EXO Celebrates 14 Years and Launches First Concert in Over 6 Years: 'Let's Go as Far as We Can'

Fourteen years in, EXO still can't quite believe how far they've come. On April 8, their debut anniversary, the group released a joint statement through SM Entertainment expressing gratitude to their fanbase, EXO-L, saying the time spent walking alongside fans has been "the greatest meaning" of their career.

"The air on stage, the look in our fans' eyes, those things have always stayed with us," the group wrote. "Those moments, accumulated over time, are what made us who we are today."

EXO debuted in 2012 and quickly became one of K-pop's defining acts of the decade, with a string of genre-defining hits that cemented their status as one of the genre's all-time greats. Their momentum hasn't slowed: their eighth studio album REVERXE, released in January, became their eighth million-selling record and topped multiple music program charts.

Member Sehun kept his anniversary message warm and direct. "I'm grateful to have been with these members for 14 years," he said. "To every fan who has loved us, protected us, believed in us, thank you so much. Let's go as far as we can go, together."

Chanyeol said his mind immediately goes back to the very beginning: "The first thing that comes to mind is the 'History' stage from our debut showcase."

The anniversary message arrives just days before the group launches EXO PLANET #6 – EXhOrizon, their sixth solo concert tour, running April 10–12 at KSPO Dome (Olympic Gymnastics Arena) in Seoul. It marks the first new EXO concert in roughly six years and four months, a gap largely shaped by members' mandatory military service.

Suho described the show as a blend of new material and nostalgia. "The word 'nostalgia' feels right," he said. "We've taken songs from across our 14 years and reinterpreted them with a fresh 2026 feeling. It will be a day when EXO-L and EXO become one."

Kai framed the concerts as something more than a performance. "Just being able to share the same space and breathe the same air as our fans again feels special," he said. "If I had to sum up this concert in one word, it would be reunion. It's not just a show, it's a moment that reconnects time."

He also made a quiet promise to the fans who waited through the years of absence: "I'll do my best to repay your patience with happiness that's even greater than the time you waited."