logo
BTS to make long-awaited full-group comeback in March 2026; working with 'top-tier producers', say HYBE insiders

BTS to make long-awaited full-group comeback in March 2026; working with 'top-tier producers', say HYBE insiders

Time of India5 days ago

After years of solo projects, military enlistments, and endless speculation, BTS are finally gearing up for their long-awaited full-group comeback. According to multiple sources, including one from BTS' agency HYBE speaking to The Korea Herald, the group is expected to return to the K-pop scene in March 2026, marking their first full-group activity since entering military service.
All seven members, reunited
With Suga scheduled to be discharged this Saturday, all seven BTS members, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V, and Jungkook, will have completed their mandatory 18-month military duties. Fans have been counting down to this moment, with 'OT7' trending regularly as each member completed their enlistment. While the group recently had a mini-reunion at J-Hope's Hope on the Street finale concert in Seoul, with all seven members attending the event on FESTA, an official group stage comeback has yet to take place.
HYBE insider confirms BTS' comeback in March, 2026
While Big Hit Music hasn't made an official announcement about BTS's comeback date, several HYBE insiders have confirmed the group is targeting March next year. One source hinted it could align with or follow TXT's return, suggesting HYBE may coordinate major comebacks to avoid overlap. Another industry insider revealed that Enhypen moved its comeback from March to January.
[EXCLUSIVE] @BTS_twt COMEBACK in March of 2026. HYBE Source Confirms!BTS is set to make its long-awaited full-group comeback in March, 2026.'BTS' comeback date is set for March next year,' a HYBE official confirmed through The Korea Herald's source. However, industry… pic.twitter.com/mkDWw6eRJi
BTS is preparing alongside top-tier producers
Though March 2026 may feel far away, HYBE CEO Lee Jae Sang has emphasised the need for preparation time. 'We're preparing alongside top-tier producers, but the artists also need time to reflect and prepare,' he told shareholders earlier this year. Coming back after years apart and military service isn't just about recording an album; it's about rebuilding chemistry, shaping a message, and meeting sky-high expectations.
Could there be a surprise before then?
While a full album and promotions may be set for spring 2026, fans could see something drop sooner. A prerelease single or special project is 'not off the table', according to insiders. BTS has always been full of surprises — whether it's unexpected collaborations, heartfelt letters, or solo works — so ARMY remains on high alert for anything between now and March.
Jin's tour is in focus for now
In the meantime, fans can look forward to Jin's solo fan concert tour, 'Runseokjin_EP.Tour', which kicks off on June 28 in Goyang and travels to 9 cities across Japan, the U.S., the U.K., and the Netherlands. With 18 shows through August 10, Jin's tour is a welcome bridge between the group's military era and what's to come.
ARMY's patience may finally pay off
From tearful enlistments to emotional reunions, BTS and their fans have weathered a long, uncertain chapter. Now, with all members free from duty and early signs of comeback prep underway, it feels like BTS is slowly, steadily coming home, and if March is the month, 2026 can't come soon enough.
For all the latest K-drama, K-pop, and Hallyuwood updates, keep following our coverage here.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Stray Kids' Hyunjin and d4vd collab; release date, song title and more! - Read and find out
Stray Kids' Hyunjin and d4vd collab; release date, song title and more! - Read and find out

Time of India

time35 minutes ago

  • Time of India

Stray Kids' Hyunjin and d4vd collab; release date, song title and more! - Read and find out

