BTS released the music video for “2.0” and held a massive comeback concert in Seoul to mark their 13th anniversary [1, 2].
The return marks the end of a three-year, five-month hiatus for the global super-group [4]. It signals the group's full-scale return to the music industry with the promotion of their fifth studio album, ARIRANG [2, 4].
The music video for “2.0” debuted in early May 2026. While reports on the exact date vary between May 1 [2] and May 2 [5], the video quickly gained global traction. The release surpassed 100 million views on YouTube [1].
Following the digital release, the group staged a live event titled “BTS THE COMEBACK LIVE I ARIRANG” on May 21, 2026 [3, 4]. The concert took place at Gwanghwamun Square in Jongno-gu, Seoul [3, 4]. According to reports, the event drew 104,000 attendees [3].
This series of events serves as the primary vehicle for the group to promote ARIRANG [2, 4]. The scale of the Gwanghwamun Square gathering underscores the sustained popularity of the group despite their extended absence from the stage.
“The group ends a three-year, five-month hiatus”
The rapid accumulation of 100 million views and the massive physical turnout in Seoul demonstrate that BTS maintains a high level of global commercial viability after a prolonged break. By choosing Gwanghwamun Square—a site of significant national and historical importance—the group aligns its return with a strong sense of Korean identity and public spectacle.
