They came back, they performed, they conquered: BTS doubles up at No. 1 on both the Billboard 200 and Billboard Hot 100 this week (on the charts dated Apr. 4), topping both charts for the first time since going on hiatus in 2022.
The group’s new album ARIRANG, released Mar. 20, enters with 643,000 first-week units — the biggest number of 2026 so far, and also the most for any album by a group since the chart began measuring by units in December 2014 — becoming the group’s seventh leader on the chart. It’s also BTS’ seventh time besting the Hot 100, as lead single “Swim” debuts at No. 1, followed by 12 more tracks on the album also bowing on the listing.
How should BTS feel about those week numbers? And does it seem like the group has changed a good deal since it last left us? Billboard staffers discuss these questions and more below.
1. BTS debuts at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 this week with new album ARIRANG, moving 641,000 units in its first frame. Is that number higher, lower or about what you expected?
Christopher Claxton: I figured the album would perform well and it did. It even outpaced 2022’s Proof, which debuted with 314,000 equivalent units (including 266,000 in pure album sales) and topped the Billboard 200. ARIRANG also marks the biggest week for a group album since the chart began tracking units in December 2014. Honestly, the scale of this achievement shows not just their dedicated fanbase but also how much global anticipation had built around this release since their hiatus.
