BTS 'ARIRANG' Named Among 2026's Best Albums by Rolling Stone, NME

BTS' fifth full-length album, "ARIRANG," continues to earn international acclaim, with major music publications including Rolling Stone and NME naming it one of the best albums of 2026 so far.

Rolling Stone highlighted BTS' comeback as one of the year's biggest stories in global music, praising the group for weaving Korean cultural elements into a contemporary soundscape through "ARIRANG." British music magazine NME also included the album on its midyear best-of list, describing BTS as "the biggest boy band in the world" and commending the group's ability to blend Korean heritage with global musical influences.

Other major outlets also recognized the album. British newspaper The Telegraph included "ARIRANG" among its favorite releases of the year, while U.S. publication Salon praised the group's storytelling and artistic maturity.

Several B-sides have drawn attention as well. Complex singled out "Hooligan" and "2.0" for showcasing BTS' commanding presence, while NME highlighted "Body to Body" as one of the album's standout tracks.

BTS is set to begin the European leg of its world tour with concerts in Madrid on June 26 and 27.