Diplo Teases BTS’ Upcoming Album ‘ARIRANG’: “It’s Going To Shock The World”

Diplo has confirmed that he is involved in the making of BTS’ upcoming album ‘ARIRANG’.

The producer has described the record, which is set for release on March 20, as something that will “shock the world”.

Speaking to TMZ, Diplo said: “I feel incredibly fortunate. I’ve been doing this for around 30 years, and to connect with a group like BTS, have their trust, and create something special together is unreal. Honestly, it’s going to shock the world. It’s the craziest album ever.”

He also reflected on what it was like being in the studio with the K pop superstars, praising their professionalism and creative involvement.

“They’re deeply involved in everything and incredibly creative. I was honestly blown away,” he said, before adding: “Jungkook, no autotune. A flawless voice.”

The project marks BTS’ first studio album since 2020’s ‘Be’ and their first full release since the 2022 anthology ‘Proof’.

BTS CREDIT: BIGHIT MUSIC

The update follows the group’s recent announcement welcoming in the new year, where they confirmed plans for both a new album and a major world tour.

According to a recent press release, the album takes inspiration from the emotional weight of the traditional folk song it shares its name with, and will “explore the feeling of longing that surfaces at different moments in life, alongside the shifting paths we all move through”.

It was also confirmed that the record will “cover a wide emotional spectrum, from love to yearning, while striking a balance between deeply personal stories and experiences that feel universal”.

BTS have also unveiled full details of their massive 2026 and 2027 world tour. Spanning 34 regions and 79 shows, it will be the biggest tour of their career to date.

The run begins this April with several shows in Goyang, South Korea, and Tokyo, Japan, before moving on to North America and Europe. Only two UK dates have been announced, both taking place in London on July 6 and 7 2026.

After that, the band will return to North America before continuing on to South America, Asia, and Australia. Full ticket details can be found here and here.

When tickets went on sale, fans shared a mix of excitement, disappointment, and frustration across social media.

Elsewhere, BTS also revealed plans to livestream their comeback performance on Netflix in a new film titled BTS The Comeback Live | ARIRANG.

That broadcast will be followed by a documentary titled BTS: The Return, which premieres on March 27. The project has been described as “an intimate documentary film chronicling the making of the band’s new album” and promises fans a rare behind the scenes look at their long awaited return.

Meanwhile, Louis Tomlinson recently commented that it felt “a bit of a shame” watching BTS surpass One Direction’s records, admitting it seemed like “another record had been broken every time I logged into Twitter.”