BTS confirms March 20, 2026 full-group comeback, first group album since “Proof”

BTS has confirmed a full seven-member comeback with a new album scheduled for March 20, 2026. It will be the group’s first group release in about three years and nine months, following the June 2022 anthology album “Proof.”

BigHit Music said on Thursday that the comeback date is set for March 20. According to the label, the news was delivered first through New Year’s handwritten letters mailed to the official fan community, ARMY. The letters included the date “2026.03.20” as a hint for the release, and the same message is set to be rolled out through online channels later this month.

The letter campaign is being described as a gift for long-term members. Public details indicate the letters were primarily prepared for fans who have maintained paid Weverse memberships over the past several years, with the same message expected to be available on Weverse in late January for those who did not receive a physical copy. The label has not yet announced the album title, track list, packaging details, or a full promotional schedule, confirming only the release date while indicating that more information will follow.

The label also framed the mailing as a way for fans who stayed with the group during the wait to receive the members’ message first, while also ensuring that those who missed a physical delivery can access the same content online. Based on what has been made public, the date “2026.03.20” functioned as a single, focused clue, with the rest of the rollout details reserved for subsequent online releases and official announcements.

The letters also included New Year greetings and brief messages from the members about returning as a group. RM wrote that he had been waiting “more desperately than anyone,” while the other members expressed gratitude for fans’ patience and noted that they can finally greet audiences again as a team, sharing their mindset as preparations for group activities move forward.

Before the comeback date was officially confirmed, the group also engaged fans as a full lineup. Public information indicates BTS went live on Weverse on Dec. 31, 2025 to ring in the new year with fans, reflecting on the past year while also sharing hopes related to a smooth return and a successful album release.

In terms of context, BTS slowed group activities after releasing “Proof” in 2022 as members pursued solo work and fulfilled mandatory military service in sequence. With all seven members now having completed service, the timeline for a full-group return has moved into concrete dates. BigHit Music said a large-scale world tour will follow the album’s release, though cities, dates, and ticketing information have yet to be announced.

For now, the confirmed information centers on two points: the March 20 album release date and the decision to share it with ARMY first through handwritten letters. Other key details—including the album’s concept, the full promotional rollout, and the complete tour itinerary—are expected to be updated by the label through its usual channels in the coming weeks.