BTS just took Song of the Year for “SWIM” at the 2026 MTV VMAs, and a lot of fans woke up to the news wanting something they can actually hold. The problem is that BTS SWIM merch is spread across several stores, some items are one per customer, and the most talked-about piece, the wind jacket, has been selling out in waves since May.
Searching for a cassette or a jacket also turns up plenty of resale listings and look-alike products that are not official at all. This guide sorts out which SWIM formats really exist, which official stores carry them, and what to check before you pay.
The SWIM single exists as a single CD, a cassette, a 7-inch vinyl, and a Target-exclusive 4-inch tiny vinyl, and the Official BTS Music Store (US) listed all three store formats as in stock on September 28, 2026.
SWIM apparel, including the SWIM and DIVE wind jackets, is sold officially only through Weverse Shop’s global, Japan, and USA stores, and restocks come in rounds.
What BTS won at the 2026 VMAs
The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards were held on September 27, 2026 (local time) at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. BTS won all three awards it was nominated for: Song of the Year for “SWIM”, Best K-Pop, and Best Group. Best Group was the group’s fifth win in that category, according to SBS News.
The Song of the Year field included Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter’s “Bring Your Love”, RAYE’s “WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!”, Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas”, and HUNTR/X’s “Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters. BTS did not attend the ceremony and accepted through a statement from BigHit Music, as reported by The Korea Times. BLACKPINK’s Lisa also won Best Pop for “Dream”, which made the night a strong one for K-pop overall. Rosé won Song of the Year in 2025 with “APT.”, so this is the second year in a row the category went to a K-pop act.
Why SWIM merch is suddenly in demand
“SWIM” was released on March 20, 2026 as the lead single of ARIRANG, the group’s first full-group album in three years and nine months. The song debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped Spotify’s global daily chart for 25 straight days, from March 20 to April 13. Award wins tend to pull a second wave of buyers into formats that the first wave already picked over. That is exactly the pattern with SWIM, where several ARIRANG vinyl variants were already marked sold out before the VMAs.
One naming detail causes confusion in search results. BigHit and the official stores bill the record as “The 5th Album ‘ARIRANG'”, while Wikipedia’s ARIRANG entry counts it as the group’s sixth Korean-language studio album. Both labels point to the same 14-track album released on March 20, 2026, so either name will find the right product.
Every SWIM physical format and where it is sold
The table below lists the SWIM single formats confirmed on official store pages. Prices are the Official BTS Music Store (US) prices as checked on September 28, 2026, and they may change or differ in other regions.
| Format | What is on it | Official seller | Price (checked Sep 28, 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| SWIM Single CD | “SWIM” | Official BTS Music Store (US) | $2.99, limit 1 |
| SWIM Original & Instrumental Single CD | “SWIM” plus instrumental | Official BTS Music Store (US), Weverse Shop | $2.99 on the US store |
| SWIM Cassette | “SWIM” | Official BTS Music Store (US), Weverse Shop, Tower Records | $12.98, limit 1 |
| SWIM 7″ Vinyl | “SWIM” and “SWIM (Underwater Remix)” | Official BTS Music Store (US), Weverse Shop | $13.98, limit 1 |
| Tiny Vinyl 4″ (red) | “SWIM” on side A, “Normal” on side B | Target (US exclusive) | Check Target listing |
The single CD is the cheapest official way to own SWIM at $2.99, but each account is limited to one copy. The 7-inch vinyl is the only store format with a second track, the Underwater Remix, and it ships in an outer sleeve measuring roughly 184 by 183 mm. The cassette carries the single track and is also listed by Tower Records with a March 27, 2026 release date.
Target’s tiny vinyl is a separate product and not a smaller copy of the 7-inch. It comes with a gatefold outer sleeve, an inner sleeve, and a 4-inch red disc, and Billboard reported it as a Target exclusive with a one-per-customer limit in the US.
The SWIM wind jacket and apparel drop
The “bts swim jacket” searches mostly point to one product line. BigHit announced the SWIM merchandise on Weverse for sale from 5 pm KST on Tuesday, May 26, 2026. The line covers wind jackets, pants, and shorts in SWIM and DIVE versions, plus baseball caps in blue, denim, and multi colors, and a sticker set.
The official sales channels for this apparel are Weverse Shop’s global, Japan, and USA stores only. The notice warns that shipping to some regions may be restricted and that stock can differ between regional shops. So if the global store shows sold out, the USA or Japan store is worth checking before you turn to resale.
