SEOUL: South Korean music group BTS has made history by crossing 10 billion Spotify streams in 2026. The achievement makes BTS the first group worldwide to reach this milestone within a single year.
The group’s agency, BigHit Music, announced the record on October 16.
Previously, solo stars such as Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, and Bad Bunny had reached similar streaming numbers. However, no music group had achieved this record before.
BTS Album Arirang Drives Record Success
BTS reached the milestone largely through its fifth studio album, Arirang, which arrived in March 2026.
The album has gained more than five billion Spotify streams. It also became the most-streamed album among releases this year.
Moreover, BTS recorded a 122% increase in streams compared with 2025. The group collected around 4.5 billion streams last year.
On March 20, all 14 album tracks occupied the top 14 positions on Spotify’s Daily Top Songs Global chart.
The group also recorded approximately 130 million streams that day, highlighting its massive international popularity.
BTS World Tour Adds to Global Success
Meanwhile, BTS continues its successful Arirang world tour.
The tour began in Goyang, South Korea, in April. Since then, the group has performed across Japan, the United States, Mexico, and Europe.
The tour has now reached South America, with concerts in Chile, Argentina, and Brazil.
Furthermore, BTS recently earned the Artist of the Year award at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards Japan.
The latest Spotify record marks another major achievement for the seven-member group.
It also shows the growing global influence of Korean pop music and BTS’s strong connection with international fans.
