Wanna One to Reunite in 2026 with a New TV Show

• Wanna One will return in 2026 through a reality TV show instead of a new music album.
• The teaser uses Spring Breeze nostalgia to reignite fan interest.
• The reunion news arrives amidst major 2026 returns from EXO and BTS.

Wanna One will return in 2026, following a seven-year break from group broadcasting activity. The breakout K-pop band, which was created in Mnet's Produce 101, Season 2 (2017), has confirmed their return in a new reality TV show set to air in the first half of 2026. Wanna One’s reunion announcement was made on Jan 2, 2026, with details on format, episodic framework, and broadcast period to be revealed once everything is finalized. 

Wanna One Chooses TV Reunion Over Musical Comeback

Wanna One chose to return to television instead of releasing new music for their return. The group’s members, as per an official’s statement to Mnet, cited by Korea JoongAng Daily, revealed that they, “have been considering ways to meet Wannables (group's fandom name).” The spokesperson stated further that Wanna One “agreed to produce a new reality show, a format most beloved by their fans.” 

The teaser title “2026 Coming Soon Our Reunion,” premiered on Jan 1, 2026, on the Mnet Plus YouTube account, playing on nostalgia. The video shows a person playing a cassette tape featuring the Wanna One logo. As the tape plays, the lyrics "Let's meet again" come out, instantly evoking memories for fans.

The lyrics are taken from Wanna One's hit track Spring Breeze, which further continues like “Let's meet again, when the spring breeze passes.” This was the group's last song, which garnered a lot of praise and love for its message, indicating a potential reunion between members and fans in the future. Furthermore, at the end of the video, the line “Let's meet again” comes with the enigmatic message, “We GO Again,” heightening curiosity regarding the project's purpose.

After the video's launch, fans speculated that Wanna One may regroup for musical activities, although nothing has been officially confirmed yet. Notably, member Hwang Min-hyun shared the same video on his personal social media, which added to these speculations.

Wanna One’s Legacy and Market Position

Wanna One made their debut as an 11-member group in August 2017, after being chosen through public voting from 101 trainees. They rose to prominence as one of the most visible K-pop artists of the late 2010s, with major hits like Energetic and Beautiful. At their peak, the group ranked high on brand reputation lists, with significant advertising and broadcast engagement.

The group's original contract lasted around 1.5 years, ending on schedule Dec 31, 2018, which is a normal timeframe for Produce 101 groups. Other Produce 101 groups' contracts, such as I.O.I from Season 1, lasted approximately 8 months. While, IZ*ONE from Produce48 had a 2.5-year term.

When referred to the past economic data of Wanna One, cited by various industry reports, it is safe to say that Wanna One was a profitable venture. By the time they disbanded, industry sources note that the group had generated an estimated amount that reached nearly ₩ 80 billion (~ $71 million USD) in revenue, with a net profit of over ₩ 44B (~ $39M). Based on this calculation, several members of the group were expected to make upwards of ₩ 1B(~ $890,000) around that time.

Wanna One’s Stakes Ahead Amid Wider K-pop Cadence

Wanna One's 2026 broadcast return is likely to be one of the year's most eagerly viewed K-pop group broadcasts, providing a preview of how legacy acts may convert nostalgia into long-term streaming engagement. With heavyweight returns from BTS and EXO already dominating early-2026 release schedules, the project shows how reality-based programming is increasingly being leveraged as a low-risk entry point to major commercial moves, like festivals, merchandising, touring, and music releases, in a growing global K-pop industry.