Since the beginning of the new year, fan communities around the world have been living in an atmosphere more electrifying than ever. After a long period of waiting for full-group activities, the first concrete details regarding BTS’s fifth full-length album and their 2026 world tour were officially announced by BigHit Music on January 5 via the fan platform Weverse.

According to the announcement, the fifth full-length album will be released at 1 p.m. KST on March 20 and will consist of 14 tracks that “contain sincere stories that we truly wanted to share with ARMY who have been waiting for the full-group comeback". And “filled with the most BTS-like music, this album is also a heartfelt expression of gratitude to ARMY.” In addition, detailed schedules for BTS’s world tour are expected to be announced at 12 a.m. KST on January 14.

In fact, since the start of the year, bits and pieces of information surrounding BTS’s upcoming album have been widely discussed and circulated across social media. Beyond the confirmed release date and symbolic logo, fans have been particularly enthusiastic about theories suggesting that the album’s concept may continue the legendary Hwa Yang Yeon Hwa era, with a theme potentially centered on sunset imagery.

The album title has also been speculated to be Hello, with an implied meaning: “With the ‘annyeong’ that we start and finish the day. Let us thread tomorrow with today. Stopped for now but don’t hide in the shadow. Once again, daylight will glow.” Additionally, rumors of a special performance on comeback day in front of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts have further pushed anticipation to its peak.

Amid the rapidly intensifying excitement, an even more ѕнσ¢кing piece of news emerged on January 5, directly related to the title track of the fifth album. Numerous major music media outlets and influential social media accounts—from international entertainment platforms to fan communities of global star Dua Lipa—simultaneously reported that Dua Lipa would be participating in BTS’s upcoming album.

If this information proves to be accurate, BTS would be collaborating with one of the most powerful female artists in contemporary music. Dua Lipa is not only a globally renowned name but also a symbol of success, having earned numerous prestigious awards, including three Grammy Awards, as well as multiple Guinness World Records for online viewership and album sales. She is also the artist behind billion-view нιтs such as Levitating, New Rules, and Don’t Start Now.

Meanwhile, fans and industry experts have begun discussing the musical direction that BTS and Dua Lipa could potentially bring together. The most widely supported idea suggests that the title track may feature a retro-pop sound heavily inspired by Future Nostalgia, blending disco, funk, and modern pop elements. Simply put, it could resemble a fusion of Levitating (Dua Lipa) and Dynamite (BTS), or an intersection between Physical (Dua Lipa) and Black Swan (BTS).

On the other hand, BTS collaborating with international artists on major tracks is nothing new, and each partnership has marked a historic milestone. Boy With Luv (featuring Halsey), IDOL (the version with Nicki Minaj), the Butter remix with Megan Thee Stallion, the global нιт My Universe with Coldplay, and Ed Sheeran’s songwriting contribution to Permission to Dance all received overwhelmingly positive responses worldwide.

Therefore, a collaboration between the “21st-century pop icons” and an artist with far-reaching global influence like Dua Lipa would undoubtedly create a seismic impact. At present, reports of this potential collaboration are fueling explosive discussions across social media, turning it into one of the most talked-about topics of early 2026. Netizens commented:

- idc if it's not true, I'm genuinely throwing up. i need that album out for YESTERDAY

- Bring it on Dua and BTS, This is fantastic news!!!

- BTS have always been careful about who they collaborate with, especially for major albums. If they really chose Dua Lipa, it says a lot about the direction of this comeback—confident, global, and trend-setting

- If they meet in the middle, we could get a timeless track that defines this era of BTS, not just another viral нιт

- Despite what haters have to say they would sound great on a collab

- BTS x Dua Lipa?! If this is real, the music industry is not ready for it

- A BTS comeback album AND a Dua Lipa collaboration? This is actually insane

- We asked for global pop excellence and they said: BTS featuring Dua Lipa

- Dua Lipa on a BTS title track would break charts, records, and the internet I swear

- Two global pop forces in one song… I’m not emotionally prepared for this

- Dua’s disco-pop, bαѕѕ-driven sound combined with BTS’s emotional depth and performance power, we could think about Grammy from now on

- BTS really said they’re coming back with no mercy