BTS Announces First World Tour in Four Years, Set to Boost HYBE's Profits

K-pop sensation BTS is gearing up for a major comeback. Their label announced on Wednesday that the group will launch their first world tour in four years this April. This marks a highly anticipated return after their hiatus.

Global Impact and Economic Power

BTS, known for chart-topping hits like Dynamite and Butter, holds significant global influence. They are the most-streamed group on Spotify. The band also became the first K-pop act to top both the Billboard 200 and Billboard Artist 100 charts in the United States.

The group is a major economic force in South Korea. Before their military hiatus, BTS generated over 5.5 trillion won annually. This amount accounts for roughly 0.2% of the nation's GDP, according to reports.

Financial Projections and Market Response

Billboard reported that BTS and their label, BigHit/Hybe, could earn over $1 billion from the reunion. This revenue will come from concerts, merchandise, licensing, album sales, and streaming.

During BTS's 2024 hiatus, Hybe's operating profit fell nearly 37.5%. The company partly attributed this decline to the group's temporary break. Following the tour announcement, HYBE's shares opened about 3% higher on Wednesday.

Investment bank IBK Securities projected the company's operating profits could increase tenfold this year compared to 2025. Analyst Kim Yu-hyuk said, "Based on the full tour schedule, around 4.5 million people are expected to attend."

Tour Details and Album Release

BTS, whose name translates to Bulletproof Boy Scouts in Korean, had been on hiatus from touring and releasing music since 2022. This break was due to the mandatory military service for all South Korean men under 30. Now that all seven members have finished their service, their label announced on New Year's Day that a new album will be released in March. The world tour is set to begin the following month.

The tour will span 34 cities with 79 performances. It will be the largest-ever single tour by a K-pop group in terms of total shows. The band's agency, HYBE, also called it the "widest regional reach for a South Korean artist."

Tour Schedule and Ticket Sales

The world tour will kick off in South Korea's Goyang on April 9. After two additional concerts in the city, the group will move on to neighboring Japan. They will then head to the United States and Europe. The tour is scheduled to end in March 2027 in Manila.

The band's label said that more cities will be announced. This includes additional stops in Japan and the Middle East.

Their new album, which remains unnamed, will be their first since the anthology "Proof". That album became South Korea's bestselling record of 2022.

This will be the group's first headline tour since their 2021–22 Permission to Dance on Stage tour. Presales for ARMY Membership holders who register on Weverse, HYBE's fan platform, are scheduled for January 22–23. General ticket sales across all regions will start on January 24.