K-pop
BTS set for two‑night return to The Tonight Show as comeback era begins
K-pop mega stars BTS will make their return to US late-night TV when they appear on back-to-back episodes of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon next week.
BTS are heading back to The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon for a special two‑night appearance next week, marking their first full‑group US late‑night performance since completing their mandatory military service.
The group will appear on the NBC show on Wednesday, March 25, and Thursday, March 26, delivering a studio interview and two performances across the back‑to‑back episodes.
The visit coincides with the release of their long‑awaited new album ARIRANG, which arrives on March 20 and marks their first full‑length project since 2020’s Be. The band reunited in 2025 after fulfilling their enlistment duties, and their return has sparked a wave of global anticipation.
During their Fallon takeover, BTS will sit down with the host to discuss the new record and perform two tracks — one airing on March 25, with the second broadcast the following night.
The TV appearances form part of a wider comeback rollout that includes BTS: The Comeback Live / Arirang, a major live performance streaming globally from Seoul’s Gwanghwamun Square on March 21 via Netflix, followed by the feature documentary BTS: The Return, premiering March 27.
The group last appeared together on The Tonight Show in 2021, when their performances of Butter and Permission to Dance generated nearly 120 million digital views. Although individual members have made solo appearances since, next week marks the septet’s first collective return to Studio 6B in several years.
Ahead of their US TV return, BTS are expected to bring central Seoul to a standstill with their comeback concert this weekend. City officials estimate that around 260,000 fans will gather in and around Gwanghwamun Square — prompting one of the largest crowd‑control operations the capital has ever staged.
More than 3,400 safety personnel will be deployed, with police patrolling the area from the day before the show to prevent overnight camping and keep key routes clear. Fire and disaster teams will position 99 fire trucks and over 700 staff across multiple zones to ensure rapid emergency response. Transport restrictions will also be extensive, with several subway entrances closed and trains passing through without stopping for much of the afternoon and evening.
With tens of thousands of international fans expected, Seoul is expanding multilingual support, offering real‑time updates, digital guides and additional volunteers throughout the district.
BTS’ comeback marks their first group performance in nearly four years — and their return to late‑night TV is set to kick off a new era with global momentum already in full swing.
