BTS’ world tour sent K-pop powerhouse Hybe to the highest quarterly revenue and operating profit in its history in the third quarter of 2026. Revenue for the quarter reached KRW1.5257 trillion ($1.13 billion) and operating profit came in at KRW188.5 billion ($140.2 million). Both numbers beat the records the company set in the second quarter.
Operating margin stood at 12.4%. Over the first nine months of the year, Hybe has taken in $2.73 billion, more than it has ever earned in a full year. Adjusted operating profit for those nine months was $310.8 million, a figure that leaves out a one-off charge booked in the first quarter.
Income tied directly to artists made up 70% of the total at $799.6 million. That covers recorded music, concerts, ads and appearances. Indirect streams such as fan club memberships, merchandise, licensing and content brought in $334.9 million.
Live shows did the heavy lifting. Concert revenue hit a quarterly high of $540.5 million, as BTS played to some 70,000 fans per show in Europe and the U.S. Enhypen, Le Sserafim, &Team, Katseye and Cortis were among the other Hybe acts on the road.
Merchandise and licensing also set a quarterly record at $248.8 million. BTS’ North American tour merch alone accounted for $79.6 million of that. Hybe pointed to products adapted for local markets and a diversified production setup.
It also cited Weverse Pickup, a service that lets fans buy online and collect their orders at the venue. The company intends to bring the same local approach to tours by acts across its other labels. Recorded music revenue was $210.3 million, with streaming responsible for about 30%.
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