According to their agency, Big Hit Music, American pop culture outlet Complex, music magazine Rolling Stone, and British music publication NME have all recently included 'ARIRANG' in their lists of the top albums of 2026.
Rolling Stone highlighted BTS's comeback as a significant event in the global music scene this year, praising 'ARIRANG' for its incorporation of Korean musical elements.
NME noted that BTS continues to showcase their strength in blending their cultural heritage with global music influences in this album, recommending the track 'Body to Body' as a must-listen.
The British daily The Telegraph also featured 'ARIRANG' among the best albums released in 2026 so far, commending BTS for returning to their hip-hop roots while reflecting Korean cultural identity in their music.
American online publication Salon similarly recognized 'ARIRANG' as one of the year's best albums, emphasizing its dynamic sound and the storytelling of its members.
Evaluations of specific tracks have also emerged. Complex mentioned 'Hooligan' and '2.0' as key songs, while American music outlet Consequence selected 'SWIM' and 'Hooligan' as the best songs of the first half of 2026.
Meanwhile, BTS is set to embark on a European tour starting in Madrid, Spain, on June 26-27. The tour will include a total of 10 performances across five cities.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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