Arirang: BTS unveils upcoming album title

January 16, 2026 | 3:42pm

MANILA, Philippines — K-pop boy band BTS has announced the title of its upcoming comeback album, and it harkens back to the group's cultural roots.

BTS' fifth studio album will be called "Arirang", named after the most famous folk song of the Korean peninsula.

The centuries-old song appears twice on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage as both South and North Korea submitted it for inclusion.

"As BTS prepares for its long-awaited return, it naturally looked back on its roots, beginnings, and inner stories," said the group's label Big Hit Music about the upcoming 14-track album.

Big Hit further revealed that there are 16 physical versions of the "Arirang" album across discs and vinyl, highlighting different colors or a member of BTS.

Each physical version comes with several features depending on the type such as photo card set and holder, dust jacket, sticker bag, lyric booklet, badge, poster, postcard or photo book.

The album is already available for pre-orders ahead of its March 20 official drop. A month after that, BTS will embark on a sprawling world tour to promote the "Arirang" album, performing for fans in person for the first time in four years.

Related: BTS bares more details about upcoming album, world tour

This as each member of the group — Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V and Jungkook — enlisted in the military as mandated by law and served at least 18 months in the last three years.

The tour kicks off this April with three nights in South Korea and will run for a year, with more stops to be announced for 2027.

As it stands, BTS will be visiting Manila on March 13 and 14, 2027, currently the last stop of the tour before more shows are revealed.

The upcoming tour will utilize a 360-degree in-the-round stage design, meaning audience members will surround the stage from all sides.

Such a stage design will allow for increased capacity at each venue and accommodate more crowds than before, leaving Filipino ARMY to wonder which venue could hold such a vision.

No ticketing details were provided though concert promoter Live Nation Philippines advised fans to keep posted on their accounts for updates.

By the time BTS arrives, it will have been a decade since the boy band's last Philippine concert, which was in the Mall of Asia Arena for its 2017 "Wings" tour.

RELATED: BTS adds Manila in comeback tour, 1st Philippine concert in 10 years