Group BTS SWIM has achieved another groundbreaking milestone in the global music market.
The title track ‘SWIM’ from BTS’s 5th full-length album ‘ARIRANG’ has been selected for Apple Music’s global ‘Best Songs of 2026’, marking the first time a Korean group has made the list and proving their powerful long-run popularity worldwide.
According to Apple Music’s year-end playlist released on November 7 (local time), ‘SWIM’ earned a spot on the ‘Best Songs of 2026’ list, which highlights 100 tracks that lit up the global music scene throughout the year. Additionally, the song secured prominent placements across sub-sections of ‘Best of 2026 Playlists’ including ‘A-List Pop’, ‘Viral Hits’, and ‘KPOPWRLD’, showcasing their massive influence in the global pop scene.
Apple Music praised the release, stating, “The comeback of BTS with ‘ARIRANG’ is a long-awaited moment for K-Pop and the culmination of years of anticipation. They have redefined the flow of K-Pop in 2026.”
Meanwhile, the latest chart released on November 10 (local time) for the week of November 14 shows their 5th studio album ‘ARIRANG’ ranking at No. 62 on the main ‘Billboard 200’ album chart. After debuting at No. 1 last April and maintaining the top spot for three consecutive weeks, the album continues its phenomenal charting streak for 33 consecutive weeks.
The album also maintained strong positions on sub-charts, including No. 24 on ‘Top Album Sales’ and No. 30 on ‘Adult Contemporary’.
Furthermore, the title track ‘SWIM’ surged five spots from the previous week to land at No. 28 on the ‘Global 200’ chart, which aggregates global streaming and digital sales, demonstrating a strong reverse-running momentum. It also placed 14th on the ‘Global (Excluding US)’ chart, while the b-side track ‘NORMAL’ landed at No. 114 on the same chart, proving that all tracks from the album are receiving widespread love from music fans worldwide.
Proving their status as a ’21st-century pop icon’ by dominating both global music and album charts, BTS is set to meet global ARMYs through offline stages.
BTS will kick off their ‘BTS WORLD TOUR ‘ARIRANG” in five Southeast Asian cities, starting in Kaohsiung on November 19, followed by Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, and Jakarta, for a total of 15 spectacular shows.
