Road Work: BTS Reunites for Arirang World Tour After Solo Endeavors

The Return of a Global Phenomenon

It hasn’t even been four full years, but it feels like a lifetime. BTS’ last concert as a group was at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium on April 16, 2022, as part of the Permission to Dance on Stage tour. Tonight, April 9, 2026, the global superstars return for hometown shows at Goyang Stadium in South Korea, marking the official kick-off of their first full world tour since before the pandemic.

The hiatus, which began in 2022 to allow members to complete their mandatory military service, was far from a period of silence. Instead, it served as a strategic window for all seven members to flex their individual creative muscles on the charts and, in some instances, on stage. While each member carved out a distinct lane—all reaching the top 20 on the Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. charts—their solo achievements were bolstered by the group’s foundational success.

Building the Foundation: From Asia to the World

BTS’ early touring history was defined by brief stints confined to Asian markets, such as the 2015 Wake Up: Open Your Eyes Japan Tour. However, the release of their sophomore album catalyzed a shift. The Wings Tour (2017) took the group abroad, playing arenas in major markets like Anaheim and Newark, while expanding their footprint into Sydney and Sao Paulo.

The Love Yourself World Tour further solidified their global dominance, expanding into stadiums across Europe, North and South America, and Asia via the Speak Yourself extension in 2019. That year, the group landed at No. 3 on the year-end Top Tours chart with $196.4 million and 1.6 million tickets sold—a record-breaking feat for a non-English-language act at the time.

The Solo Era: Individual Impact

Following the cancellation of the 2020 Map of the Soul Tour due to COVID-19, the group returned for limited runs in 2021-22. Now, as they reunite for the ARIRANG world tour, the individual work of each member provides a new layer of depth to their collective performance.

J-Hope

Album: Jack in the Box (2022)
Chart Highlights: “Killin’ It Girl,” featuring GloRilla, reached No. 40 on the Hot 100 and No. 2 on Global Excl. U.S.
Tour: The Hope on the Stage Tour grossed $79.9 million, becoming the highest-grossing K-pop tour by a soloist.

RM

Album(s): Indigo (2022) and Right Place, Wrong Person (2024)
Chart Highlights: RM scored six chart hits on global charts between 2022-25, featuring collaborations with Anderson .Paak and Megan Thee Stallion.

Jimin

Album(s): Face (2023) and Muse (2024)
Chart Highlights: Jimin is one of two BTS members to top the Hot 100, Global 200, and Global Excl. U.S. charts, with “Like Crazy” and “Who” leading the way.

Suga

Album: D-Day (2023)
Chart Highlights: As a featured artist on PSY’s “That That,” Suga hit No. 5 on the Global 200. His lead single “Haegeum” debuted in the top 20 of both global charts.

V

Album: Layover (2023)
Chart Highlights: “Slow Dancing” and “Fri(end)s” both reached the top five of the Global 200.

Jung Kook

Album: Golden (2023)
Chart Highlights: “Seven,” featuring Latto, topped the Hot 100, Global 200, and Global Excl. U.S. rankings, remaining at the top for over a month.

Jin

Album(s): Happy (2024) and Echo (2025)
Chart Highlights: Jin secured three top 10s on the Global 200, with “Running Wild” peaking at No. 5.
Tour: The RunSeokjin Ep. Tour earned $46.1 million across 18 dates in Asia, the U.S., and Europe.