BTS has reached another major milestone as “SWIM,” the title track from the group’s fifth full-length album, “ARIRANG,” surpasses 1 billion streams on Spotify.
According to BIGHIT MUSIC, the song crossed the milestone on October 24, 2026, becoming the first song released worldwide in 2026 to achieve the feat.
Released on March 20, “SWIM” has enjoyed impressive global success since its debut.
The achievement also makes it the fastest BTS song to reach 1 billion streams on Spotify, adding another record to the group’s extensive list of musical accomplishments.
The milestone highlights the continued popularity of BTS and the strong reception of “ARIRANG,” the group’s first full-length album in three years and nine months.
With listeners around the world continuing to stream the track, “SWIM” has established itself as one of the standout releases of 2026.
“SWIM” Adds Another Record to BTS’s Spotify Achievements
With “SWIM” reaching 1 billion streams, BTS now has seven songs that have crossed the milestone on Spotify.
The track joins several of the group’s best-known releases, including “Dynamite,” “Butter,” “Boy With Luv,” “FAKE LOVE,” “Life Goes On,” and “My Universe,” the group’s collaboration with Coldplay.
The song’s streaming success reflects its strong performance across international music markets. “SWIM” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and remained on the chart for 20 consecutive weeks.
It also reached No. 2 on the United Kingdom’s Official Singles Chart, marking the group’s highest position on that chart to date.
The track received further recognition at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards, where it won Song of the Year.
These achievements have helped establish “SWIM” as one of BTS’s most successful recent releases.
On Spotify, the song also made an impressive start.
It topped the platform’s Daily Top Songs Global chart on its release day, recording approximately 14 million streams.
According to reports, that was the highest first-day streaming total for a song released in 2026.
Reaching the billion-stream mark in just over seven months gives “SWIM” another distinction in BTS’s discography and reinforces its strong international performance.
“ARIRANG” Surpasses 5 Billion Streams as All 14 Tracks Cross 200 Million
The success of “SWIM” has coincided with impressive streaming figures for its parent album, “ARIRANG.”
Earlier in October, the album surpassed 5 billion cumulative Spotify streams, becoming the most-streamed album released worldwide in 2026 at the time of the reported milestone.
All 14 tracks on the album have also exceeded 200 million streams each, demonstrating that listeners have been engaging with the project beyond its lead single.
“SWIM” carries a message about facing life’s challenges and continuing forward at one’s own pace.
The song uses the metaphor of swimming through powerful waves to express perseverance rather than allowing difficulties to bring progress to a halt.
BTS member RM participated in writing the lyrics, helping shape the track’s central message.
Its theme of moving forward through life’s uncertainties has become an important part of the song’s identity.
The album’s continued streaming success, combined with “SWIM” reaching 1 billion plays, marks another significant chapter in BTS’s musical journey.
The achievement also reflects the sustained support of ARMY, the group’s global fandom, whose listening activity has helped the release maintain its momentum.
As “SWIM” becomes the first 2026 release to surpass 1 billion Spotify streams, BTS adds another landmark achievement to its career while “ARIRANG” continues to attract listeners worldwide.
