BTS' Arirang edges Thriller after a Tottenham-fueled UK chart surge
BTS' fifth album Arirang ranks No. 20 on the UK Official Charts' 2026 midyear albums list after a Tottenham Stadium boost.
Securing 20th Place on the UK First-Half Album Chart
BTS's 5th studio album 'Arirang' has stood shoulder to shoulder with global pop stars in the UK music charts' first-half summary. In the '2026 Biggest Albums Top 40' announced by the UK Official Charts on the 16th (local time), 'Arirang' landed at number 20.
This ranking puts the album in direct competition with Michael Jackson's masterpiece 'Thriller,' which recorded number 21. Among new releases issued this year, only six acts, including BTS, Drake, Harry Styles, and Olivia Rodrigo, managed to enter this chart. Driven by the impact of their recent world tour performance at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the album surged 16 places from the previous week, riding a wave of reverse climbing.
17 Consecutive Weeks on the Chart and Global Streaming Records
'Arirang' is currently on its 17th consecutive week on the UK 'Official Albums Top 100,' sitting at number 35. After debuting straight at number one on the UK 'Official Albums Top 100' in its first week of release, it has steadily maintained its position in the upper ranks. The Official Charts classified 'Arirang' as the best-performing K-pop project in the UK so far this year.
Its presence on global charts is equally distinct. 'Arirang' held the number 2 spot for five consecutive weeks on Spotify's 'Weekly Top Albums Global' chart. BTS has set a record for the most number-one placements this year, totaling nine times on that chart. Among the tracks, a total of five songs—including 'Swim,' 'Body to Body,' '2.0,' 'Hooligan,' and the new song 'Come Over'—have appeared on the weekly global song charts. The Korean version of 'Normal,' released on the 17th, hit number one on the iTunes 'Top Songs' chart in 69 countries and regions, including the US, UK, Germany, and Brazil, as of 9:00 AM on the 18th.
Following Paris Performances, World Cup Halftime Show Teased
BTS will hold the final performance of their European tour at the Stade de France in Paris, France, on the 17th and 18th. They will then move to the United States to perform at the '2026 FIFA World Cup' final halftime show, held at the New York New Jersey Stadium on the 19th. BTS is scheduled to perform on this stage alongside Madonna, Shakira, and Justin Bieber.
