BTS comeback: K-pop Boyband to Perform Live on Netflix After Military Service Hiatus

BTS comeback set for global Netflix livestream from South Korea

The long-awaited BTS comeback is set to unfold on global stage as the K-pop boyband prepare to perform live on Netflix following its extended hiatus linked to South Korea's mandatory military service.

Let the countdown begin 🎤 BTS THE COMEBACK LIVE | ARIRANG. March 21 8pm KST / 4am PT. LIVE worldwide exclusively on Netflix.#BTSLiveonNetflix #BTS_ARIRANG pic.twitter.com/3uwED5vq86

— Netflix (@netflix) March 5, 2026

The seven members of Bangtan - RM, Jin, SUGA, J-hope, V and Jungkook - will reunite for BTS comeback live for their latest album release, ARIRANG, a live performance streaming worldwide on Netflix on March 21. The event will take place at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, located near the Gyeongbokgung Palace, marking the group's major stage appearance in nearly four years.

The livestream will be available to Netflix subscribers without an additional purchase and will begin at 8 p.m. KST, allowing viewers across regions to watch the performance simultaneously.

For the group's global fanbase, known as ARMY, the broadcast represents a major milestone following the years in which the members focused on solo work and completed their national duties.

New BTS album 'ARIRANG' arrives ahead of comeback performance

The performance will coincide with the release of BTS's fifth studio album, ARIRANG, scheduled to drop on March 20, one day before the Netflix livestream.

During the comeback live show, the K-pop group is expected to perform songs from the new album for the first time, although the final set list has not been revealed yet.

The new album ARIRANG track list includes: "Body to Body", "Hooligan," "Aliens," "FYA," "2.0.," "No.29," "SWIM," "Merry Go Round," "NORMAL," "Like Animals," "They don't know 'bout us," "One More Night," " Please," "Into the Sun", with SWIM being the lead single.

Following the livestream, BTS will launch the ARIRANG World Tour, which is planned to cover 34 regions and 82 shows globally.

BTS hiatus and military service explained

The group's break from full-group activities began in December 2022, when the members paused their collective career to fulfil South Korea's mandatory military enlistment requirements, which can last up to 18 months.

During the period, several members released solo music and individual projects.

The timeline of discharges unfolded across 2024 and 2025:

• Jin and J-hope completed their service in 2024
• RM, V, Jimin and Jungkook were discharged in early June 2025
• SUGA, the final member to complete enlistment, finished his service on June 21, 2025

With all seven members now having completed their duties, the upcoming Netflix comeback performance marks the first large-scale activity for the full K-pop group since the hiatus.

Netflix documentary to follow BTS comeback

In addition to the live performance, Netflix will release a feature-length documentary titled. "BTS: THE RETURN" on March 27.

Directed by Bao Ngyuyen and produced by This Machine in collaboration with HYBE, the documentary follows the group's reunion and the creative process behind the ARIRANG album.

The film features behind-the-scenes footage as the members regroup after years apart and work on new music together, capturing both the creative collaboration and the transition into the next chapter of the band's career.

Since their 2013 debut, BTS has become one of the most influential acts in the global K-pop industry, building a worldwide following through ARMY and achieving major commercial success.

The week surrounding the comeback effectively creates a sequence of major releases: the ARIRANG album launch on March 20, the BTS live performance on Netflix on March 21, and the documentary premiere on March 27.

For the K-pop boyband, the series of releases marks the official beginning of a new era following the group's hiatus and completion of military service.