On October 27, SM Entertainment announced that EXO will hold a fan-meeting "EXO'verse" on December 13-14 at inspire Arena in Incheon, South Korea.
After this event, the group will release their 8th studio album in the first quarter of 2026 and continue other activities.
This comeback of EXO was made with a special lineup, instead of 8 official members, with only 5 members Suho, Chanyeol, Kai, Sehun, D.O. appearing and featuring Lay (Truong Nghe Hung) - a member who left SM in 2022.
Meanwhile, 3 members Chen, Baekhyun and Xiumin will not participate in the group's new album and promotion, due to legal disputes over the contract issue with SM Entertainment.
This information caused controversy, because in the EXO group, Baekhyun, Chen and D.O. Known as the 3 main vocalists, but the group's upcoming album will be missing 2 of them.
Lay left the company in April 2022 and has not participated in EXO's albums since then. The Lay announcement of a farewell to SM on the 10th anniversary of EXO's debut disappointed Korean and international fans. Therefore, Lay's surprise return to the group after 4 years was opposed by many fans.
Many opinions say that SM's participation in Lay this time is a strategy to save EXO's reputation in the Chinese market.
EXO debuted in 2012 with an initial lineup of 12 members. In 2014 - 2015, the Chinese members - Luhan (Loc Ham), Tao (Hoang Tu Thao), Kris (Ngo Diec Pham) - left the group.
lay has been active since then and has not been noticed until he announced the end of his contract with SM in 2022.
After leaving SM and returning to his home country China to work under his birth name Truong Nghe Hung, he gradually built a solid reputation through his music and acting activities.
Recently, the concert in the tour "Grand Line: Rock the Heavenly Place Tour 2025" by Truong Nghe Hung at the Chim Group Stadium, Beijing has made a strong impression.
Under the direction of director Truong Nghe Mau, the opening performance of "Paperings" with a giant LED screen effect recreating the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing Olympics in 2008 overwhelmed the audience.
Zhang Nghe Hung is a star with many fans and has a very good reputation in China. Therefore, he will be an important factor in attracting fans of the land of a billion people for EXO.
On the other hand, despite parting ways with SM, Truong Nghe Hung has not announced her departure from EXO and still maintains a good relationship with the other members. Sehun came to support Truong Nghe Hung's concert in China right after his military discharge.
