Official poster for the EXO offline fanmeet to be held in December.
Sm Entertainment/X
K-pop powerhouse EXO will release their eighth full-length album in the first quarter of 2026, SM Entertainment announced on Monday through the group’s official social media channels.
EXO member LAY had already hinted at this reunion in an earlier interview with Hannah Abraham, saying “Stay Tuned For December”.
EXO Fan Meeting Announcement Reveals Album Plans
The news was revealed in a statement about the group’s upcoming offline fan meeting in December, scheduled for December 13-14 at South Korea’s Inspire Arena in Incheon. Six members — group leader Suho, Chanyeol, D.O. (Do Kyung Soo), Kai, Sehun, and Lay — will participate in both the fan meeting and the upcoming album, which is unnamed as of now.
EXO members Chen, Baekhyun and Xiumin were not named in the statement.
Per a translation from Korean news outlet Chosun Daily, SM Entertainment said, “EXO will hold the fan meeting ‘EXO’verse’ at Inspire Arena in Jung-gu, Incheon, on December 13-14, and plans to release its 8th regular album in the first quarter of 2026, followed by various activities.”
Lay’s Long-Awaited Return to EXO
The inclusion of LAY is particularly noteworthy, as this will be his first official comeback with EXO in four years since he virtually joined them for “Don’t Fight the Feeling” in 2021. The Chinese member has been largely focused on his solo career in China since 2017.
What To Expect From EXO-verse
At the December fan meeting, EXO will not only perform hit songs (including their beloved winter track “The First Snow”) but also unveil a new song from their upcoming album for the first time, giving fans a preview of what’s to come in 2026.
Album-related promotions are set to roll out starting this December, building anticipation for the group’s first album release since “Exist” in July 2023. The upcoming eighth album marks a significant milestone as it reunites multiple members following the completion of mandatory military service.
Ticket reservations for the EXO-verse fan meeting will open through Melon Ticket, with fan club presales starting on October 30 at 8 p.m. KST, followed by general sales on October 31 at 8 p.m. KST.
All tickets will cost KRW 110,000 inclusive of VAT (~77 USD), and the event is open to fans aged 7 and upwards.
Lay said it best, EXO fans: “Stay tuned for December.”
Follow Hannah Abraham on Forbes.com for more exclusive reports, interviews and analyses from the world’s biggest entertainment industries.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/hannahabraham/2025/10/27/exo-to-release-new-album-in-2026-with-six-members/
