BTS’ ‘Swim’ Hits 1B Spotify Streams, a 2026 First

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As of October 24, 2026, BTS' 'Swim' has passed 1 billion streams on Spotify, making it the first song released in 2026 to hit that mark. The group's agency, Big Hit Music, says it got there faster than any other BTS track. It's the band's seventh billion-stream song.

1 billionTotal Spotify streams for 'Swim'
7 songsBTS tracks with 1 billion+ Spotify streams
About 7 monthsTime from release to 1 billion streams

Key points

  • On Oct. 24, Big Hit Music announced that 'Swim' had topped 1 billion total streams on Spotify.
  • 'Swim' is the first song released anywhere in the world in 2026 to reach that number.
  • This is BTS' seventh billion-stream track, and the fastest the group has ever gotten there.
  • Reports say the song dropped March 20, so it took about seven months to hit the milestone.

BTS' agency, Big Hit Music, announced on Oct. 24 that 'Swim' has crossed 1 billion total streams on Spotify. According to the company, it's the first song released worldwide this year to reach that number, and it got there faster than any other BTS track. A billion streams is one of the signature hit benchmarks of the streaming era.

'Swim' is the lead song from BTS' fifth studio album, 'Arirang.' News1 reported that the milestone came about seven months after its March 20 release. The lyrics are about keeping a steady pace through life even when it comes crashing in, rather than fighting it head-on, and RM reportedly handled most of the writing.

That makes seven BTS songs with a billion streams or more. 'Dynamite,' 'Butter' and 'Boy With Luv' got there first. The group debuted in 2013, took a break for military service, and returned this March with a new album. This record came from that comeback project.

Award news came along with it. Reports say 'Swim' won Song of the Summer at the American Music Awards and Song of the Year at the MTV Video Music Awards. That detail appears in only one outlet's coverage, though, so it still needs confirmation.

In Korea right nowKorean outlets ran the news throughout the morning of Oct. 24, right after the agency's announcement. Yonhap and Dong-A Ilbo both led with the fact that it's the first 2026 release to hit the mark. Fans and the industry are paying attention because the title track of a full-length album, the first since the members' military hiatus, landed a flagship result in just over six months.

FAQ

What does 1 billion Spotify streams mean?

It means a single song's total play count on Spotify has passed 1 billion. Big Hit Music says 'Swim' is the first song released in 2026 to get there.

What kind of song is 'Swim'?

It's the lead track from BTS' fifth studio album, 'Arirang.' The message is about moving through life at your own pace, and reports say RM was the main lyricist.

Has BTS had other songs pass 1 billion streams?

Yes. 'Dynamite,' 'Butter' and 'Boy With Luv' got there first, and 'Swim' brings the total to seven.

📎 원문 보기 · Sources

연합뉴스 · Oct 24, 2026[가요소식] BTS '스윔', 스포티파이 10억 스트리밍 돌파 | 연합뉴스Read the full story & photos at the source →
조선일보 기사 이미지BTS’ ‘Swim’ Hits 1B Spotify Streams, a 2026 First조선일보 · Oct 24, 2026방탄소년단 ‘SWIM’, 스포티파이 10억 스트리밍 돌파..장기 흥행ingRead the full story & photos at the source →
동아일보 기사 이미지BTS’ ‘Swim’ Hits 1B Spotify Streams, a 2026 First동아일보 · Oct 24, 2026BTS ‘스윔’ 스포티파이 10억 스트리밍 돌파…올해 발표곡 중 최초Read the full story & photos at the source →
조선일보 기사 이미지BTS’ ‘Swim’ Hits 1B Spotify Streams, a 2026 First조선일보 · Oct 24, 2026BTS「SWIM」、Spotifyで10億回再生突破…ロングヒット続くRead the full story & photos at the source →

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