BTS' 'Swim' Cracks Apple Music's 100-Song Best of 2026 as the Only K-Pop Entry

BTS' "Swim" is on Apple Music's "Best Songs of 2026," making the group the only K-pop act on the platform's year-end list, Yonhap reported. The playlist, released Saturday, Nov. 7, gathers the songs Apple Music's editors say defined the year.

The track, the lead cut from the group's fifth studio album, "Arirang," was confirmed Wednesday by the group's agency, BigHit Music. Korea JoongAng Daily reported that "Swim" is the only track by a K-pop group among the 100 picks, and allkpop reported that, according to the agency, it is the first time a Korean group has been included.

Apple Music framed the comeback in its own words, calling it "a moment K-pop had been waiting for a long time" and "a meaningful return in which years of built-up anticipation finally paid off," allkpop reported.

Other Korean artists also appear on the playlist. Blackpink's Jennie is featured on Tame Impala's "Dracula," and a variation from Korean pianist Lim Yun-chan's 2025 Carnegie Hall live recording of Bach's "Goldberg Variations" also made the cut, Korea JoongAng Daily reported.

The placement lands alongside a durable chart run. "Arirang" sits at No. 62 on the Billboard 200 dated Nov. 14, its 33rd consecutive week on the chart, after entering at No. 1 on the chart dated April 4 and holding the top spot for three weeks, allkpop reported. "Swim" climbed five spots to No. 28 on the Billboard Global 200 and ranked No. 14 on Global Excl. U.S., while B-side "Normal" charted at No. 114 on the latter.

On streaming, "Swim" became the first song released in 2026 to pass 1 billion Spotify streams last month, allkpop reported. Apple Music has also placed it on its A-List Pop, Viral Hits and KPOPWRLD playlists.

The group is on the road with its "Arirang" world tour, which opened in Goyang, Gyeonggi, in April. The Asian leg begins Nov. 19 in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, then continues to Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Jakarta, 15 shows across five cities, Yonhap and allkpop reported.

@AboutMusicYT posted on X that BTS covers Apple Music's Best Of 2026 KPOPWRLD playlist, with "Swim" topping the list.