K-pop supergroup EXO is moving forward with plans for a six-member comeback, while three of its members - Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin, collectively known as CBX - remain excluded from group activities due to an ongoing legal dispute with their former agency SM Entertainment.
The group's upcoming activities will feature six members: Suho, Chanyeol, D.O., Kai, Sehun, and Lay. This lineup was confirmed when Coupang Play's variety show "Sister Salon" announced at the end of its November 23 episode that these six members would appear on the November 29 broadcast. The announcement effectively solidified the current configuration of EXO's group promotions without CBX.
EXO has already informed fans that they are preparing their eighth studio album for release in the first quarter of 2026. The highly anticipated album will only include the six participating members, marking a significant shift in the group's structure. CBX, who are currently active under their independent label INB100, will not be involved in this comeback despite being original members of the nine-member group.
The group's first major fan event in nearly a year is scheduled to take place on December 14 at Inspire Arena in Incheon. The fan meeting, titled "EXOverse," will be held twice on the same day and represents the group's first large-scale gathering in eight months since their 12th anniversary event. During the fan meeting, EXO will perform their hit songs, including their beloved winter classic "First Snow," as well as showcase new music for their devoted fanbase.
Both shows for the fan meeting sold out completely during the presale period, demonstrating EXO's continued strong appeal and commercial power at the box office. This successful ticket sales performance signals a promising path toward their planned comeback and suggests that fans are supportive of the group's current six-member format. The excitement has been further amplified by news that the members will also make joint appearances on various television variety programs.
The current lineup includes members with different contractual situations. While Suho, Kai, Chanyeol, and Sehun remain under SM Entertainment's management, both D.O., who operates under his own independent label, and Lay, who previously left the group to focus on his career in China, will participate in the upcoming activities. However, CBX continues to be excluded from these group promotions.
The legal battle between CBX and SM Entertainment began in 2023 when the three members filed a lawsuit against their former agency. They alleged that SM Entertainment had failed to provide proper settlement records and had imposed unfair contractual terms on them. The dispute centered around transparency in financial settlements and what the members considered to be unreasonable contract conditions that limited their career opportunities.
After extensive legal proceedings, both parties eventually reached a compromise agreement. Under this arrangement, CBX would maintain their exclusive contracts with SM Entertainment while being allowed to conduct their individual activities through INB100, their chosen independent management company. This seemed like a reasonable solution that would allow the members to pursue solo careers while remaining part of EXO.
However, disagreements over specific contract terms continued to create tension between the parties. CBX ultimately lost most of their legal battles against SM Entertainment, weakening their negotiating position. In a recent statement last month, INB100 announced that they had accepted all conditions presented by SM Entertainment and had clearly communicated their intention to reach a final settlement. The label expressed a strong desire for the three members to return to full group activities with EXO.
SM Entertainment responded by drawing a clear distinction between resolving the legal conflict and allowing CBX to return to group activities. The agency stated that the legal disputes had severely damaged the trust between CBX and the other EXO members, making joint promotions impossible under current circumstances. This position suggests that the issues go beyond just contractual disagreements and involve interpersonal relationships within the group.
"It would have been proper for the three members to first implement the existing agreement and work sincerely toward restoring trust," SM Entertainment stated in their official response. The agency emphasized that they would provide full support and focus entirely on EXO's activities starting in December, but only as a six-member unit, effectively excluding CBX from the immediate future plans.
INB100 responded diplomatically to SM's position, stating that the three CBX members would continue to honor their previous agreement and make every possible effort to restore trust with both the remaining members and SM Entertainment. The label reiterated their desire to have CBX rejoin group promotions and expressed hope for reaching an amicable resolution. However, despite these conciliatory statements, EXO's immediate path remains firmly set as a six-member comeback without CBX involvement.
As EXO prepares for their 2026 return, fans are closely monitoring the situation to see whether the ongoing conflict will eventually be resolved. The success of the upcoming fan meeting and the group's continued popularity suggest that EXO can maintain their commercial appeal even with the current reduced lineup, but many supporters hope for an eventual reconciliation that would restore the group to its fuller formation.
