aespa is facing backlash after SM Entertainment announced four new cities for their 2025-26 AExis Line world tour—excluding the Philippines for the third time.
The highly anticipated tour starts with three shows in Seoul from August 29-31. Initially, only Japan and Bangkok were listed as stops. Now, SM added Hong Kong, Macau, and Jakarta for early 2026 dates. Still no Manila.
Filipino fans are furious. Both Hyper Line (2023) and Parallel Line (2024) tours also skipped the Philippines, despite K-Pop’s massive popularity there and aespa’s strong local fanbase.
Fans argue they stream the music, buy merch, and support promos—yet never get a live show. Online reactions are heated, demanding SM include Manila next time.
“Can we please have a Manila stop now? We’ve been patiently waiting and supporting through the past concerts, but Manila has yet to be included. We truly wish to experience the concert and see our girls perform live. Please don’t forget your fans in the Philippines! WE WANT AEXIS…”
— GISELLE GLOBAL
Critics say SM favors other Southeast Asian countries while ignoring the Philippines.
“we need a thesis on why sm is not putting phillipines in their map for aespa tours idk there might be more stops announced later on but the way they skipped for 2 tours already is very unsettling i can’t imagine being a filo my”
— @aesPAKed
“you’d think money greedy sment would add a philippines stop to aespa’s tours with how big kpop is over there but no… going into their third world tour and aespa hasn’t performed in ph at all so weird”
— @carrotnuggetz
“i swear sm really hates the philippines. it’s not just aespa it’s most of their artists. they treat indonesia and thailand as their token sea countries while completely ignoring the rest of us. are we not real fans to y’all”
— @terybluu
Filipino fan groups launched hashtag campaigns, tagged concert promoters, and flooded SM’s socials with demands. One even started an interest survey to prove concert potential.
“Give us AEXIS LINE IN MANILA, @SMTOWNGLOBAL! WE WANT AEXIS LINE IN MANILA @SMTOWNGLOBAL @aespa_official #aespa #æspa #에스파 #SYNK_aeXISLINE #aespa_SYNK_aeXISLINE_MANILA #WeWantAEXISLINEinMANILA”
— aespaverse Philippines
“look at the comments asking for a manila stop… the demand is actually insane. please bring aespa to manila WE WANT AEXIS LINE @livenationph @pulpliveworld @dnmentph @cdmentph @Threeanglespro @LSquaredProdPH @WilbrosLive @ovationprod @applewood_ph @aespa_official @SMTOWNGLOBAL”
— @terybluu
“Filo-MYs! We invite everyone to fill out the interest check survey! Let’s show @SMTOWNGLOBAL and the producers that we’re ready and capable of filling a solo concert tour here. WE WANT AEXIS LINE IN MANILA @SMTOWNGLOBAL @aespa_official #aespa”
— aespaverse Philippines
SM Entertainment has not responded. Fans remain hopeful their push can finally land aespa in Manila.
