SM Entertainment has announced that Chinese NCT sub-unit, WayV, are set to return on August 10, 2026 with 8th mini album Vision Wings.

The album cover, a stark red and black design featuring traditional Chinese imagery and calligraphy, was unveiled alongside details of the album’s contents. Vision Wings will consist of seven songs, two of which being Chinese and English versions of eponymous title track “鸢 (Vision Wings).”

Remaining songs on the album are currently identified by Chinese characters, including '鸢' (kite), '源' (origin), '圆' (completeness), '元' (beginning), '愿' (wish), and '园' (paradise). These give fans an idea of the narrative that this album may contain, prior to any teasers, with several synonyms suggesting a focus on beginnings, aspirations and eventual success. Use of Chinese characters also indicates that traditional Chinese narratives may be significant within the release, as they reinforce the imagery on the album cover.

Vision Wings will be the first release from WayV since their winter special album, 白色定格 (Eternal White), which was released last December. This album was an international success, reaching no. 1 on the iTunes Top Albums chart in nine regions and the chart’s Top 10 in a total of 15 regions. Domestically, the album achieved success on China's largest music platform QQ Music, reaching the top of the Digital Album Sales chart. WayV, with a line-up containing several nationalities and music spanning Korean, Japanese, Chinese and English, have a particular international appeal.

Notably, the album announcement also contains the hashtag #NCT_10TH_ANNIVERSARY. SM Entertainment are including Vision Wings in the celebrations of 10 years of NCT, despite its formation several years later in 2019. NCT 127, one of the initial NCT sub-units with a debut in 2016, are releasing their seventh studio album on August 24 to lead celebrations, but now WayV will promote alongside them. After several line-up changes and a two-year hiatus from NCT 127, it seems that SM intends to bring back a united NCT.

More teasers for WayV’s Vision Wings can be expected soon, as can details of anniversary celebrations for the wider NCT, and these will begin to outline what a united NCT may look like in the future.