BTS have announced a hiatus on their ninth anniversary
The group have shared a video
BTS, the K-Pop stars who have taken the world by storm, collaborating with Coldplay on 'My Universe' and winning awards across the globe, have shocked fans by announcing they will be starting a hiatus.
The seven members of BTS, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V, and Jungkook, could be seen sitting around a table loaded with food and drink, to celebrate nine very successful years today, in a video uploaded to YouTube.
However, as fans expected to see the group discussing their plans for the future, they were shocked to hear the members telling how they thought it was time to have a break and pursue solo projects.
Speaking on the video, RM said how they had achieved so much, however the individuals members of BTS still need to grow as individuals. The rapper, who has worked with the likes of Lil Nas X said: "I always thought that BTS was different from other groups, but the problem with K-pop and the whole idol system is that they don’t give you time to mature. You have to keep producing music and keep doing something."
Dancer and singer Jimin, added: "We can’t help but think of our fans no matter what, we want to be the kind of artists that are remembered by our fans. I think now we’re starting to think about what kind of artists we each want to be remembered by our fans."
He continued: "I think that’s why we’re going through a rough patch right now, we’re trying to find our identity and that’s an exhausting and long process."
Since the initial tweet sharing the video was posted it's had more than 230K likes and more than 95.5K retweets.
With thousands of fans saddened by the news. One fan replied to the video saying: 'THANKYOUU ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜' (sic), with another writing: 'Let's gooooooðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜'. (sic)
You can hear BTS' song with Coldplay 'My Universe' on heat radio.
Now take a look at how BTS became famous:
2010: The beginnings
Although BTS released their first single in 2013, it was actually back in 2010 that the band formed. Assembled by Big Hit Entertainment, a South Korean entertainment company, BTS members were chosen from a variety of sources including online auditions, TV auditions and talent agencies.
However, it wasn't as easy as just releasing music once the band had formed, they worked as trainees, where they were prepared for stardom! The boys had lessons in dancing, singing, acting and media training.
2013: '2 COOL 4 SKOOL' released
BTS officially released their first album in the summer of 2013 called '2 COOL 4 SKOOL'. The album was supported by songs 'No More Dream' and 'We Are Bulletproof Pt.2'.
2014: The BTS A.R.M.Y. was born
Fans of the K-pop group became known as the BTS ARMY. ARMY stands for Adorable Representative M.C. for Youth.
2019: BTS presented a GRAMMY Award
In 2019, BTS became the first K-pop artist to present an award at the GRAMMYs. They presented H.E.R. with the Best R&B Album award.
2020: BTS perform at the GRAMMYs
Just a year after being the first K-pop artist to present a GRAMMY, the band returned to be the first K-pop artist to perform at the awards.
In August 2020, BTS released their first English language song, 'Dynamite'. The song was a commercial success reaching Number 3 in the UK and becoming a Top 10 hit around the world.
BTS' seventh studio album 'Map of the Soul: 7' was also released, becoming a worldwide Number 1 hit, reaching the top spot in the UK, US, Australia, Japan and of course their native South Korea. It's since been certified Gold in the UK.
2021: BTS collaborated with Coldplay
BTS and Coldplay released 'My Universe' in 2021, the song is sung in English and Korean and to date has 350 million views on YouTube. In an interview with Ellen Degeneres Coldplay's Chris Martin explained how the collaboration came about saying he didn't think the project would ever happen, but: "Then the idea started to seem really attractive in its weirdness, and then one day, the right song just kind of arrived.
"And I just knew at the time (that) this was the song we were supposed to do with BTS and it's supposed to be about people who can't be together, or told they shouldn't be together."
In April 2022, Chris Martin told Audacy podcast that he didn't think he could match their collab. "That was surprising even for us," he admitted.
"The journey from the first time it was mentioned – I was just like 'how could that ever work?' – to the song itself arriving and me thinking, 'that could be for BTS' – to now it feeling like the most natural collaboration in the world.
He finished saying: "It's an amazing lesson for myself in keeping an open mind all the time, because you just never know what life or music is gonna throw you."
2022: BTS announced their hiatus
BTS shocked fans on their ninth anniversary by announcing they would be starting a hiatus. On 14th June 2022 the group shared a video on YouTube where the members could be seen sitting around a table full of food and drink, celebrating their ninth anniversary. During the video they announced they would be taking a hiatus.
2025: BTS announced their reunion
On 1st July 2025, just weeks after the final members of BTS were released from mandatory military service, all seven members reunited to announce the band's comeback. Appearing on a live stream, BTS confirmed they will be heading into the studio to create a new album, due for release in Spring 2026, as well as planning a World Tour.
Later that year, BTS released their first live album, 'Permission to Dance on Stage – Live'. It was released on 18th July and featured live tracks from BTS' 'Permission to Dance on Stage' tour.
2026 - BTS announced their comeback tour including UK dates
In January 2026, the band announced their comeback tour, telling fans they would be performing across the world, including two dates in the UK. They came to the UK in July 2026, where they performed two sold-out gigs.
2026 - BTS Netflix documentary and live streams
The new documentary BTS: The Return, followed the band as they returned to music, it also followed the band as they worked on their new album.
The synopsis says: 'As millions of fans await the comeback of the decade, BTS confronts quieter questions: how to begin again, how to honour the past without being bound by it, and how to move forward together. Through moments of doubt, laughter, and rediscovery, they create new music that reflects who they are now—culminating in what will become a landmark album of its time. Intimate, emotional, and often joyful, BTS: THE RETURN is a story only BTS can tell: a portrait of resilience, brotherhood, and reinvention.'
Before BTS started on their world tour, they reunited for the first time on stage since 2022 at Gwanghwamun Square, in Korea. Fans around the world could watch their performance as it was live streamed on Netflix.
In September 2026, it was revealed that two of their gigs from South America would be live streamed into cinemas around the world.
Now read:
BTS: How the K-Popstars became BRIT Award nominees
Coldplay join forces with K-pop boy band BTS for 'My Universe'