Swim

'Swim' is BTS's lead single from the album 'Arirang', released on 20 March 2026 on Big Hit Music.^[1] It runs 2 minutes 39 seconds and carries nine credited writers, including RM, OneRepublic's Ryan Tedder and BTS's longtime in-house producer Pdogg, alongside James Essien, Sean Foreman, Tyler Spry, Jamison Baken, Kirsten Allyssa Spencer and Derrick Milano; it was produced by Tyler Spry and Leclair.^[1][2] The music video was directed by Tanu Muiño.^[1]

Charts

'Swim' debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.^[4] The album it leads, 'Arirang', debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and held the position for three consecutive weeks with an opening week of 641,000 equivalent album units, the biggest first week by units for any group since Billboard began that method of counting in December 2014.^[3]

Awards

The song won Song of the Year at the MTV Video Music Awards on 27 September 2026, the ceremony's top overall prize and only the second time a K-pop song has been nominated in that category.^[5] The same night, the VMAs' genre-specific Best K-Pop award went to Lisa's 'Dream' featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi instead.^[6]

Lawsuit

On 8 July 2026, three American songwriters sued HYBE, HYBE America and Big Hit Music in a US court, claiming 'Swim' reproduces an unreleased demo of the same title the three had written and recorded in early 2025.^[7] The suit seeks damages and a share of the song's profits, or, as an alternative, credit as co-writers; it does not name any of BTS's seven members as defendants.^[7] HYBE and Big Hit Music have denied the claims.^[8]