BigHit Music has revealed that BTS have passed 10 billion streams on Spotify in 2026 so far, making them the first group in history to have accumulated that figure within one year.

ARIRANG, the group’s fifth full-length album and post-military reunion release, has already broken numerous records. Released in March 2026, the album has generated 5 billion streams alone – placing it in the lead ahead of Olivia Rodrigo’s you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love as the most-streamed album of 2026 by a gap of over 2 million.

On its first day, ARIRANG recorded over 110 million streams and took over the Spotify Daily Top Songs Global chart with all 14 songs sitting in the top 14 rankings. All of the tracks have since surpassed 200 million streams, and the title track “SWIM” is approaching 1 billion streams individually. Boosted by BTS’ pre-established popularity and reputation, the album’s commemorative value as a reunion, and the radioplay prompted by the title track’s English-language format, the album has led not only the K-pop industry but the wider music industry globally.

BTS’ World Tour ‘ARIRANG’ and its record-breaking streak has also likely contributed to streams of both ARIRANG and the group’s previous releases. The tour has overtaken Beyonce and her ‘COWBOY CARTER World Tour to take the top spot for worldwide touring earnings with USD$465.8 million in ticket sales – and almost half of the tour dates are not yet included in that figure. As far worldwide gear up to see BTS live or reminisce over the experience with a classic case of post-concert depression, they will be streaming the setlist and other BTS tracks continuously.

This new achievement of 10 billion annual streams adds another to BTS’ growing list of titles this year. More than that, however, it is yet another record that places BTS amongst and ahead of many Western acts, becoming a pillar within the music industry and extending beyond domestic success in Korea. Even after their three year hiatus, the group continues to prove that K-pop as a genre has a place on the world stage where it was previously limited as a niche, with masses of support behind it, and that it is still growing all the while.

As 2026 continues, with two and a half months still to come, BTS are set to push their Spotify record even further.