Global pop sensation XG have officially opened U.S. pre-orders for their highly anticipated first full-length album, THE CORE – 核, set to release on January 23, 2026. Fans can now secure the album through the XG Official U.S. Shop, marking a major milestone in the group’s rapidly expanding global presence.
The announcement follows weeks of speculation after XG shared a cryptic teaser on social media in late October, featuring the single kanji character “核,” meaning “core” or “nucleus.” The minimalist image quickly sparked fan theories, which the group confirmed the following day with the reveal of their upcoming world tour, XG WORLD TOUR: THE CORE. The tour kicks off in Japan in February 2026 before traveling across Asia, North America, Europe, Australia, and Latin America, with U.S. dates to be announced.
XG began building momentum for the album with the release of its lead single, “GALA,” in September. The track has seen strong international success, recently breaking into the Top 40 on U.S. radio and earning a performance slot on The Voice season 28 finale on December 16. The “GALA” music video also debuted at No. 1 on YouTube’s worldwide music video trending chart, while The Hollywood Reporter praised the single for its playful experimentation and confident style.
Described as a statement of the group’s creative identity, THE CORE – 核 focuses on the foundation of XG’s sound while seamlessly blending genres and eras. The album represents the purest expression yet of “X-POP,” the genre the group has carved out through their boundary-pushing approach to global pop music.
The release follows a historic year for XG, who made headlines as the only Japanese artists to perform at Coachella 2025, where they headlined the Sahara stage to widespread acclaim. With THE CORE – 核, XG look ahead to their next era—grounded, ambitious, and ready to expand their universe even further.
Additional album details and the full tracklist are expected to be revealed in the coming months.
Source: Xgalx
