[Edaily Starin YUN GI BACK Reporter] BTS’s “SWIM” has established itself as one of the defining songs of the global music market this summer. Going beyond a mere short-term sensation, the track has maintained its position at the top of major charts for several months, driving the long-term success of their fifth studio album, “ARIRANG.”

According to the “2026 Global Songs of the Summer” list released by the U.S. music publication Billboard on the 10th, “SWIM” ranked No. 2 on the “Global (Excl. U.S.)” chart and No. 6 on the “Global 200” chart. This chart is calculated based on streaming and sales data compiled by Lumineate from more than 200 regions worldwide, aggregating performance from June 6 to September 12.
“Swim”’s strength lies in its staying power. On the “Global (Excl. U.S.)” chart, it has reached No. 1 a total of eight times and remained in the Top 5 for 23 consecutive weeks. On the “Global 200” chart, it has topped the chart four times and remained in the Top 10 for 19 consecutive weeks.
The album “Arirang” also shows no signs of losing steam six months after its release. On the latest Billboard charts, it climbed two spots from the previous week to No. 29 on the “Billboard 200,” and also ranked No. 25 on the “Top Album Sales” chart and No. 42 on the “Top Streaming Albums” chart.
The tracks from the album also continued to perform well. This week, “Swim” ranked No. 7 on the “Global (Excl. U.S.)” chart and No. 18 on the “Global 200,” while “NORMAL” ranked No. 60 and No. 96, respectively. Including “Body to Body,” all three tracks have remained on the “Global (Excl. U.S.)” chart for 24 consecutive weeks.
This trend is significant because it shows that BTS’s success is not limited to a single title track but extends to the consumption of the entire album. The group’s global fandom has once again demonstrated its staying power, as streaming and album sales have remained strong over the long term, rather than just achieving explosive results immediately after release.
This success has also extended to the music video category. The “Swim” music video won “Best Group Video/International” at the “2026 MTV Video Music Awards Japan” on the 8th.
Starting with “Fake Love” in 2018, BTS has now won in this same category again, following “Dynamite” and “Butter.” They previously won “Best Collaboration Video/International” in 2021 for “My Universe,” their collaboration with Coldplay.