MANILA, Philippines — K-pop powerhouse EXO is making a long-awaited return to the Philippines with a two-night concert in July as part of their sixth concert tour, “EXO PLANET #6 – EXhOrizon.”
The group announced Wednesday on their official social media accounts that the Manila shows are scheduled for July 4 and 5 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
The tour, which marks their first full-group tour stop in Manila since 2019, will kick off with a three-day run at Seoul’s KSPO Dome from April 10 to 12, before moving to other Asian cities including Ho Chi Minh City, Nagoya, Bangkok, Macau, Osaka, Jakarta, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo, Kaohsiung, and Singapore. Ticketing details have not yet been released.
“EXhOrizon” follows the release of EXO’s eighth studio album, REVERXE, which debuted on January 19. The group is currently performing as a six-member unit — Suho, Chanyeol, D.O., Kai, Sehun, and Lay — while members Xiumin, Baekhyun, and Chen are absent due to ongoing contract disputes with SM Entertainment.
The Manila concerts mark the band’s first group performance in the country since “EXO PLANET 5 – EXplOration” in August 2019. At that time, only six members were present, as Xiumin and D.O. were completing mandatory military service and Lay was pursuing solo promotions in China.
On its X account, the group said it would embark on “EXO Planet #6 – EXhOrizon,” its first tour following the completion of the members’ military obligations. Local promoter PULP Live World also shared the announcement, confirming its role in bringing the Manila shows to life.
EXO was scheduled to return to the Philippines in February 2020 for a fan meeting, but the event was canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Since then, members have visited the country individually for solo concerts and fan events.