©Courtesy of Netflix
RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook reunited on stage for the first time as a full group after a nearly four-year hiatus and brought down the (global) house.
BTS THE COMEBACK LIVE | ARIRANG drew 18.4M global viewers (Live+1), proving the group’s influence has only intensified during their time apart.
The live broadcast from Seoul’s historic Gwanghwamun Square reached the weekly Top 10 in 80 countries and secured the #1 spot in 24 countries. From Asia to the Americas, BTS dominated the Netflix charts as fans tuned in simultaneously to witness the start of the next chapter for one of the world’s biggest bands.
To date, the campaign has reached 2.62B global social impressions just across our owned Netflix channels. Numerous hashtags related to BTS and Netflix trended around the world — the US, Korea, the Philippines, Australia/New Zealand, Malaysia, India, Thailand, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, the UK, Poland, Spain, Turkey, Germany, and more.
For fans looking to dive deeper into the group’s return, the journey continues on Netflix with the upcoming documentary BTS: THE RETURN, premiering March 27. The film offers an unprecedented behind-the-scenes look at the members as they regrouped in the studio to record ARIRANG and prepared for last weekend’s monumental stage.
BTS THE COMEBACK LIVE | ARIRANG streamed live from the historic Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, this monumental performance celebrates the release of BTS’ highly anticipated new album, ARIRANG. BTS members RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook return on the global stage for the comeback of the decade.
The setlist from the evening included a vivid mix of fan-favorite BTS hits, as well as never-before-seen performances of songs off of the septet’s newly released album, ARIRANG. The setlist included:
- “Body to Body”
- “Hooligan”
- “2.0”
- “Butter”
- “MIC Drop”
- “Aliens”
- “FYA”
- “SWIM”
- “Like Animals”
- “NORMAL”
- “Dynamite”
- “Mikrokosmos”
The performance began with a fusion of traditional Korean instruments and modern elements to build a sense of anticipation. As 50 dancers marched in a grid formation on the upper platform of Gyeongbokgung Palace, splitting to the sides to form a path for BTS’ entrance, announcing the official start of the performance, “Hello, Seoul! We’re back.”
“Body to Body,” which incorporates a melody from the traditional Korean folk song “Arirang,” opened the event to roaring cheers from the audience. From its very first note, the performance set an emotional and symbolic tone while stunning visuals and intricate choreography immediately immersed the audience into the moment. The larger-than-life show featured a 12-song setlist, including eight tracks from the ARIRANG album performed live for the very first time (“Body to Body,” “Hooligan,” “2.0,” “Aliens,” “FYA,” “SWIM,” “Like Animals,” “NORMAL”).
For the performance of “Aliens,” a track that portrays the group forging new cultural standards on their own terms, the members owned the stage with undeniable presence, while black-and-white geongongamri graphics flowed dynamically across the LED screen. Geongongamri refers to the four black trigrams located in the corners of the South Korean flag. They represent the harmony and movement of cosmic forces—heaven, earth, water, and fire.
BTS further electrified the crowd with a run of their most iconic hits. “Butter” and “Dynamite” injected the venue with bright, infectious energy, prompting mass sing-alongs, while “MIC Drop” delivered a powerful, swagger-filled performance.
The visuals throughout the performance of “NORMAL,” “Like Animals,” “SWIM,” and “FYA” subtly incorporated symbols inspired by the Taegeuk’s Geon, Gon, Gam, and Ri patterns, weaving the album’s theme of identity and roots throughout the overall production.
The standout moment of the event was the performance of their lead single “SWIM,” showcasing BTS’ powerful stage presence. They performed with elegance and precision, skillfully expressing the song’s emotional depth. BTS commanded the chorus with controlled, deliberate movements, reflecting a more mature sensibility that mirrors the emotional core of ARIRANG.
As the night came to an end, RM delivered his final message, “No matter what happens, we promise to keep swimming together,” followed by renditions of “Dynamite” and “Mikrokosmos.” During the performance of “Mikrokosmos,” the LED cubes gradually lit up with stars, which then expanded into sweeping video projections across the Gwanghwamun walls. Against this evocative backdrop, BTS delivered a deeply emotional performance as the audience sang along with every lyric resonating in unison.
The performance combined the distinct atmosphere of a traditional setting with contemporary stage production. Set against Gwanghwamun and Gyeongbokgung Palace, the live performance showcased the beauty of Korea’s cultural heritage and the enchanting appeal of these historic landmarks to a global audience.
About BTS THE COMEBACK LIVE | ARIRANG
Format: Live Special
Premiere Date: March 21, 2026 at 8 PM KST (4 AM PST / 7 AM EST)
Director: Hamish Hamilton
Executive Producers: HYBE, BIGHIT MUSIC, Guy Carrington, Garrett English and Kevin Hermanson
Production Company: Done + Dusted
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More BTS is coming to Netflix this Friday, March 27th with BTS: THE RETURN.
This feature-length documentary chronicles the long-awaited return of pop royalty, BTS. From acclaimed director Bao Nguyen (The Stringer, The Greatest Night in Pop) and renowned producers, This Machine (Martha, Karol G) and HYBE, the film offers unprecedented access, following BTS as they come back together to begin a reunion set to be etched in pop culture history, while reflecting on the journey that transformed seven Korean members into global icons. Since their debut in 2013, BTS built one of the most devoted fan communities in the world. After completing South Korea’s mandatory military service, the seven members reunite in Los Angeles to make music together, returning to a shared creative space shaped by time apart and personal change. As millions of fans await the comeback of the decade, BTS confronts quieter questions: how to begin again, how to honor the past without being bound by it, and how to move forward together. Through moments of doubt, laughter, and rediscovery, they create new music that reflects who they are now—culminating in what will become a landmark album of its time. Intimate, emotional, and often joyful, BTS: THE RETURN is a story only BTS can tell: a portrait of resilience, brotherhood, and reinvention.
- Format: Film
- Premiere Date: March 27, 2026
- Director: Bao Nguyen
- Executive Producers: Mark Blatty, Melissa Robledo, Seonjeong Shin, Nicole Kim, Kyewon Suh, James Shin
- Producers: Jane Cha Cutler, Bao Nguyen, R.J. Cutler, Elise Pearlstein, Trevor Smith, Choongeon Lee, Namjo Kim, Se Jun Lee
- Production Companies: This Machine, HYBE, EAST Films
About BTS
BTS, an acronym of Bangtan Sonyeondan or “Beyond the Scene,” are a GRAMMY-nominated South Korean boyband that has been capturing the hearts of millions of fans globally since their debut in June 2013. The members of BTS are RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook. Gaining recognition for their authentic and self-produced music, top-notch performances, and their deep connection with fans, the band has established a legacy as 21st century pop icons breaking countless world records. While imparting a positive influence through activities such as the LOVE MYSELF campaign and the UN ‘Speak Yourself’ speech, the band has mobilized millions of fans across the world (named ARMY), earned six No.1 Billboard Hot 100 singles since 2020, and performed multiple sold-out stadium shows across the world. They were also named TIME’s Entertainer of the Year 2020. BTS are 5-time GRAMMY nominees (63rd to 65th GRAMMY Awards) and have been recognized with numerous prestigious awards like the Billboard Music Awards, American Music Awards (Artist of the Year 2021) and MTV Video Music Awards. The band released their fifth studio album ARIRANG on March 20, 2026 with a world tour to follow, marking a return set to be etched in pop culture history.
Here’s the trailer.