HYBE has set a new company record by surpassing ₩1 trillion (approximately $725 million) in quarterly revenue for the first time since its founding.
The milestone was driven by BTS’ full-group comeback and global tour, continued growth from artists across HYBE’s multi-label system, and the expansion of its fan platform Weverse, resulting in significant gains in both revenue and profitability.
HYBE announced on July 28 that it recorded ₩1.45 trillion (approximately $1.05 billion) in consolidated revenue and ₩170.9 billion (approximately $124 million) in operating profit for the second quarter of 2026.
It marks the first time the company has exceeded ₩1 trillion in quarterly revenue, while operating profit also surpassed ₩100 billion for the first time. HYBE’s cumulative revenue for the first half of the year also exceeded ₩2 trillion, another all-time high.
Concerts, Albums, and Merchandise Led Growth
HYBE’s core entertainment businesses were the primary drivers of its record performance.
- Concert revenue:₩647.7 billion (approximately US$469 million)
- Album revenue:₩326.8 billion (approximately US$237 million)
- Merchandise and licensing:₩310.6 billion (approximately US$225 million), an all-time record.
As concert demand surged, merchandise and licensing revenue reached its highest level ever. Quarterly revenue more than doubled year over year, while the company posted an 11.8% operating margin, reflecting improved profitability alongside rapid growth.
BTS Played a Central Role
At the center of HYBE’s record-breaking quarter was BTS.
The group’s March comeback album ARIRANG topped U.S. vinyl and CD sales, becoming a major force in the global physical music market.
Their world tour, which began in April, generated massive economic activity in every host city, leading Korean media to coin the term “BTSnomics” to describe the group’s economic impact. BTS further demonstrated its global influence by headlining the FIFA World Cup Final Halftime Show.
Growth Extended Well Beyond BTS
HYBE emphasized that the results were not driven by BTS alone.
Among the Top 10 best-selling CDs in the United States during the first half of 2026, five releases came from HYBE artists.
In South Korea, seven HYBE acts became million sellers:
- BTS
- TOMORROW X TOGETHER
- ENHYPEN
- &TEAM
- BOYNEXTDOOR
- TWS
- CORTIS
The company said this demonstrates that its multi-label system is functioning effectively, allowing multiple artists to achieve major commercial success simultaneously rather than relying on a single act.
Rookie Artists Continue to Gain Momentum
HYBE’s newer artists also posted significant achievements.
Global girl group KATSEYE won three awards at the 2026 American Music Awards.
Meanwhile, rookie boy group CORTIS surpassed 5.25 million cumulative album sales with just two mini albums since debut, highlighting the company’s success in developing new intellectual property and the next generation of artists.
Touring Business Continues to Expand
HYBE’s live business is expected to grow even further during the second half of the year.
Its artists held 119 concerts during the first half of 2026, with more than 200 additional shows scheduled for the remainder of the year.
Upcoming touring highlights include:
- ENHYPEN, which sold out stadium concerts in South America.
- LE SSERAFIM, launching a world tour across Japan, North America, Europe, and Asia.
- BOYNEXTDOOR, beginning its first world tour.
- KATSEYE, adding additional shows after multiple sellouts.
- CORTIS, launching its first world tour less than a year after debut.
Weverse Continues Record Growth
HYBE’s fan platform Weverse also continued its rapid expansion.
Monthly active users (MAUs) reached a new record of 14.43 million.
Compared with the previous quarter:
- Total payment volume increased 12%.
- Average revenue per paying user (ARPPU) increased 24%.
HYBE said the increase reflects a virtuous cycle in which more artist activities drive higher platform engagement and greater spending on paid content.
A Shift Toward a Global Entertainment Platform
The latest results underscore HYBE’s transformation from a company primarily dependent on album sales into a global entertainment platform with diversified revenue streams.
Where its financial performance once depended heavily on the success of individual artists, HYBE now generates income across concerts, merchandise, licensing, and digital platforms, creating a more stable business model.
With BTS now fully active as a group again and newer artists continuing to gain traction, industry observers expect HYBE’s strong performance to continue through the second half of 2026.
HYBE CEO Lee Jae-sang said:
“These results demonstrate that HYBE is setting a new standard for the global entertainment industry while serving as a key export infrastructure for South Korea’s cultural sector. We will continue our growth through ongoing innovation and our global expansion strategy.”
