Rabat – On September 8, SM Entertainment released through the official pages of EXO regarding a group activity scheduled for December 2025. The post read: “When We Become True One, a New World Awakens”, indicating that the event would reunite the members of EXO who haven’t had a comeback as a group since July 2025.
On October 27, it was announced that the mysterious event is a fan meeting titled “EXO’verse”, which would take place on December 13 and 14 and would include members Suho, Chanyeol, D.O. (Dokyung), Kai, Sehun, and Lay.
Fans of the K-pop group were conflicted following the announcement. While fans welcomed the comeback of the Chinese member Lay, they were still disappointed by the exclusion of the main vocalists of the group, CBX (Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin).
Lay, the only remaining Chinese member of EXO, announced through his Instagram in April 2022 that he wouldn’t renew his contract with the South Korean entertainment company SM. Lay made sure to clarify that he would still be part of EXO through the openheart letter he had posted online for EXO fans. He added that he would make sure to join the members whenever his schedule would allow him to.
Lay Zhang’s involvement in the upcoming event shows his loyalty and deep roots in South Korea. It also shows his commitment to the promise he made back in 2022 to both EXO fans and members.
EXO fans expressed their excitement for Lay’s return; however, they were also taken by surprise when it was announced that the three members of the sub-unit CBX would not be present in the fan meeting scheduled for mid-December.
In 2023, CBX declared their intention to terminate their contract with SM Entertainment. The three members consequently started their own activities under the company INB100, founded by Baekhyun.
SM Entertainment filed a lawsuit not long after CBX started their individual activities outside of their management under the accusation that they failed to pay their 10% of activity revenue that both parties had previously agreed on. CBX countered with a lawsuit of their own, claiming that there were many issues — mainly financial — which were not yet settled. The amount disputed by CBX totals 600 million KRW.
In addition to the fan meeting, SM Entertainment also announced that a group comeback is in the works for early 2026. EXO are expected to release their 8th studio album.
Lay is expected to take part in the long-awaited comeback, while CBX are not expected to take part in it. The legal dispute between SM Entertainment and CBX is still ongoing to this day, which explains their absence from the upcoming activities.
