T.O.P has made his position clear regarding any return to BIGBANG. During a televised interview tied to his Japanese fan meeting, the rapper and actor said he will continue as a solo artist and will not join his former group onstage for their 20th anniversary world tour. At the same time, BIGBANG has been performing Still Life in concert with T.O.Ps recorded vocals left intact, creating a moment that has resonated deeply with fans.
T.O.P Addresses BIGBANG 20th Anniversary Tour
The interview aired on TV Asahi Channel 1 on September 12, with footage from his fan meeting T.O.P Japan Fanmeeting 2026 Re:Union held in Yokohama. When asked how he felt upon learning that BIGBANG would begin their first world tour in nine years, T.O.P gave a direct answer. “From now on, I will continue my activities as a solo artist,” he said. “Although I will not perform with them on the same stage, I will always support and cheer for the BIGBANG members’ activities and music”.
This is not the first time T.O.P has addressed his departure. During a press event for Netflixs Squid Game Season 2 in January 2025, he explained that he left because he felt he had caused serious harm to the group. “I caused great harm to both BIGBANG and my former company due to past mistakes,” he said at the time. “I left because I felt I had no right to stay”. He also admitted that the guilt made it difficult to reach out to his former bandmates, saying he would carry that regret for the rest of his life.
Why T.O.P Left BIGBANG
T.O.P debuted with BIGBANG in 2006 and became known for his deep voice and distinctive rap style. His career was interrupted after he was prosecuted for marijuana use in 2016. He received a 10-month prison sentence suspended for two years in 2017 and subsequently stepped away from regular entertainment activities.
Despite the legal troubles, T.O.P participated in BIGBANGs digital single Still Life in April 2022. The song was the groups final release before he officially confirmed his departure in 2023. In the years that followed, he focused on rebuilding his career on his own terms. In April 2026, he released his first full-length solo album, Another Dimension, featuring 11 tracks and double lead singles Studio54 and Desperado. The album marked his first solo studio release since his debut in 2006 and debuted at No. 20 on the Billboard World Albums chart.
BIGBANG Keeps T.O.Ps Voice in Still Life
While T.O.P has chosen to remain offstage, BIGBANG has found a way to acknowledge his presence. During their Coachella 2026 performance in April, the three-member group closed their set with Still Life. When the song reached T.O.Ps rap section, his original recorded vocals were played in full, with no member stepping in to replace him. The moment was widely reported as deeply emotional for fans in attendance and those watching the livestream.
The same approach has continued on the groups world tour. During their Oakland concert on December 5, the members performed Still Life with T.O.Ps vocals preserved, keeping the original atmosphere of the track. Reports noted that T.O.Ps vocal parts have remained in other songs as well since the tours opening shows, rather than being removed or replaced.
The XX Cosmos World Tour
BIGBANGs 20th anniversary tour, titled BIGBANG 2026-2027 World Tour XX : Cosmos, began with three sold-out concerts at Goyang Stadium from August 21 to 23. The tour spans 19 cities across North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia, with 33 shows scheduled through February 2027. The current lineup features G-Dragon, Taeyang, and Daesung.
The tour marks the groups first large-scale world tour since 2017 and celebrates two decades since their debut. Early dates in Goyang, Oakland, and East Rutherford were listed as sold out on BIGBANGs official tour website.
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T.O.Ps Solo Path Forward
T.O.P has been actively connecting with fans across Asia through his T.O.P PRE-STUDIO 2026 event series, visiting locations including Hong Kong, Taiwan, Indonesia, Thailand, and Japan. During his fan meeting, he read a letter to fans reflecting on his time away from the spotlight. He described the period as a dark time he had never experienced before, but said that making music helped him feel alive again. “I had nothing else I could do other than create and work on music, and as I continuously created new music, I felt like I was able to breathe each time,” he said.
T.O.P also shared that he did not want to call the meeting with fans a reunion. He expressed hope that there would no longer be prolonged distances between him and his audience. While BIGBANG continues their anniversary celebrations as a trio, T.O.P has drawn a clear line between supporting his former members and returning to the group. His message has remained consistent: he will root for them from a distance while building his own path as a solo artist.
Also Read: T.O.P Gets Emotional Talking About Reuniting With Fans After 10 Years: “I Held Back Tears”
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