EVERGLOW Is Back: Everything We Know About the 'CODE' Comeback
After years of uncertainty, lineup changes, and long-overdue industry reckoning, EVERGLOW is officially making their return and it's bigger than anyone expected. Here's everything Forevers (and curious K-pop fans) need to know about the group's 2026 comeback era.
A New Chapter: From Six to Four
Let's rewind a little. In May 2025, Yuehua Entertainment announced that all EVERGLOW members had departed following contract expirations. For a moment, it looked like the end. But by September 2025, four members, E:U, Sihyeon, Onda, and Aisha signed with a new agency, CHXXTA Company, and confirmed they would continue as EVERGLOW. Members Mia and Yiren went their separate ways, with Yiren returning to China for solo activities.
It was a bittersweet restructuring, but the remaining four made their intentions clear: EVERGLOW wasn't finished.
The Album: CODE
The most exciting news for fans is the confirmation of EVERGLOW's 4th mini-album, CODE, scheduled for release on March 3, 2026. In February, the group began dropping teaser content, building anticipation ahead of the drop.
The album title itself feels intentional a signal that the group is writing a new code for their identity, sound, and future. As a quartet, they face real creative challenges: reshaping vocal distribution, reimagining their stage dynamics, and carving out a sonic identity that feels fresh without losing what made them iconic in the first place.
The Tour: RE:CODE World Tour
If an album wasn't enough, EVERGLOW also announced their 2026 RE:CODE World Tour a massive global run that kicks off in Seoul before heading to North America (seven cities), then continuing to Latin America and Europe.
Confirmed stops include cities like Mexico City, Buenos Aires, São Paulo, Milan, Munich, Budapest, Berlin, Warsaw, and Amsterdam, among others. For a group navigating a new lineup and a fresh start, this is an ambitious and confident move, and honestly? It's the right call.
The Controversy (Because There's Always Some)
No EVERGLOW comeback would be complete without some drama swirling in the background. Before the CODEannouncement even landed, the group was already dealing with backlash over their late-2025 tour timing, which some international fans criticized as inappropriate given sensitive global circumstances at the time.
And then there's the elephant in the room: in early 2025, member Yiren revealed that the group had gone six years without receiving a salary from Yuehua Entertainment. The claim sent shockwaves through the K-pop community and reignited long-standing conversations about the industry's treatment of artists. Yuehua's CEO responded, but the controversy did significant damage to the group's public image, particularly overseas.
Some fans have openly stated they cannot celebrate the comeback, and calls for a boycott have circulated online. It's a complicated situation, and it means this comeback isn't just a musical moment, it's a reputational one.
What's at Stake
EVERGLOW debuted in 2019 with an explosive first impression. Songs like Bon Bon Chocolat, Adios, and DUN DUNearned them an international fanbase and comparisons to the biggest girl groups in the industry. But the years since have been turbulent, long hiatuses, controversies, and rising competition from newer Gen 4 acts all chipped away at their momentum.
The CODE era is, by every measure, a make-or-break moment. A new label. A new lineup. A world tour. A fresh album. Everything is on the table.
Final Thoughts
There's something undeniably compelling about this comeback. EVERGLOW isn't returning from a comfortable place, they're returning from chaos, contracts that failed them, and a fractured lineup. And they're doing it anyway. For Forevers who've held on through the uncertainty, CODE might just be the comeback they've been waiting for.
For everyone else? This is the perfect time to pay attention.
Mini-album CODE drops March 3, 2026. The RE:CODE World Tour follows shortly after.