BTS's 'ARIRANG' Named One of the Best Albums of 2026 by Rolling Stone and NME

BTS's fifth studio album, "ARIRANG", has been named one of the "Best Albums of 2026" by major music publications in the United States and the United Kingdom.

Starting with U.S. pop culture outlet Complex on the 12th (local time), major music publications including Rolling Stone in the U.S. and NME in the U.K. have consecutively selected BTS's fifth full-length album, "ARIRANG", as one of the best albums of the year.

Rolling Stone praised the release, stating, "The biggest news in the global music market in 2026 is undoubtedly BTS's comeback," adding that they "brilliantly brought Korean colors to life musically through 'ARIRANG'."

NME introduced BTS as "the biggest boy band in the world," describing the album as "a work that condenses their strength in exquisitely combining their homeland's cultural heritage with global musical influence." They added, "They have made a magnificent return to the arena they do best."

British daily newspaper The Telegraph also included "ARIRANG" in its list of the "Best Albums of 2026 So Far," analyzing that "BTS, the face of K-pop, has returned to their hip-hop roots and actively infused Korea's unique cultural identity into their music."

U.S. online outlet Salon selected "ARIRANG" as one of the best albums of the year, noting its "dynamic sound and outstanding storytelling." Praise from foreign media for the album's tracks also poured in.

Complex reported, "'Hooligan' is a track that showcases a presence no one can ignore," and added, "'2.0' won over even those who were skeptical of BTS's direction."

NME selected the track "Body to Body" as its top recommendation from the album, while U.S. music publication Consequence named "Hooligan" as one of the "Best Songs of the First Half of 2026."

Consequence commented, "BTS is a group that freely crosses various genres," adding, "The intricate rap delivered over gritty hip-hop beats showcases their true value."

Meanwhile, BTS is set to kick off their European tour starting with performances in Madrid, Spain, on the 26th and 27th. This tour will consist of 10 shows across 5 European cities, bringing the total scale of their world tour to 88 performances in 34 regions worldwide. This marks the largest-scale tour in K-pop history, drawing even more attention as dates in Japan and the Middle East are expected to be added in the future.

Photo= BIGHIT MUSIC

(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)