BTS’ 'Arirang' returns to Billboard Top 10 as U.S. and U.K. outlets hail it as one of 2026’s best albums

BTS’ fifth studio album, 'Arirang' (ARIRANG), is writing another chapter in its global success story, surging back up the charts in the international music market.

BigHit Music said on June 23 that BTS' Arirang was named one of the "best albums of the first half of 2026" by a string of major pop-music outlets. Complex in the United States was among the first outlets to include it, followed by Britain’s The Telegraph, the U.S. magazine Rolling Stone and Britain’s NME.

Coverage from overseas outlets was especially enthusiastic. The Telegraph hailed BTS as "the undisputed face of K-pop," while NME called them "the biggest boy band on Earth." Rolling Stone described Arirang as "a masterpiece that perfectly weaves Korea's unique cultural hues into contemporary music," calling it "the biggest news in the global music industry in 2026."

That global acclaim showed up on the charts. According to the latest U.S. Billboard chart preview, Arirang rose one notch from the previous week to No. 10 on the main albums chart, the Billboard 200, marking a re-entry into the top 10. Upon release, it became the first K-pop album to spend three consecutive weeks at No. 1; it has now remained on the chart for 13 consecutive weeks.

Meanwhile, the large-scale offline festival "BTS The City Arirang - Busan," held to mark BTS' 13th debut anniversary, concluded successfully with strong turnout. According to Busan city government tallies, global visitors—more than 200,000 in total—attended events across the city, including Haeundae and Gwangalli. Major Busan landmarks, including the Gwangandaegyo Bridge, were bathed in the red hue symbolizing BTS, creating a spectacular scene for fans around the world.