BTS’ “Swim” has been selected as one of Apple Music’s “Best Songs of 2026,” making the group the only K-pop act to appear on the year-end playlist released Saturday.
The track also featured on Apple Music’s “A-List Pop,” “Viral Hits” and “Kpopwrld” playlists as part of its Best of 2026 roundup.
Apple Music described BTS’ return with the LP “Arirang” as one of the year’s most anticipated K-pop comebacks, saying the group had helped redefine the direction of K-pop in 2026.
The recognition comes as “Arirang” continues its run on Billboard charts, nearly eight months since its release.
The album ranked No. 62 on the Billboard 200 chart dated Nov. 14, marking its 33rd consecutive week on the chart. It debuted at No. 1 on the chart dated April 4 and remained at the top for three consecutive weeks.
“Arirang” also ranked No. 24 on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart, while BTS placed at No. 30 on the Adult Contemporary chart.
Meanwhile, “Swim” continued its climb on the Billboard charts, rising five spots to No. 28 on the Billboard Global 200 dated Nov. 14. The song also reached No. 14 on the Billboard Global Excl. US chart, while another track, “Normal,” landed at No. 114 on the same chart.
BTS recently wrapped up the South American leg of its “Arirang” world tour, which started in Goyang in April. The group is set to continue its tour in Asia later this month, beginning in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, on Nov. 19 before heading to Bangkok, Thailand; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Singapore and Jakarta, Indonesia.
lee.jungjoo@heraldcorp.com
