The so-called “ExBangWon” era — referring to EXO, BTS, and Wanna One — is making a full-scale return in 2026, bringing third-generation K-pop’s most iconic boy groups back to the center of the industry.
The three acts rose to prominence together during their shared peak from 2017 to 2018, when they were widely regarded as the defining boy groups of K-pop’s third generation. While Wanna One disbanded in 2019, preventing the trio from promoting simultaneously thereafter, all three have now announced major comeback plans this year.
EXO moved first, releasing its eighth full-length album Reverse on Jan. 19 and launching full-group activities. The release marks the group’s first complete comeback since all members finished mandatory military service and its first studio album in about two and a half years, following Exist in July 2023.
After focusing on solo and unit projects during the hiatus, EXO signaled its return at the 2025 Melon Music Awards and formally resumed team activities with the new album. The title track “Crown” conveys a message of protecting a cherished presence to the very end, pairing a powerful performance with the group’s signature SM Entertainment sound.
Reverse topped China’s QQ Music digital album chart and earned double platinum certification shortly after release. It also ranked high across Tencent Music platforms and reached No. 1 on iTunes in 35 regions worldwide, underscoring EXO’s global presence.
BTS has also confirmed a full-group comeback. After completing military service, the group will release its fifth studio album, Arirang, on March 20. The album marks BTS’s first full-group release in nearly four years since Proof in 2022.
Arirang reflects on the group’s journey since debut and explores its inner narrative. The album surpassed 4.06 million pre-orders within a week, exceeding the record set by Map of the Soul: 7. To celebrate the comeback, BTS will hold a free large-scale performance at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul the day after the album’s release, with city authorities preparing safety measures.
The album is widely seen as a symbolic new beginning for the group, drawing attention to whether BTS can once again extend its record-breaking run in the global market.
Wanna One is also reuniting, preparing a reality program as a gift for long-waiting fans. Formed through Mnet’s Produce 101 Season 2 in 2017, the group was active for about two years and delivered hit songs such as “Energetic,” “Boomerang,” and “Beautiful.” Even after disbandment, members maintained connections with fans through digital singles and project-based releases.
An industry insider said the simultaneous return of EXO, BTS and Wanna One represents more than nostalgia. “It is closer to an industrial decision to reposition proven core intellectual properties at the center of the market,” the source said. “As the K-pop industry enters a phase of stabilization amid rapid rookie turnover, the performance of ‘ExBangWon’ will serve as a key indicator of future trends.”
