BTS Wins 3 Awards at the 2026 MTV VMAs: SWIM Wins and ARIRANG World Tour Schedule
BTS won three awards at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs).
The group took home Song of the Year and Best K-Pop for “SWIM,” a track from their fifth full-length album “ARIRANG,” as well as Best Group. BTS ultimately won all three categories in which they were nominated.
MTV’s official voting and winners pages also list “SWIM” as the winner of Best K-Pop.
Following the awards, attention is now turning back to the BTS WORLD TOUR “ARIRANG.” The tour resumes in South America in October 2026 before continuing through Asia and Australia, with additional dates already announced into March 2027.
※ This article is based on publicly available information from MTV, BIGHIT MUSIC, Weverse, and related reports as of October 1, 2026.
BTS 2026 MTV VMA Wins at a Glance
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Awards show | 2026 MTV Video Music Awards |
| Ceremony date | September 27, 2026, local time |
| Total BTS wins | 3 |
| Song of the Year | “SWIM” |
| Best K-Pop | “SWIM” |
| Best Group | BTS |
| Nominations vs. wins | Won all 3 nominated categories |
| Current major schedule | BTS WORLD TOUR “ARIRANG” |
| Next concert | Bogotá on October 2, 2026 |
BTS won Song of the Year, Best K-Pop, and Best Group at the 2026 VMAs.
The group was nominated in three categories and won all three.
What Awards Did BTS Win at the 2026 MTV VMAs?
1. Song of the Year — “SWIM”
One of the most notable wins was Song of the Year for “SWIM.”
The 2026 Song of the Year nominees included BTS with “SWIM,” along with HUNTR/X’s “Golden,” Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas,” Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter’s “Bring Your Love,” Olivia Dean’s “Man I Need,” and RAYE’s “WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!”
The final winner was BTS with “SWIM.”
This marked BTS’s first VMA win in the Song of the Year category. Korea JoongAng Daily also reported that BTS became the first K-pop group to win the category.
2. Best K-Pop — “SWIM”
“SWIM” also won Best K-Pop.
Other nominees included BLACKPINK’s “JUMP,” CORTIS’ “REDRED,” KATSEYE’s “Pinky Up,” LE SSERAFIM feat. j-hope’s “SPAGHETTI,” and LISA’s “Dream.”
MTV’s official page lists BTS’s “SWIM” as the winner of Best K-Pop.
The 2026 win brought BTS’s total number of Best K-Pop VMA wins to four.
3. Best Group — BTS
BTS’s third award was Best Group.
The group previously won the category for four consecutive years from 2019 through 2022. Their 2026 victory brought their total Best Group VMA wins to five.
As a result, BTS won every category in which they were nominated at the 2026 VMAs.
What Is “SWIM”?
“SWIM” is a track from BTS’s fifth full-length album, “ARIRANG,” and is one of the key songs associated with the group’s return to full-group activities in 2026.
At the 2026 VMAs, the song itself earned two awards:
- Song of the Year
- Best K-Pop
BTS said through BIGHIT MUSIC that “ARIRANG” felt like a new beginning for the group, making the awards especially meaningful.
The members also expressed their gratitude to listeners following the Song of the Year win for “SWIM.”
BTS’s Previous MTV VMA Records
The 2026 VMAs were not BTS’s first major success at the awards.
Two records stand out following this year’s results:
- 4 total Best K-Pop wins
- 5 total Best Group wins
BTS won Best Group for four consecutive years from 2019 to 2022 and added a fifth win in 2026.
The group also expanded its VMA record by winning Song of the Year for the first time with “SWIM.”
Why Did BTS Not Attend the 2026 MTV VMAs?
BTS did not attend the 2026 MTV VMA ceremony in person despite winning three awards.
Reports cited the group’s upcoming “ARIRANG” world tour schedule in South America as part of the reason for their absence.
According to BIGHIT MUSIC’s official tour schedule, BTS is set to perform in Bogotá, Colombia, on October 2 and 3, just days after the VMAs.
BTS WORLD TOUR “ARIRANG” Schedule
The BTS WORLD TOUR “ARIRANG” began in Goyang, South Korea, on April 9, 2026.
The tour has since traveled through Japan, the United States, Mexico, South Korea, Europe, and other major cities across North America.
According to BIGHIT MUSIC’s official tour page, the following dates remained scheduled as of October 1, 2026.
October 2026 South America Tour Dates
| City | Venue | Concert Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Bogotá | Estadio El Campín | October 2, 3 |
| Lima | Estadio San Marcos | October 7, 9, 10 |
| Santiago | Estadio Nacional | October 14, 16, 17 |
| Buenos Aires | Estadio Único de La Plata | October 21, 23, 24 |
| São Paulo | Estádio do Morumbis | October 28, 30, 31 |
These dates are based on BIGHIT MUSIC’s official tour schedule.