A collaboration between Stray Kids' Hyunjin and American artist d4vd is underway! For the past few days, the collaboration has been nothing but a floating rumour. However, in a recent post, the latter confirmed that the Stray Kids member will feature on his upcoming song titled 'Always Love'. Stray Kids' Hyunjin's international feature is on the way d4vd recently took to his social media account to set rumours to rest as he confirmed the K-pop-American collaboration. The artist shared a photo of himself and Hyunjin on his account with the caption 'Always Love ft. Hyunjin JUNE 27TH', confirming that the two talented artists will be dropping their collaboration in just a few days. The American artist also shared a teaser clip for fans, where he was seen dancing alongside a life-sized cutout of Stray Kid's Hyunjin with a short audio clip of the upcoming song playing in the background. LISTEN TO HOW GOOD WE SOUND HYUNJIN THE VOCALIST U ARE 😩 — d4vd (@d4vddd) June 22, 2025 Rumours of the duo working together had long been circulating online since last year. Hyunjin, during an interview, had mentioned how he had been listening to d4vd's music continuously. As soon as the idol's comment had gone viral, d4vd had expressed his happiness over the mention and had even publicly expressed his wish to collaborate. Ever since then, the two have been actively interacting with one another online, and fans of both artists have been speculating since then that a collaboration might be on the way. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Secure Your Child's Future with Strong English Fluency Planet Spark Learn More Undo D4vd attended the Stray Kids concert this year as well The rumours solidified even more when the American artist even attended the K-pop group's concert 'dominATE World Tour' this month. The artist shared a video from the concert as well with the caption 'HYUNJINNNNNNNN ILYYYYY', sending fans into a frenzy.

KPop Demon Hunters review: From BLACKPINK-esque energy to K-drama jabs, Netflix nails the tone without making a joke of it
KPop Demon Hunters review: From BLACKPINK-esque energy to K-drama jabs, Netflix nails the tone without making a joke of it

Indian Express

timean hour ago

  • Indian Express

KPop Demon Hunters review: From BLACKPINK-esque energy to K-drama jabs, Netflix nails the tone without making a joke of it

K-pop, visuals, killer choreography, and stunts, Kpop Demon Hunters might just be Sony's best shot at redeeming itself after the backlash for its Spider-Verse missteps. Netflix's new animated movie KPop Demon Hunters blends South Korean pop culture with anime's demon-hunting madness, and wastes no time gripping viewers with its one-and-a-half-hour ride full of brilliantly worked original soundtracks. A girl group called Huntrix leads a double life – beloved idols by day, demon slayers by night, using the power of their music to trap hordes of demons underground, generation after generation. The premise may sound silly, but under the direction of Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, it works. It doesn't try to be cool, it simply is. With clean execution, sharp humor, and a Tomatometer score holding strong at 94%, it delivers. I tuned into KPop Demon Hunters expecting the usual drag, 10-15 minutes setting things up, running the ritual loop, ready to skip with 10-sec jumps. But the opening voiceover caught me off guard. 'The world will know you as pop stars, but you will be much more than that.' I stopped and let the intro roll—no regrets. The screen flipped from a packed stadium to a desolate village under demonic shadow. 'Demons have always hunted the world, stealing our souls and channelling strength back to their king, Gwi Ma,' the voice warned, dropping the antagonist's name seconds in. Then came the heroes, girls 'born with voices that could drive back darkness, singing songs of courage and hope.' The story keeps it simple: Huntrix, a three-piece K-pop act formed by Celine, are next in line to complete the Golden Hanmoon, a force field meant to lock demons out for good. But peace doesn't come easy. A demonic boy band is formed, disguised in charm, out to rip through Huntrix and take everything down with them. Also read: 34th Seoul Music Awards full winners list: BTS' Jimin wins special award, i-dle creates history, BLACKPINK Rose, TXT, G-Dragon win big The animation of KPop Demon Hunters is done by Sony Pictures Animation. It's bold, colourful, stylised, and dramatic. From the first glance, you can tell it's heavily inspired by Spider-Verse. Every frame feels intentional, never a dull moment. Director Maggie Kang, who grew up obsessed with legendary K-pop boy bands like H.O.T. and Seo Taiji, took inspirations for the on-screen boy band, Saja Boys, from names like BTS, TXT, ATEEZ, BIGBANG, and Monsta X. For the girl group, the reference was loud and clear, BLACKPINK and TWICE. But it's Rumi, the central character, whose look had fans convinced she was modelled after BLACKPINK's Jennie, and the director didn't shy away from acknowledging it. So yeah, we got K-pop's biggest crossover moment on screen way before it happened in real life. Even when the film takes a jab at K-pop tropes or idol culture, it does so while delivering a complete visual banger. Despite the 'demon-hunting pop star' angle which sounds intense, KPop Demon Hunters actually leans into the comedy. There are several digs at overly dramatic K-drama moments, formulaic singing contests, and how the entertainment industry can sometimes feel too polished. There's also a clear wink to the audience throughout. It pokes fun at several aspects without becoming a joke itself. The most important part of KPop Demon Hunters is the original soundtrack, which honestly deserves its own Spotify spotlight. The main trio, Rumi, Mira, and Zoey, are voiced by actual musicians like EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and REI AMI, and the songs picked for each segment mirror the mood, emotion, and pace of the story. For instance, 'How It's Done' sets the tone right away with a fight scene on a plane, showing how Huntrix can knock out demons and land mid-concert like it's nothing. 'Jinu's Lament', sung by one of the demon characters, is moody and introspective. 'Strategy' rolls in during a staycation scene. 'Golden' is Huntrix's big hope track, the name also nods to Jungkook's Golden album. EXO's 'Love Me Right' drops when Huntrix meets the boy band, and from there, the playlist just keeps stacking. Actor Lee Byung Hun, who plays the Front Man in Squid Game, voiced the film's main villain, Gwi Ma. Also read: Every BTS member's brand power ranked after military discharge; Jimin, Jungkook lead June K-pop reputation index KPop Demon Hunters doesn't try to be more than it is, and honestly, that's its win. One good watch, and you won't walk away feeling robbed of your time. Yunjin Kim, Daniel Dae Kim, Arden Cho, May Hong, Ahn Hyo Seop, and Li Young Yoo's voices bring in that sense of familiarity, so it's hard not to see the characters through their lens—the makers clearly played it smart here. The movie ends with a cliffhanger, a clear hint that this could lead to a sequel, a spinoff, or maybe a bigger franchise. The only thing it lacked was a solid backstory. It would've been great if the film took a few minutes to show us who these characters were before going straight into the chaos. Whether it's more demon battles, new rival bands, or digging into pasts, this world has room to grow.

