BTS 'SWIM' Named Apple Music's Only K-pop Pick on 2026 Best Songs

BTS has landed the only K-pop spot on Apple Music's 2026 Best Songs list with 'SWIM,' the title track of its fifth studio album. The year-end list gathers 100 songs that resonated most with listeners around the world, and the group's track is the lone K-pop entry.

Apple Music announced the global 100-song ranking on the 8th, Korea time. 'SWIM' also earned places in several Best Playlists categories, including A-List Pop, Viral Hits and KPOPWRLD.

Chart Staying Power

Apple Music described the group's comeback as a return that came after years of built-up anticipation, saying it redefined this year's K-pop landscape. The recognition comes as the album's long chart run continues.

The fifth album, 'Arirang,' ranked No. 62 on the latest Billboard 200, the main US album chart. That marks 33 consecutive weeks on the chart. The album entered at No. 1 on the chart dated April 4 and held the top spot for three straight weeks before settling into a steady presence.

'SWIM' itself rose five spots to No. 28 on the Billboard Global 200 and sits at No. 14 on the Global Excl. US chart. That is a rebound seven months after release.

The long streaming and chart run of more than 30 weeks is read as the product of a tightly bonded global fandom combined with broad public recognition. BTS will continue its second-half global schedule with a 'Arirang' world tour show in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, on the 19th.

Why It Matters

Being the only K-pop song on a 100-track global list shows how BTS keeps setting the pace for the genre on mainstream platforms. Its months-long presence on both streaming and US charts suggests the appeal goes well beyond a launch-week surge.

Read the original article in Korean: K trendy NEWS