quality, the category is being redefined.
In today’s fiercely competitive digital music landscape, the fact that a live stage recording could нιт such record-breaking streaming numbers signals a renewed appreciation for live performance as an art form. Moreover, it proves that the public’s love for BTS’s music has remained strong, despite the group’s temporary hiatus.
Permission To Dance On Stage features 22 live recordings from the group’s concert tour of the same name, held during 2021–2022—one of their final tours before the hiatus. Live renditions of нιтs like Life Goes On, Butter, and Dynamite burst with energy, reminding fans of BTS’s stellar stage presence and deep emotional connection with their global au∂ιєnce.
The album also includes the special concert video Permission To Dance On Stage – Seoul, filmed on March 13, 2022, at Seoul Olympic Stadium. Bathed in dazzling lights and raw emotion, the seven members delivered unforgettable performances that transported viewers back to the height of BTS’s era-defining momentum.
The physical version of the album is a meticulously crafted collector’s item. It comes with a 92-page photobook, featuring exclusive behind-the-scenes photos, heartfelt writings from each member, and in-depth interviews. For many ARMYs—especially those who stood by the group through the pandemic and military hiatus—this release holds deep emotional value.
Beyond being symbolic, this live album also serves as a teaser for BTS’s highly anticipated comeback in spring 2026. Its resounding success underscores just how eager the public is for the return of the "21st-century pop icons."
Although the official comeback is still nearly a year away, BTS has made it clear that their time away was simply a stepping stone toward an even stronger return. With the live album’s momentum and the surging anticipation of fans worldwide, all signs point to 2026 being the year BTS once again shakes the global music scene.
