BTS: How the K-Popstars became global sensations
They're on a massive 82-concert 2026-2027 tour!
K-pop boy band BTS officially made a return to music in 2026! To mark this, they announced their comeback tour - with a show being live streamed on Netflix. They also released their album titled 'ARIRANG', which was documented for a new show. And now the band are set to live stream two of their South America gigs to cinemas around the world.
Join us as we get to know the band better, from their hiatus and biggest songs such as 'My Universe' with Coldplay, to solo music, and even their own film called BTS: Yet To Come.
Who are BTS?
BTS are a K-pop band consisting of seven members: Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V, and Jungkook. Find out more about the pop stars below...
BTS members:
Jin
Kim Seok-jin is known by his stage name Jin. He was born on 4th December 1992 and was spotted by a scout while he was walking down the street, having no background in music, instead studying acting.
Suga
Min Yoon-gi is the real name of BTS member Suga, or Agust D as he is sometimes known. Suga is a rapper, songwriter and record producer, he released music as Agust D achieving a Number 7 album in the UK in 2020.
Suga was born on 9th March 1993.
J-Hope
Jung Ho-seok is better known as J-Hope. As well as releasing music as part of BTS he also released his first mixtape in 2018, 'Hope World'. J-Hope was born on 18th February 1994.
After the band confirmed their hiatus, J-Hope became the first to announce solo music.
RM
RM - formerly Rap Monster - is a rapper, songwriter and record producer and the leader of BTS. Real name, Kim Nam-joon, RM has worked with the likes of Warren G, Fall Out Boy, and Lil Nas X. RM was born on 12th September 1994.
Jimin
Park Ji-min, known simply as Jimin was born on 13th October 1995. Jimin is a singer and dancer with BTS. When he was young he attended Just Dance Academy where he learnt to dance.
V
Kim Tae-hyung is better known as V and is a singer and songwriter. V was born on 30th December 1995, and wanted to be a professional singer from an early age. As well as being part of one of the biggest bands around he is also enrolled on a Masters course in Business Administration in Advertising and Media at Hanyang Cyber University, a virtual university.
Jungkook
Jungkook (real name Jeon Jung-kook), is the youngest member of BTS, born on 1st September 1994. After initially wanting to pursue a career in badminton, Jungkook decided on a career in music after seeing South Korean rapper G-Dragon perform on TV.
What does BTS stand for?
BTS originally stood for the Korean phrase Bangtan Sonyeondan, which when translated means Bulletproof Boy Scouts, however in 2017 the boys revealed a different meaning for their band name.
Speaking to Radio Disney BTS said: "Now it means Beyond The Scene, but we had changed the meaning. Originally, in Korean, it means Bulletproof Boy Scouts. That’s BTS. Our producer, he came up with it."
Did BTS split up?
BTS announced a hiatus in 2022. 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, but they have now reunited!
When did BTS reunite?
In June 2025 all BTS members were discharged from military service and it didn't take long for the band to reunite!
On Tuesday 1st July 2025, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V, and Jungkook all appeared on a live stream on Weverse, for the first time since announcing their hiatus in 2022. During the stream, BTS announced they would be making a new album, which was released in spring 2026, as well as planning a world tour, which has now started.
READ MORE: Find out all of the details about their album 'Arirang'
Have BTS released new music?
Yes! BTS reunited after a 34‑month hiatus to release their comeback album ‘ARIRANG’, a 14-track record symbolising Korean unity. Released on 20th March 2026, it featured lead single ‘SWIM’ and collaborations with producers Ryan Tedder and Diplo.
When are they on tour?
The band are currently on tour, however they have now finished their UK gigs. On 13th January 2026, the band announced a huge world tour, including two dates in the UK. They played Tottenham Hotspurs Stadium on 6th and 7th July 2026. Their tour is still continuing around the world, and they will be live streaming two of their gigs in South America in October.
Is there a BTS film?
A film called BTS: Yet To Come was released in 2023, and featured performances from their concert at Asiad Main Stadium in Busan, the concert was free for fans, with over 50,000 people in attendance.
In June 2025, BTS announced a brand new film called BTS Army: Forever We Are Young, which was dedicated to their huge army of over 90 million fans.
What are fans of BTS called?
Fans of the popular Kpop group BTS are known as the BTS ARMY. ARMY stands for Adorable Representative M.C. for Youth.
What world records have BTS broken?
BTS hold 23 Guinness World Records, and they were inducted into the 2022 Hall of Fame. Take a look at the full list of records in the video released in 2021 below. Their records include being the most streamed group on Spotify (beating Coldplay) and the most followed music group on Instagram.
How many YouTube subscribers does BTS have?
Even though they were on hiatus for several years, it seems that their popularity still grew, and in August 2022 the group passed the 70 million mark for YouTube subscribers! Reaching this milestone put BTS in second place behind fellow Kpop band Blackpink and ahead of Justin Bieber. At the time of writing, BTS have over 85.9 million subscribers on YouTube.
BTS on TikTok
BTS have an incredible 80.8 million followers on TikTok. You can find BTS on TikTok with the username bts_official_bighit.
Have they performed at the GRAMMYs?
BTS performed at the GRAMMYs in April 2022, they were also nominated for one award, Best Pop Duo/Group Performance ('Butter'). They've previously been nominated for the same category in 2020, for their song 'Dynamite'.
Who have BTS collaborated with?
BTS have collaborated with a number of different artists including The Chainsmokers, DJ Steve Aoki and singers Nicki Minaj, Halsey and Zara Larsson.
BTS collaborated with Coldplay releasing 'My Universe' in 2021. The track is sung in both English and Korean, and it was co-written by both bands, together with Swedish producer Max Martin - famed for working on songs by Britney Spears, Katy Perry and Taylor Swift.
BTS and Snoop Dogg collaboration
BTS collaborated with Snoop Dogg and Benny Blanco on huge hit 'Bad Decisions'.
Before its release, Snoop told The A.V. Club in March: "I’m going to let them tell you about it. It’s official like a referee with a whistle. I love that entertainment world. It’s good music. It’s (a) vibe." It then dropped in August 2022.
How did they become 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.
Author: Anna Sky Magliola
Anna Sky Magliola is a Digital Content Editor at Rayo, creating content for brands including Hits Radio, Greatest Hits Radio, KISS, Cool FM and Magic Radio. She began her career at Bauer Media in 2007 and has spent almost two decades creating engaging digital content for millions of readers, specialising in music news, celebrity interviews and TV features. A passionate dance music fan, Anna Sky has travelled the world to experience some of the biggest festivals and is always looking for the next great music story.