Katseye members welcome Sophia Laforteza’s planned return in January
Lara Raj says Katseye is proud of Sophia Laforteza for taking time for her health before her scheduled 2027 return.
By Poppy Nakagawa · Culture Writer
2 min read
The Katseye Sophia return is still months away, but the group’s members are already making clear where they stand. Lara Raj said Katseye is happy Sophia Laforteza is due back and proud of her for taking time to focus on her health.
Raj spoke on behalf of Lara, Daniela Avanzini, Megan Skiendiel and Yoonchae Jeung while on the carpet at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, according to Variety’s account of an E! News interview. “We are so happy that she’s coming back,” Raj said. “We are so proud of her.”
Raj said the group respected Laforteza for taking space and time for her health. “She’s our sister,” she said, adding that the members could not wait for her return.
When will Sophia Laforteza return to Katseye?
HYBE x Geffen said Laforteza is scheduled to resume group activities in the first week of January 2027, according to iHeart’s B97.3 report. Variety also reported that the company had confirmed a return beginning in January.
That means the comeback is planned, rather than underway. Laforteza will remain away from Katseye activities through the rest of 2026, including promotional work and the North American leg of the group’s Wildworld tour, iHeart reported.
Why did Sophia Laforteza step back from Katseye?
Laforteza announced in August that she was taking a break from upcoming promotional activities to prioritize her mental health and wellness, Variety reported. The company later said she had been focusing on her health and well-being with the group’s support, according to iHeart.
In an Instagram Stories message reported by iHeart, Laforteza thanked fans for their patience and said she had been receiving care, learning tools to support herself and working on her well-being. She said she hoped to return happier, healthier, stronger and ready to rejoin her bandmates onstage.
Katseye’s Wildworld tour opened in Dublin on Sept. 1 and began its U.S. dates in Miami on Oct. 13, Variety reported. The tour was set to continue across North America through November, with dates including Boston, Montreal, Chicago, Los Angeles and Mexico City.
The group formed through the 2023 reality competition series Dream Academy. Laforteza’s return would bring her back to group activities after the break, while the 2026 tour and its remaining promotional schedule will continue without her, according to the reports.
Another Katseye member, Manon Bannerman, announced a temporary hiatus in February. Variety reported that no return date for Bannerman had been announced.
This story draws on original reporting from Variety.