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

BTS' 5th studio album, 'ARIRANG,' has been consecutively named one of the 'Best Albums of 2026' by major music media outlets in the United States and the United Kingdom.

Starting with the U.S. pop culture media outlet Complex on June 12 (local time), American music magazine Rolling Stone and British music publication NME have successively selected BTS' 5th studio album 'ARIRANG' as one of the best albums of the year.

Rolling Stone evaluated the album, stating, "The biggest news in the 2026 global music market is undoubtedly the comeback of BTS," adding, "Through 'ARIRANG,' they have brilliantly implemented Korean colors musically."

NME introduced BTS as "the biggest boy band in the world" and praised the work, saying, "It is a piece that encapsulates their strength in delicately combining their home country's cultural heritage with global musical influence," and added, "They have made a magnificent return to the area they do best."

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

The U.S. online media outlet Salon selected 'ARIRANG' as one of the best albums of the year, noting that "it stands out for its dynamic sound and excellent storytelling." Overseas media outlets also continued to evaluate the tracks included in the album.

Complex reported, "'Hooligan' is a track that shows a presence that no one can ignore," and added, "'2.0' has even captivated those who were skeptical about BTS' path."

NME selected the track 'Body to Body' as a representative recommended song from the album, and the U.S. music media outlet Consequence named 'Hooligan' as one of the 'Best Songs of the First Half of 2026.'

Consequence evaluated, "BTS is a team that freely crosses various genres," and added, "The complex rap unfolding over rough hip-hop beats shows their true value."

Meanwhile, BTS will begin their European tour starting with performances in Madrid, Spain, on June 26 and 27. This tour will consist of 10 performances across 5 European cities, and the entire world tour will reach 88 performances in 34 regions around the world. This is the largest scale in K-pop artist history, and it is drawing even more attention as additional schedules in Japan and the Middle East are expected to be added in the future.

Photo: Courtesy of Big Hit Music



(Reported by Kang Kyung-yoon | SBS Entertainment News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.