The Nice Guy OTT release date: When and where to watch Lee Dong-wook's K-drama
The Nice Guy OTT release date: When and where to watch Lee Dong-wook's K-drama

Time of India

timean hour ago

  • Time of India

The Nice Guy OTT release date: When and where to watch Lee Dong-wook's K-drama

The Nice Guy OTT release date:K-drama enthusiasts are in for a treat as Lee Dong-wook makes his return with a brand-new series titled The Nice Guy. The highly awaited drama is now officially confirmed, with the unveiling of the first character poster offering a sneak peek into his role. From storyline teasers to cast insights, here's a roundup of all the details revealed so far. When and where to watch The Nice Guy The Nice Guy is set to premiere on OTT platforms starting July 18. The first two episodes from the 14-episode series will be released on that day, with two new episodes dropping every Friday thereafter. The drama is expected to stream on Viki and will be available at 8:50 PM KST, which corresponds to 5:20 PM IST. View this post on Instagram The Nice Guy plot The noir drama The Nice Guy follows the story of Park Seok Chul (played by Lee Dong Wook), the eldest grandson of a third-generation gangster family who, despite his background, has a surprisingly innocent heart. The plot also centers on his first love, Kang Mi Young (played by Lee Sung Kyung), an aspiring singer chasing her dreams. According to the production team, The Nice Guy will depict Park Seok Chul's quest for a fresh start and true love amid life's tough realities. They described the drama as a blend of heartfelt emotion and lighthearted moments, offering both touching warmth and deep resonance. The team also highlighted Lee Dong Wook's dynamic performance, promising that he will skillfully portray everything from gripping action scenes to tender romantic moments in this emotional noir tale as per Soompi. For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store