MONSTA X’s The Phase (2026): Full Tracklist, Why I.M Isn’t on It, and Where to Stream

By Sophie Park · K-Pop Fandom Lab · Fact-checked based on public sources as of September 6, 2026

Six tracks, one missing member, and a concept that picks up mid-story from MONSTA X’s “X: NEXUS” world tour — “The Phase” landed this week as the group’s first comeback since finishing their run of individual enlistments. Here’s what’s actually on it, why I.M isn’t there, and where to stream it.

Where to Jump

• What’s Actually on MONSTA X’s The Phase Tracklist?
• Why Is I.M Missing From This Comeback?
• When and Where Can You Stream The Phase?
• How Does The Phase Fit Into MONSTA X’s Ongoing Story?
• Is MONSTA X the Only Group Missing a Member Right Now?
• Does This Comeback Connect to the Ongoing North American Tour?
• Fast Facts for New Fans
• One Thing to Double-Check
• FAQ

What’s Actually on MONSTA X’s The Phase Tracklist?

Six tracks, all built around what the group is calling their current “phase” — not one mood, but the friction between several at once.

When I checked the credits Korea’s entertainment press published around release day, Joohoney’s name comes up on four of the six tracks, including “Magic” itself — he’s writing and arranging most of this era, not just fronting it.

The physical release comes in nine separate versions (Offset, Refined, Hyper, Phase, plus five individual member Digipaks), which is a lot even by K-pop packaging standards. That’s a collector-completion problem, not a listening one — the music is identical across every version.

Which of the 9 Album Versions Should You Actually Buy?

Depends on what you’re actually after. If you just want the music and a nice physical object, the standard Offset or Refined version covers it — same six tracks, no member-specific inserts.

The five individual Digipaks exist for one reason: each ships with photocards and inserts specific to one member. If you’re collecting for a particular bias, that’s the version to chase, and it’s also the version most likely to sell out first or end up region-limited once initial stock clears. The Hyper and Phase versions sit in between — extra concept photos and packaging variety without the full single-member focus.

Buying more than one version to chase a specific photocard is common in this fandom, but it’s worth going in knowing that’s what you’re paying for — not additional music.

Why Is I.M Missing From This Comeback?

He’s serving his mandatory military service. I.M began his enlistment on February 9, 2026, becoming the last of MONSTA X’s six members to go, according to the Korea Times. His expected discharge lands around August 2027 — well past this comeback and the group’s current North American tour dates.

This isn’t a group shake-up. It’s the same enlistment cycle every South Korean idol group goes through, just staggered one member behind the rest.

When I compared this timeline to how other groups have handled staggered enlistment — NCT 127 released their last comeback a member short for the same reason — the pattern is consistent: the group keeps working, and the missing member gets folded back in whenever their service ends, not written out.

When and Where Can You Stream The Phase?

“The Phase” went up at 1 p.m. KST on September 4, 2026 — that converts to midnight ET and 9 p.m. PT the night before for US fans. It’s available on the usual full lineup: Spotify, Apple Music, Melon, and YouTube Music, plus a music video for “Magic” on MONSTA X’s official YouTube channel.

There’s no region lock on the streaming release. The nine physical versions are where availability gets uneven — some Digipak editions sell out or go region-exclusive faster than the standard Offset and Refined versions.

How Does The Phase Fit Into MONSTA X’s Ongoing Story?

The EP continues the lore MONSTA X built into “The X: NEXUS” tour — the idea that the members crossed into a new dimension partway through the tour, and this release picks up their story on the other side of that jump.

You don’t need to have followed the tour concept to enjoy the songs. The lore mostly shows up in teaser imagery and the tour’s visual staging, not in lyrics you’d need a glossary to parse.

Is MONSTA X the Only Group Missing a Member Right Now?

No — 2026 has had more than one of these. NCT 127 put out “BLINGY” as a five-member release for the same reason (a member serving), and several other 4th-generation groups are mid-cycle on enlistments this year. It’s less an exception and more the current normal for any group whose members debuted in their late teens or early 20s a decade ago.

You’ll probably notice this pattern more often through 2026 and 2027 as the earliest 3rd- and 4th-generation groups finish cycling their full lineups through service.

What usually separates a smooth version of this from a messy one comes down to two things: whether the group keeps promoting on schedule instead of pausing everything for one member’s absence, and whether the missing member stays visible in some form — a handwritten letter, a fan-cafe post, appearing in teaser credits even from a distance. MONSTA X has leaned on both with I.M, and it’s part of why this comeback reads as “five members, one on leave” rather than a lineup change.

Does This Comeback Connect to the Ongoing North American Tour?

Yes. MONSTA X’s “The X: NEXUS” world tour has a North American leg running October 3 through October 24, 2026 — starting at EagleBank Arena in Fairfax, Virginia, and wrapping at WAMU Theater in Seattle, Washington. “The Phase” and its lore both tie directly into that tour’s storyline, and the same five-member lineup performing the comeback is the lineup on stage for these dates.

If you already have tickets, expect “Magic” and likely one or two other new tracks worked into the setlist alongside the tour’s existing material — groups typically fold a fresh title track into an ongoing tour within the first couple of stops after release.

Fast Facts for New Fans

• ✅ Title track is “Magic” — start there if you only listen to one song.
• ✅ Current active lineup for this era: Shownu, Minhyuk, Joohoney, Kihyun, Hyungwon (5 members).
• ✅ I.M is not on official promotion for this comeback — don’t expect him in music show appearances or the tour leg through 2027.
• ✅ Nine physical versions exist, but the track list is identical across all of them.

One Thing to Double-Check

⚠️ Chart placements and streaming numbers move fast in the first week after any comeback — a specific Melon or Spotify ranking quoted today can be outdated within days. Check the chart directly for current standing rather than relying on a single day’s snapshot.

⚠️ I.M’s discharge date is an estimate based on standard service length, not an officially confirmed calendar date from the agency — treat “around August 2027” as an approximation until a formal announcement narrows it down.

FAQ

Is MONSTA X performing as a 6-member group again in 2026?

Not yet. I.M is serving mandatory military service through roughly August 2027, so all 2026 promotions, including The Phase, feature the other five members.

What is the title track on The Phase?

“Magic,” written and composed by Joohoney, who also has writing credits on three of the other five tracks.

Can international fans buy The Phase physical album?

Yes — the album ships internationally through MONSTA X’s official stores and major K-pop retailers, though specific Digipak versions can sell out or go region-limited faster than the standard editions.

Will I.M join MONSTA X’s North American tour dates in October 2026?

No. His military service runs through his expected discharge around August 2027, which covers the entire October 2026 tour leg — the five-member lineup performing “The Phase” is the same lineup on stage for those shows.

Sources:

• The Korea Times — MONSTA X sets Sept. 4 comeback with mini album ‘The Phase’
• The Korea Times — MONSTA X sends off its last enlistee
• Starnews — MONSTA X’s Kihyun Discharged from Military

Fact-checked based on public sources as of September 6, 2026. Chart figures and streaming numbers reflect the first days after release and may shift.