EXO returned in January 2026 with its eighth studio album REVERXE, its first release in two and a half years and its first since every remaining active member finished mandatory military service — but the comeback rolled out as a six-member activity rather than a true nine-member reunion, since Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin remain absent from group promotions amid an unresolved revenue dispute with SM Entertainment. The result is a group whose military-service wait is technically over, but whose full lineup still hasn't performed together, for entirely separate reasons.
The End of a Six-Year Military Wait
EXO's members entered military service in a staggered sequence starting in 2019, with D.O. among the first to enlist. Kai, who began alternative service as a social service worker in May 2023, was discharged in February 2025, leaving Sehun as the group's last member still serving. Sehun completed his mandatory service on September 20, 2025 — a moment that, on its own, closed out roughly six and a half years of EXO members cycling through military duty. The group's last release featuring its full then-active lineup had been the December 2018 reissue Love Shot, meaning the wait for any kind of group comeback had already stretched years before service obligations were even the main obstacle.
REVERXE: A Comeback, But Not a Full One
SM Entertainment confirmed in October 2025 that EXO would release its eighth full album in the first quarter of 2026, kicking off promotion with a two-day fan meeting, EXO'verse, held December 13–14 at Inspire Arena in Incheon. When REVERXE arrived on January 19, 2026, it featured six members — Suho, Chanyeol, D.O., Kai, Sehun, and Lay — explicitly excluding Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin, who have continued operating under their own independent label, INB100, amid an unresolved dispute with SM over compensation and revenue distribution. As of reporting from April 2026, that dispute remained unsettled, meaning any true nine-member reunion depends on its resolution rather than anything related to military service.
A World Tour Anyway
Despite the incomplete lineup, the six active members moved directly from the album into a concert run: EXO Planet #6 – EXhOrizon, announced January 28, 2026, opened with three sold-out shows at Seoul's KSPO Dome from April 10 to 12 before continuing across roughly 13 Asian markets through a Singapore date on July 26. The tour marked the group's first concert run since 2019's EXO Planet #5 – EXplOration, giving fans a large-scale live show even without every member present.
EXO Return Timeline
| Date | Development |
|---|---|
| December 2018 | Last release featuring the group's then-full lineup (Love Shot reissue) |
| February 2025 | Kai discharged from alternative service |
| September 20, 2025 | Sehun completes mandatory service, ending members' military service era |
| December 13–14, 2025 | EXO'verse fan meeting held in Incheon |
| January 19, 2026 | 8th album REVERXE released with six members |
| April–July 2026 | EXO Planet #6 – EXhOrizon tour across Asia |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is EXO's 2026 comeback a full nine-member reunion?
No, REVERXE and the accompanying tour feature six members — Suho, Chanyeol, D.O., Kai, Sehun, and Lay — while Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin remain absent due to an unresolved dispute with SM Entertainment.
Why are Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin not part of the comeback?
The three members have been operating under their own independent label, INB100, amid an ongoing, unresolved dispute with SM Entertainment over compensation and revenue distribution.
When did all of EXO's active members finish military service?
Sehun, the last member still serving, completed his mandatory service on September 20, 2025.
What was EXO's previous studio album before REVERXE?
Their seventh studio album, EXIST, was released in July 2023.
Is EXO touring in support of REVERXE?
Yes, the six active members are performing on the EXO Planet #6 – EXhOrizon tour, which opened in Seoul in April 2026 and continued across roughly 13 Asian markets through July.
The status of the dispute involving Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin can change — check official SM Entertainment and INB100 announcements for the latest updates.