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BTS has sent fans into a frenzy with the release of striking new photos ahead of their much-anticipated Permission to Dance on Stage – Live album. Set to drop on July 18 at 1 PM KST (9:30 AM IST), the live album marks the group’s first official release since all seven members completed their mandatory military service. Pre-orders for the album went live recently, and in true BTS fashion, online stores sold out within minutes, with many websites displaying “out of stock” messages almost immediately.
The newly unveiled photos appear to have been taken before the group’s military hiatus, which lasted for nearly three years. In them, the members are seen inside a bubblegum pink police van, dressed head-to-toe in sleek, all-white outfits that nod to the group’s Map of the Soul: 7 era. The visuals also subtly reference their 2021 single Permission to Dance, released on July 9 of that year. Jin, seated in the driver’s seat, leads the group as they exude relaxed confidence and playful charm.
In addition to the group shots, individual photobooth-style pictures were released, capturing RM, Jin, SUGA, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook striking poses in chunky white boots and coordinated monochrome ensembles. These previously unseen images quickly went viral, with fans celebrating the nostalgic yet fresh aesthetic and the reunion of all seven members in promotional content.
The upcoming Permission to Dance on Stage, Live album features 22 tracks pulled from their high-energy concert series of the same name. The tour began online in 2021 and expanded into 12 major in-person performances across cities like Seoul, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas, becoming one of the most significant post-pandemic live K-pop events.
This album release follows BTS’s first full-member livestream in three years, held just one day prior. During the broadcast, the group confirmed they are working on a new album set for release in Spring 2026, with plans to kick off the creative process at a mobile songwriting camp in the United States. Additionally, they confirmed a world tour is in the pipeline, their first since 2018–2019’s Love Yourself: Speak Yourself tour.
In the meantime, Jin has begun his RUNSEOKJIN_EP.TOUR, marking BTS’s return to global stages. With momentum building and millions of fans eager for what’s next, BTS is officially back—and bigger than ever.