K-pop powerhouse EXO is set to make a seasonal comeback as the year draws to a close with the announcement of a new winter single, I’m Home, fueling excitement for the group’s upcoming 2026 comeback. K-pop group EXO is set to make a comeback. The teaser for the track dropped via the band’s official social media channels this week, offering fans a first look at evocative visuals and the warm, emotional tone of the pop ballad ahead of its full release on December 14. I’m Home is understood to reflect the thematic lineage of previous winter releases such as The First Snow, which has re-emerged on streaming charts this season thanks to renewed social media interest and nostalgia. Early previews of I’m Home highlight delicate piano and string arrangements underlying soft vocals, capturing a reflective warmth that positions the song as both a seasonal anthem and a bridge to EXO’s eagerly anticipated eighth studio album, REVERXE, due in the first quarter of 2026. The full music video will be available by midnight at midnight. fan meeting EXO’verse at the Inspire Arena in Incheon, where the song is expected to be performed live for the first time. However, the return stirs mixed emotions within the fan community. While the return of members Suho, Chanyeol, DO, Kai, Sehun and Lay has been confirmed for the EXO’verse event and the upcoming album cycle, Chen, Baekhyun and Xiumin – collectively known as EXO-CBX – are notably absent from current group activities amid ongoing legal and contractual disputes with their former agency. Fan reaction to the comeback Fans reacted passionately online, with some expressing joy at the winter release and the return of Lay – marking his first group activity in years – while others criticized the ongoing division within the nine-member cohort, particularly the exclusion of CBX from the official comeback lineup. While one person wrote: “You’re home? Where are others then? (sic),” another person wrote, “No matter what happens, EX09 will always be my forever. Through every high and every low, every change and every challenge, my love for them remains the same. They’re not just a band to me – they’re part of my life, my memories, my heart (sic).” A third user commented: “EXO IS 9! WE WANT CBX TOO! (sic).” A fourth person wrote: “But my house is 9 members 😭 (sic).” Despite the mixed reactions, anticipation for I’m Home and REVERXE remains high. The teaser’s combination of serene imagery and seasonal sentiment was characterized by fans as a “return of EXO’s winter magic”, highlighting the group’s long-standing tradition of emotional winter releases that resembled fans’ holidays and memories. As I’m Home leads into what many hope will be a wider chapter of EXO activities, the group’s ability to balance nostalgia with fresh musical direction will be key to maintaining its legacy in the competitive K-pop landscape.