After years of military service and solo activities, EXO will finally come back together for a massive 2026 world tour. This will be their first full-group concert since EXO Planet #5 – Expløration in 2019.
The group’s 7-year military service era is finally coming to an end with Sehun’s military discharge in September. Following that, all nine members will stand on stage together again. 2026 is going to be pretty exciting as another K-pop group, BTS, will release an album and go on a massive world tour. EXO’s return has added to the excitement.
After the group leader Suho hinted at a world tour on July 13, EXO-Ls are excited more than ever to see the group on stage, after what feels like ages.
EXO is confirmed to make a comeback next year, this time, Chinese member Lay will also participate in the group activities.
While official details are still under wraps, here’s what fans can look forward to, based on hints from the members and what they have done in the past.
EXO World Tour 2026 Dates and Locations
SM Entertainment hasn’t released official dates yet, but Suho hinted at a 2026 tour during EXO’s 12th debut anniversary fan meeting in 2024. He promised new music and concerts once Kai and Sehun finished military duty.
Suho shared
As soon as Kai and Sehun return, we will bring a new album and a world tour!
During a Bubble message on July 13, the EXO once again briefly confirmed group comeback plans, saying
EXO album, fan meeting, concert, world tour
Preparations start as soon as Sehun is back
Notably, Kai has already completed military service in February, made a comeback, and is currently embarked on a tour. Sehun will return on September 20, and all members will get together to work on their long-awaited comeback.
If they follow their usual pattern, the EXO tour will probably include:
- Opening shows in Seoul, likely at the KSPO Dome or an even bigger venue.
- Asia stops in Tokyo, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Manila, and Jakarta, where EXO’s fanbase is huge.
- Possible U.S. and Europe shows: EXO might finally head back to Los Angeles, New York, or other Western cities they haven’t visited since 2017.
- South America: The upcoming tour will likely be huge and include stops in South and Latin America. LATAM especially has a huge K-pop fanbase and Korean artists are warmly welcomed there.
During the SM 30th anniversary show, SMTWON in London, in June, Suho, Kai, and Chanyeol promised fans to return to Europe next year as EXO.
EXO’s Last World Tour
EXO debuted in April 2012, but their military era started in 2019, which means nearly half their career was spent on hiatus as members enlisted one after another. This left them with little chance to tour the world as frequently as fans had hoped.
EXO’s last Asia tour, EXO Planet #5 – Expløration (July – December 2019) was a huge hit. They performed 31 shows across nine countries, selling out arenas in Seoul, Hong Kong, Manila, China, Tokyo, and more.
Fans got a taste of everything: explosive group performances like “Love Shot” and “Tempo,” plus stunning solo stages such as Baekhyun’s “UN Village” and Kai’s “Confession.” The Seoul encores were extra special, with winter songs like “The First Snow” that tugged at every EXO-L’s heart.
Over their impressive 14-year career, EXO has mainly focused their tours in Asia. Tours like EXO Planet #4 – The Elyxion and EXO Planet #5 – Expløration were limited to Asian stops, while their only U.S. visits were during EXO Planet #2 – The Exo’luxion (2015–2016) and EXO Planet #3 – The Exo’rdium (2016–2017).
Many fans feel that SM Entertainment failed to fully tap into EXO’s global potential, often criticizing the company for not giving the group enough releases or world tours.
EXO Comeback 2026
Earlier this year, member D.O. confirmed that EXO will return as a full group next year, as they will need time to prepare for the new music after Sehun’s discharge.
Not this year right away, but you’ll see us at the earliest possible time. We’ll start preparing this year once everyone’s individual schedules are all worked out.
In addition, Lay has excited EXO-Ls by hinting at a long-awaited OT9 comeback. In a recent Chinese interview, he revealed he’s discussing rejoining EXO in the fall, saying, “In September or October, we’ll see if we can meet with the members.”
Lay has mostly focused on his solo career in China since 2017, but contributed to EXO’s Tempo in 2018 and Don’t Fight The Feeling in 2021. After the group’s activities paused for military service, EXO returned as eight for Exist in 2023.
What to Expect
Fans can look forward to a setlist packed with legendary hits like “Growl,” “Call Me Baby,” and “Monster,” along with fresh songs from a new album likely to drop before the tour. There will probably be special solo and subunit stages too.
The production will be top-notch, with stunning visuals, creative VCRs, and interactive moments. This tour is extra special because it marks EXO’s first full-group tour since 2019, and fans may finally see them back in Western cities they have not visited in years.
