BTS have done it again in Japan. According to Oricon's 2026 First-Half Rankings — covering December 8, 2025 through June 7, 2026 — the group's fifth studio album ARIRANG claimed the top spot on both the Album Ranking and the Combined Album Ranking, making them double champions in Oricon's mid-year tally.
Breaking a 22-Year Record
ARIRANG moved approximately 728,000 copies during the six-month tracking period, according to multiple Korean outlets including TenAsia, OSEN, and Sports Donga. That figure makes BTS the first foreign male artist to surpass 700,000 sales on the Oricon first-half Album Ranking since the legendary British rock band Queen sold over that threshold with their compilation album Jewels back in 2004 — a gap of 22 years.
On the Combined Album Ranking, ARIRANG racked up approximately 922,000 points, landing BTS the distinction of being the first foreign artist ever to reach No. 1 on that particular chart. TenAsia also notes the group became only the third artist in history to surpass 800,000 points on the Combined Album Ranking, adding yet another milestone to an already staggering résumé.
Only Foreign Act to Top the Chart Twice
This is not BTS' first time ruling Oricon's first-half Album Ranking. In 2020, their Japanese fourth studio album MAP OF THE SOUL: 7 ~THE JOURNEY~ claimed the same crown. With ARIRANG now repeating that feat, BTS become the only overseas act to top the Oricon first-half Album Ranking more than once — a record no other foreign artist has matched in the chart's history, as reported by OSEN, TenAsia, and Sports Donga. Beyond the two headline categories, ARIRANG also landed at No. 3 on the Digital Album Ranking, further cementing the group's dominance across Oricon's mid-year results.
BTS shared a message through Oricon, noting that ARIRANG is the first album they released as a complete group in three years and nine months, and expressing gratitude that so many fans embraced it.
