BTS Is Back With New Album Arirang and a Behind-the-Scenes Look in BTS: The Return
Courtesy of Netflix
After the success of their comeback album Arirang, BTS’s documentary BTS: The Return premieres on March 27, 2026, taking viewers behind the making of the album.
After their long-awaited return to the stage, K-pop group BTS tops the Netflix charts and is set to release a documentary, BTS: The Return, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the making of their album Arirang.
After nearly four years on hiatus, BTS returns with Arirang, their first full-length album since all seven members completed South Korea’s mandatory military service. The group officially reunited onstage at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul on March 21, 2026, marking the first standalone concert ever held at the historic gate of Gyeongbokgung, a royal palace from Korea’s Joseon dynasty.
Even before official rankings were released, Netflix reported on its website that BTS’ livestreamed comeback concert drew 18.4 million global viewers, including those who watched the replay within 24 hours. In its Global Top 10 list for March 16 to 22, BTS The Comeback Live: Arirang debuted at No. 1 on the non-English TV chart with 13.1 million views.
“The fact that I am speaking here, I am so moved. All seven of us standing on stage together makes me so happy. Thank you all so much. You filled Gwanghwamun Square today,” said member Jimin Park during the performance.
Shortly after completing their military service, the group spent the summer of 2025 in Los Angeles working on Arirang, a 14-track album and their first in nearly four years. Directed by Bao Nguyen, the upcoming documentary BTS: The Return will premiere on March 27, 2026, at 3 P.M. PST, offering a closer look at the making of the album, including behind-the-scenes and unbroadcast moments.
“When we were working together in LA for two months to create music that truly feels like us, we spent a long time thinking about it. We wanted this album to reflect who we are and what’s been on our minds,” said the group’s leader, Namjoon Kim, in his speech.
The history behind Arirang mirrors the group’s own journey. One of the earliest known recordings of the song dates back to 1896, when it became the first Korean song recorded in the United States. It was performed by three Korean students who had arrived at Howard University that same year.
Onstage, BTS leaned into both the weight of their time apart and the relief of coming back together, channeling that mix of longing and joy into the performance. With BTS: The Return set for release, the teaser hints at the group looking ahead while staying closely connected to the fans who waited for them.
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Frequently Asked Questions
BTS: The Return is a documentary directed by Bao Nguyen, premiering March 27, 2026, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the making of BTS’s comeback album Arirang, including unbroadcast moments from the group’s time in Los Angeles.
BTS reunited onstage on March 21, 2026, at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, marking the first standalone concert held at the historic gate of Gyeongbokgung, following nearly four years apart while completing military service.
BTS’ livestreamed comeback concert drew 18.4 million global viewers, according to Netflix, including replay viewers within 24 hours. The concert debuted at No. 1 on Netflix’s non-English TV chart with 13.1 million views.
Arirang is BTS’s first full-length album in nearly four years, a 14-track record created during a two-month stay in Los Angeles. Its title references a traditional Korean folk song first recorded in the US in 1896.
Member Jimin Park expressed emotion at reuniting onstage, while leader Namjoon Kim said the group spent months in LA crafting music that authentically reflected who they are, aiming for the album to capture their true selves.