On the Weverse Shop listing, the Wind Jacket (SWIM) was priced at USD $101.52 including tax and marked sold out when checked on September 28, 2026. It comes in sizes S to XL, with a 100% nylon shell and 100% polyester lining, and a limit of two per option. The care label calls for cold hand washing only and no tumble drying.
ARIRANG album versions if you want the full record
If one song is not enough, SWIM sits on ARIRANG, and the album has far more physical options than the single. The Official BTS Music Store listed 17 ARIRANG products on September 28, 2026, and three member vinyl variants were already sold out. The main groups are below.
| ARIRANG edition | US store price (Sep 28, 2026) | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Group Red Vinyl | $25.98 | In stock |
| Member color vinyl (7 versions) | $25.98 each | SUGA, V, and Jung Kook versions sold out |
| Deluxe Vinyl (Color or B&W) | $59.98 | In stock |
| Rooted in Korea / Rooted in Music CD (store exclusive) | $27.98 | In stock |
| Living Legend CD version | $33.98 | In stock |
| Travel Tag CD Box Set | $51.98 | In stock |
| 613 Limited Edition Picture Disc Vinyl | $59.98 | Pre-order |
The deluxe vinyl includes a bonus track, “Come Over”, that is not on the 14-track standard edition. Weverse Shop also sells a T-Shirt CD Box Set, which pairs the album with a shirt and is the closest thing to an apparel bundle tied to the record itself.
How to avoid overpaying and fakes
A search for the SWIM windbreaker brings up eBay listings, third-party K-pop shops, and at least one site selling a “Keep Swimming” jacket that is not official BigHit merchandise. Resale listings for the official wind jacket have been seen well above the Weverse Shop price, so it pays to check the official restock rounds first.
- Official apparel has a Weverse Shop listing. If a jacket has no matching product on Weverse Shop, treat it as unofficial.
- Third-party K-pop retailers sometimes take pre-orders for official items and buy them on your behalf. That can work, but you pay their markup and wait on their shipping.
- The US music store shows a regional restriction on each product. Readers outside the US should use the international store links on that site or Weverse Shop instead.
- Single CDs, cassettes, and 7-inch vinyl are limited to one per customer, so a second copy will almost always come from resale.
Which SWIM format makes sense for you
For a casual fan who just wants a keepsake from the VMA night, the single CD is the low-risk pick at a few dollars. Collectors who own a turntable get the most music from the 7-inch, since it is the only store format with the Underwater Remix. The cassette and the tiny vinyl are mostly display pieces, and the tiny vinyl is only sold through Target in the US.
If the jacket is the goal, follow the Weverse Shop restock rounds across the global, USA, and Japan shops rather than paying a reseller premium on day one. And if you are curious how the rest of the BigHit roster is doing in ARIRANG’s wake, CORTIS’s GreenGreen became the only other 2026 album to pass 4 million copies.
BTS SWIM Merch Frequently Asked Questions
Is there an official BTS SWIM cassette?
Yes. The BTS SWIM Cassette is sold on the Official BTS Music Store (US) at $12.98 as of September 28, 2026, limited to one per customer, and it is also carried by Weverse Shop and Tower Records.
What songs are on the SWIM single CD and vinyl?
The standard single CD has “SWIM”, and a second CD adds the instrumental. The 7-inch vinyl pairs “SWIM” with “SWIM (Underwater Remix)”, while Target’s 4-inch tiny vinyl pairs “SWIM” with “Normal”.
Where can I buy the BTS SWIM wind jacket?
The SWIM and DIVE wind jackets are sold officially through Weverse Shop’s global, Japan, and USA stores. The SWIM version was listed at USD $101.52 and sold out on September 28, 2026, so watch for the next restock round.
Is the “Keep Swimming” jacket official BTS merch?
The official SWIM apparel line announced on Weverse includes wind jackets in SWIM and DIVE versions. A jacket without a matching Weverse Shop listing should be treated as unofficial, whatever the seller’s product name says.
Is SWIM on the ARIRANG album?
Yes. SWIM is the lead single of ARIRANG, released together with the album on March 20, 2026. Any ARIRANG CD or vinyl includes SWIM, so the album is an option if the single formats are gone.
Can fans outside the US buy from the Official BTS Music Store?
Product pages on the US store show a regional restriction. Fans in other countries should use the international store links listed on that site or order through Weverse Shop, which runs separate global, Japan, and USA storefronts.
