HYBE has reported its strongest quarterly financial results to date, with BTS playing a major role in the company’s record-breaking performance through the success of the group’s ARIRANG album and ongoing world tour. According to the entertainment company’s latest earnings report for the April-June quarter, the company posted 1.45 trillion won (about $993 million) in revenue.
According to a report by Korea JoongAng Daily published on July 28, 2026, HYBE recorded a 105.5% increase compared to the same period last year. The company’s operating profit also climbed to a record 170.9 billion won (around $116 million), a 159.3% increase from the same period last year. Even though operating expenses nearly doubled to 1.3 trillion won, the company maintained an operating margin of 11.8%.
The company said this was the first time its quarterly revenue crossed the 1 trillion won mark, while operating profit exceeded 100 billion won for the first time. The entertainment company’s net profit surged 613% to 109.8 billion won, and the first-half revenue surpassed 2 trillion won for the first time in the company’s history.
The company credited BTS as the biggest contributor to its second-quarter performance following the group’s return in March with its fifth full-length album, ARIRANG. According to the report revenue generated from businesses involving artists directly included album sales, concerts, advertisements, and appearances. It reached 1.04 trillion won, representing a 132% increase from a year earlier.
Concerts accounted for 647.7 billion won in revenue, while album sales brought in 326.8 billion won. Merchandise and licensing revenue also reached a record 310.6 billion won. Revenue from businesses not directly involving artists, such as official merchandise, fan club memberships, intellectual property licensing, and content, totaled 410 billion won, up 59% year over year.
BTS’ ARIRANG World Tour continued to deliver strong commercial results. Between May 2 and May 28, 2026 the group grossed $127.8 million and sold approximately 641,000 tickets across 12 shows, making it the highest-grossing and best-selling tour for the month.
The achievement also surpassed the previous biggest monthly gross by a group held by The Rolling Stones since Billboard introduced its Top Tours chart in 2019. The group secured its second consecutive month at No. 1 on Billboard’s monthly tours ranking and its fourth overall month at the top since 2019.
Meanwhile, ARIRANG, originally released in March, recently returned to the top 10 of the Billboard 200. The album climbed from No. 26 to No. 9 after the release of a vinyl picture disc edition featuring two bonus tracks.
HYBE also noted that the album topped U.S. sales of both vinyl records and CDs, citing Luminate data. The company added that the album contributed to South Korea becoming the world’s third-largest music exporter, behind only the United States and the United Kingdom.
Following HYBE’s earnings announcement, many fans praised BTS for their impact on the company’s historic quarter. One fan wrote,
“BTS’ ARIRANG tour pushing HYBE to record revenue — global impact undeniable.”
Fans argued that the group’s success has been the company’s biggest growth driver. Others said BTS deserves a larger stake in the company, while several claimed HYBE and BigHit would not have reached their current position without the group’s global impact.
Some said BTS has carried HYBE’s financial performance for years and predicted the group’s global stadium tour will continue to boost the company’s results through 2027.
Other HYBE artists and Weverse also contributed to growth
According to a report by Korea JoongAng Daily, as per HYBE’s several of its artists also recorded strong album sales during the first half of 2026. According to Circle Chart, Tomorrow X Together, ENHYPEN, &TEAM, BOYNEXTDOOR, TWS and CORTIS each sold more than 1 million albums. HYBE’s global girl group KATSEYE also added to the company’s achievements by winning third place at the 2026 American Music Awards.
The company’s concert business also continued to expand. HYBE artists held 119 concerts across 12 acts during the first half of the year. More than 200 additional shows are scheduled for the second half, putting the company on track to surpass last year’s total of 279 concerts performed by 10 acts.
The company said the increase in concerts is expected to drive higher sales of official merchandise and licensing products. The company also expects continued growth from The City, its fan experience project that transforms tour stops into entertainment destinations with pop-up stores, themed events and interactive activities.
Meanwhile, the umbrella company’s fan platform Weverse continued to grow alongside the company’s artists. Monthly active users reached a record 14.43 million for the second straight quarter. The platform also recorded double-digit quarterly growth in both gross merchandise value and average revenue per paying user, rising 12% and 24%, respectively.
Commenting on the results, the company’s CEO Lee Jae-sang said the company’s latest earnings reflect its growing influence in the global entertainment industry and its role in promoting Korean culture worldwide. He added that HYBE plans to continue expanding its business and pursuing long-term growth through further innovation and global activities.
Edited by Adrija Chakraborty