BTS is back: Why the hiatus lasted for years and what the new tour, album means for ARMY

BTS is back indeed. The world is purple, ARMY is already fighting, meme-ing in the feeds about the massive world tour announcement that includes over several stops in US, Europe and Asia.

Fans are holding on to their ARMY bombs, waiting for the ticket announcement to drop.

This tour marks BTS’ first headline performances since their 2021–22 Permission to Dance on Stage tour. For full world tours, fans have been waiting since Love Yourself in 2019.

Yes, it’s been a long time—and a lot has happened in the interim.

The hiatus: Solo projects and self-discovery

In 2022, during an emotional Festa, BTS announced that they would focus on solo projects. A tearful RM explained that the band needed time to reflect on their direction and understand what they stood for as a group. There was a wave of anxiety that rippled across the fandom: Was BTS disbanding? The members had to immediately step in and defuse the flames.

This hiatus kicked off a wave of solo work, starting with J-Hope’s Jack in the Box. Over the following months, each member explored separate projects. RM introspected the last of his 20's with Indigo, and then showed us the workings of his mind with Right Place, Wrong Person. Jin leaned into different understandings of love, heartbreak, goodbyes and farewells from his single Astronaut to Happy and Echo, which he released after his return from military service. Jimin showed us his raw, unfiltered side with Face and Muse, while Jungkook cheered us up with Golden. BTS's V's Layover was the sound of summer fading to fall. Suga twisted the knife with D Day, and his world tour where he finally walked through the door of healing.

And the last time that we saw them performing all on stage together was in Busan, October 2022. J-Hope and later Jin did go on tours in 2025 too, bringing much joy to fans.

Military service: The big pause

Another major factor in the gap was South Korea’s mandatory military service. Seasoned ARMY remember the anxious speculation about whether BTS might receive exemptions. Instead, in 2022, after a free Busan concert, the members confirmed they would fulfill their duties.

The enlistment schedule unfolded as follows:

• Jin – enlisted end of 2022

• J-Hope – April 2023

• Suga – September 2023

• Remaining members – December 2023

During this period, fans supported their solo projects and celebrated individual releases while waiting for the band’s full return. Songs continued charting; it was ARMY's way of promising love and loyalty.

Reunion and the road to the 2026 Tour

By 2024, the members began returning:

• Jin was first, releasing his album Happy in November

• J-Hope returned, completing his solo tour

• RM, Suga, Jungkook, Jimin, and V returned by June 2025

With the full lineup reunited, BTS headed to Los Angeles to prepare their new album, setting the stage for their highly anticipated 2026 world tour.

So, what does it mean to see the familiar announcements again? ARMY, who have been waiting for this day since 2022, are obviously emotional. There's much love and praise across social media platforms for those who waited for BTS. It was all lovely to see the individual members performing separately for their world tours, but there's something inexplicable about seeing the seven together performing their world-class choreographies on stage, from the famed Run BTS, to Run, Idol, Dope and Fire, where fans wait for the 3:33 moment to see Jimin's breakout step. It has been a long time since we've heard Suga's 'mic mic bungee' from Mic Drop, even though J-Hope rapped his verse in his tour. What would it be like to see the full synchronisation again, to see the magic of Pied Piper, and watch the vocalists harmonising?

A long time, indeed.

However, the entire process and waiting hasn't been easy at all on BTS. Recently, in an emotional Weverse live, RM discussed the weight of expectations and the brutal hate campaigns that they were faced with. The team, was accused of 'wasting' 2025.

RM had also said, “Should we disband the team? I've thought about that ten or thousand times. But the reason we're continuing as a team now is because we have so much love for each other — and love and respect for you all.”

It was a confession that instantly quieted the live chat. RM went on to reveal that the members had even debated taking another pause:
“We even thought a lot about like should we pause the team again here or not, but we love our team and it’s because of the love and hope from all of you watching right now! that we can decide to keep going."

Behind his composure, RM hinted at the pressure he’s been under since military discharge — and the criticism he continues to face.
“So many people around me had asked ‘Why did you waste the second half of 2025?’”
He countered that narrative immediately:
“Actually, we didn't want to waste it too. I also wanted to do so many things after discharging. But there are things I can't discuss.”

Some of that frustration spilled over when he addressed the people who continue to criticise him no matter what he does.
“This live could even backstab me, but those who hate me would continue to hate me no matter what… No matter what I say, or how I put things, they'd just hate me and say ‘He's always been like that! He just pretends to be kind and smart.’”

Still, RM remained hopeful — both for the team and its future.
“The people who used to like us, and then disliked us later, might even return when we do well. We'll be working with that sort of mindset.”

Why fans have been waiting

The combination of solo ventures, military service, and the group’s meticulous planning meant a five-year wait for a global tour. But with the band back together and their new tour on the horizon, ARMY now has plenty to celebrate—and a lot to plan for, from tickets to travel.