KATSEYE Confirms Sophia Will Miss UK and European Dates on 2026 WILDWORLD Tour
HYBE x Geffen girl group KATSEYE confirmed on August 30 that captain Sophia Laforteza will not participate in the UK and European dates of the 2026 WILDWORLD Tour. The tour launches Tuesday, September 1, and spans the UK, Europe and North America, with confirmed dates at The O2 in London and Co-op Live in Manchester. The news comes less than a month after Sophia first announced she was stepping back for her mental health.
What was announced
The statement was posted simultaneously to Instagram Stories and Weverse under the names of HYBE and Geffen Records. It asks the fan community, known as EYEKONS, for understanding, and says the artist's health and long-term wellbeing are the top priority, with further updates to come. The company also said it will continue to provide Sophia with the support and resources she needs.
Sophia previously explained on her own Instagram Stories that missing these dates is difficult for her, but that she has learned health must come first, since she cannot sustain stage work long-term without taking care of her physical and mental wellbeing. HYBE x Geffen said on Weverse at the time that, after thorough consultation with medical professionals, they recommended she take an extended period of rest and ongoing care, meaning she is temporarily unable to join upcoming promotional activities.
Second member health break in six months
Sophia's break comes roughly six months after member Manon Bannerman announced she was stepping back from activities, citing health and wellbeing; Manon has not yet returned. KATSEYE recently responded to online speculation linking Manon's break to race-related issues, saying such claims run counter to everything the group stands for.
Separately, the group withdrew from Olivia Rodrigo's inaugural Daisy Chain Fields music festival due to member Megan's injury.
The Wild EP and recent work
KATSEYE released their new EP Wild this month, which NME rated three stars, noting the group has yet to find the ideal balance between pop appeal and creative risk-taking, with it remaining to be seen whether they can strike that balance before a debut full-length album. Wild follows last year's Beautiful Chaos, whose track "Gnarly" was ranked NME's fifth-best song of 2025.