The next scheduled shows are in Bogotá. Weverse has also published official venue and on-site information for the October 2 and 3 performances at Estadio El Campín.
BIGHIT MUSIC Official BTS Tour Schedule
The official tour page provides city-by-city concert information and links to ticketing or event pages where available.
Concert dates and ticket availability can change, so fans should confirm the latest information on the official website before purchasing tickets or making travel plans.
November and December 2026 Asia Tour Dates
After South America, the “ARIRANG” tour continues in Asia.
| City | Venue | Concert Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Kaohsiung | Kaohsiung National Stadium | November 19, 21, 22 |
| Bangkok | Rajamangala National Stadium | December 3, 5, 6 |
| Kuala Lumpur | TM Stadium Nasional | December 12, 13 |
| Singapore | National Stadium | December 17, 19, 20, 22 |
| Jakarta | Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium | December 26, 27 |
These dates are listed on BIGHIT MUSIC’s official BTS tour page.
Weverse also provides official ticketing notices for the Asia and Australia legs of the tour.
Membership presales, general sales, ticketing platforms, and entry rules may vary by city.
Fans should check the latest notice for each location before purchasing tickets.
2027 Australia, Hong Kong, and Philippines Dates
The “ARIRANG” world tour continues into 2027.
| City | Venue | Concert Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Melbourne | Marvel Stadium | February 12, 13 |
| Sydney | Accor Stadium | February 20, 21 |
| Hong Kong | Kai Tak Stadium | March 4, 6, 7 |
| Bulacan | Philippine Sports Stadium | March 13, 14 |
As of October 1, 2026, the last dated concert currently shown on BIGHIT MUSIC’s official tour page is March 14, 2027, in Bulacan, Philippines.
However, this should not be treated as the confirmed final show of the entire “ARIRANG” tour.
BIGHIT MUSIC displays “MORE TO COME” below the currently announced dates, indicating that additional tour dates may still be announced.
Fans should continue checking BIGHIT MUSIC and Weverse for future updates.
Major ARIRANG Tour Dates Already Completed
From April through September 2026, BTS performed across South Korea, Japan, North America, and Europe.
The tour opened in Goyang on April 9, 11, and 12.
BTS also performed at Busan Asiad Main Stadium on June 12 and 13.
The European leg included cities such as Madrid, Brussels, London, Munich, and Paris.
The tour later returned to North America for concerts in East Rutherford, Foxborough, Baltimore, Arlington, Toronto, Chicago, and Los Angeles.
The Los Angeles shows ran through September 6 before the tour moved toward its South American leg.
FAQ
Q. How many awards did BTS win at the 2026 MTV VMAs?
A. BTS won three awards.
The group won Song of the Year, Best K-Pop, and Best Group, meaning it won all three categories in which it was nominated.
Q. Which awards did “SWIM” win?
A. “SWIM” won Song of the Year and Best K-Pop.
BTS’s third award was Best Group.
Q. Was this BTS’s first Song of the Year win at the VMAs?
A. Yes.
“SWIM” gave BTS its first MTV VMA win in the Song of the Year category.
Q. Did BTS attend the 2026 MTV VMAs?
A. No.
BTS did not attend the ceremony in person. Reports linked the group’s absence to its upcoming “ARIRANG” world tour schedule.
Q. Where is BTS performing next?
A. As of October 1, 2026, BTS’s next scheduled performances are in Bogotá, Colombia.
The concerts are scheduled for October 2 and 3 at Estadio El Campín.
Q. When does the ARIRANG world tour end?
A. The last currently dated performance on BIGHIT MUSIC’s official schedule is March 14, 2027, in Bulacan, Philippines.
However, BIGHIT MUSIC also displays “MORE TO COME” on the official tour page.
For that reason, March 14 should not be considered the confirmed final date of the entire tour unless BIGHIT MUSIC officially announces that it is the last show.
Final Summary
BTS won three awards at the 2026 MTV VMAs, taking home Song of the Year and Best K-Pop for “SWIM,” along with Best Group.
The Song of the Year victory marked BTS’s first win in that VMA category, while the group also extended its records to four Best K-Pop wins and five Best Group wins.
Attention now returns to the BTS WORLD TOUR “ARIRANG.”
Beginning with Bogotá on October 2, the remaining 2026 schedule includes Lima, Santiago, Buenos Aires, São Paulo, Kaohsiung, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, and Jakarta.
The tour is then scheduled to continue in 2027 with Melbourne, Sydney, Hong Kong, and Bulacan.
Because BIGHIT MUSIC currently displays “MORE TO COME” on the official tour page, additional dates may still be announced.
Concert dates, ticketing schedules, venue policies, and availability may change. Before purchasing tickets or arranging international travel, check the latest BIGHIT MUSIC and Weverse announcements for the relevant city.
