2020 – BTS performs a high‑profile segment on NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon using the Geunjeongjeon hall and Gyeonghoeru pavilion at Gyeongbok Palace, underscoring its history of landmark international showcases[10].

2022 – BTS enters a four‑year hiatus as all members begin mandatory South Korean military service, with Jin becoming the first to enlist in 2022[5].

2023‑2024 – Global Spotify streams for BTS dip 24 % in 2023 and 30 % in 2024, reflecting the impact of the service‑related hiatus[2].

June 2024 – Jin completes his army duty and is discharged, marking the first member’s return to civilian life[5].

2025 – South Korea amends its conscription law, allowing K‑pop idols to defer service until age 30, a change that lets BTS stagger enlistments and minimize group downtime[2].

June 2025 – Suga finishes his alternative social‑service assignment, becoming the last BTS member cleared for full group activities[7].

2025 – All seven BTS members finish their mandatory service, clearing the way for a full‑group comeback after a four‑year pause[5][7].

Dec 6 2025 – RM tells fans on Weverse that album work progresses steadily, daily practice continues, and a full‑group spring 2026 comeback with a world tour is planned, while noting past discussions of disbandment[16].

Dec 21 2025 – RM announces on a Weverse livestream that the new album is already recorded and now in revision, calling the coming year “real big thing” and urging the company for more support; J‑Hope adds that 2026 is a crucial year for BTS[15].

Jan 1 2026 – BigHit Music confirms a full‑group comeback on Mar 20, 2026; RM’s New‑Year letter says, “I have waited more desperately than anyone else for the comeback,” highlighting the emotional weight of the reunion[14].

Jan 2 2026 – BTS sets the official comeback date for Mar 20, 2026, noting that the album will reflect each member’s thoughts and ideas and that the group reassembled last summer after all members completed service[7].

Jan 2 2026 – The 2022 track “Run BTS” tops iTunes charts in 61 countries, driven by ARMY streaming ahead of the March comeback, reinforcing fan momentum for the upcoming album and tour[13].

Jan 13 2026 – BTS unveils a 79‑show, 34‑region world tour beginning in April, featuring a 360‑degree stage, projected to generate >$1 billion in revenue and to revive Hybe’s profit after a dip during the hiatus[2][3][8].

Jan 15 2026 – BTS announces the fifth studio album “ARIRANG” for Mar 20, with Target offering ten vinyl variants and two CD editions; the album launch ties into the 2026‑27 world tour schedule[5].

Jan 22‑23 2026 – ARMY members register on Weverse for an exclusive presale, securing tickets for the first wave of tour dates before the general sale opens on Jan 24[6].

Jan 26 2026 – Tickets for the North American and European legs of the “Arirang” tour sell out within hours, prompting the addition of extra shows in Tampa, Stanford and Las Vegas due to overwhelming demand[11].

Feb 3 2026 – Netflix partners with BTS to stream the comeback concert live from Gwanghwamun Square on Mar 21 to over 190 countries and to debut the documentary “BTS: The Return” on Mar 27, expanding the group’s digital reach[1][10].

Mar 20 2026 – BTS releases the 14‑track album “ARIRANG,” described by BigHit as capturing the group’s origins, identity and current emotions, and it drops a day before the live‑streamed comeback concert[1][10].

Mar 21 2026 – BTS performs the free outdoor “BTS The Comeback Live: Arirang” concert at Seoul’s historic Gwanghwamun Square, streamed live on Netflix and marking the first large‑scale standalone show since the hiatus[1][10].

Mar 27 2026 – Netflix premieres the documentary “BTS: The Return,” offering an intimate behind‑the‑scenes look at the band’s preparation for the new album and tour[1].

Apr 9‑12 2026 – BTS kicks off the world tour with three hometown shows at Goyang Sports Complex, launching the 79‑date itinerary across Asia, Europe and the Americas[12].

Apr 17‑18 2026 – BTS continues the tour with back‑to‑back concerts in Tokyo, expanding the Asian leg before heading to North America[8].

Apr 25 2026 – The North American leg begins at Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium, followed by 27 additional U.S. dates, marking BTS’s first solo concerts at venues such as Stanford Stadium[11].

Jul 6‑7 2026 – BTS headlines London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for two nights, part of the European segment and underscoring the tour’s global scale[1][2].

Mar 2027 – The “Arirang” world tour concludes in Manila, wrapping a 79‑show run that spans four continents and solidifies BTS’s comeback as the largest K‑pop tour in history[4].

Ongoing – Ray Seol of Berklee notes that BTS remains the engine of K‑pop’s growth, emphasizing the group’s role in earning fan trust in a changed industry landscape[4].

Ongoing – Ashia, a UK fan, declares she will travel across countries to secure tickets for the London shows, illustrating the unwavering devotion of the ARMY fanbase[2].