Global fans are erupting with excitement after it was confirmed that Grammy-winning producers Max Martin and Jon Bellion have participated in BTS’s full-group comeback album, set for release in spring 2026.



On the 24th, Jon Bellion revealed in Chris Williamson’s YouTube interview that he had collaborated with Max Martin in Los Angeles while working on BTS’s upcoming album. Both producers hold Grammy awards and reportedly attended studio sessions together.

Bellion also shared an anecdote on the podcast Surviving the Modern Music Industry, recalling how Martin instantly fixed a structural issue in one of BTS’s tracks.

“Max walked into the room. We were working on something, and in about 17 seconds… he listened once and said, ‘Oh, your intro is actually the pre-chorus. Make the intro the pre-chorus— that’s the best part.’”



Max Martin has produced countless global hits including Blinding Lights by The Weeknd, …Baby One More Time by Britney Spears, and Into You by Ariana Grande. As a songwriter, he holds 28 Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hits and 26 as a producer—one of the greatest records in history.

Jon Bellion’s portfolio includes Eminem and Rihanna’s The Monster, Maroon 5’s Memories, and Justin Bieber’s Ghost. He first appeared in a BTS credit as a composer for Jungkook’s 2023 hit Seven, and later contributed to Jungkook’s Standing Next to You, Jimin’s WHO, and Jin’s Another Level.



Jimin once referred to Bellion as an “American Namjoon” or “RM of New York,” saying, “He feels like the American version of Namjoon. The lyrics came out incredibly fast.”

Max Martin has previously worked with BTS as well, serving as executive producer for Jin’s solo track The Astronaut, following BTS and Coldplay’s 2021 collaboration My Universe. My Universe topped the Billboard Hot 100, marking Martin’s 25th chart-topping hit.

Fan reactions have been explosive. One fan wrote, “The best album of the 2020s is coming— oh my god.” Another said, “This is going to be Album of the Year.” Others celebrated with messages like, “BTS is back!”



Industry analysts predict the album could generate more than 1.4 trillion KRW (approximately £796 million) in revenue in its first year.



All seven BTS members completed their mandatory military service by June 2025 and officially reunited in July 2025. After reuniting, the group worked on the new album in Los Angeles from July through August.

BTS’s last full album was the 2022 anthology Proof. With four years since their last release, anticipation is higher than ever.

Recently, RM wrote on social media, “The music is sounding really good,” and asked fans to “look forward to it.”



Written by Lee Yoon Jeong 
Translated by Lee So Yun