I don’t think there’s going to be a One Direction reunion…
Let me start by saying, I REALLY hope I’m wrong. As a directioner, writing this feels like a crime. But it’s my duty to be realistic. (Also my heart can’t take disappointment.)
I’ve been on 1D TikTok for as long as I can remember, and recently it’s been bubbling with rumours of a potential reunion. But I’m here to tell you that everyone is wrong. As much as I want it to be true — even though those tickets would be insanely expeno (but so worth it) — I just don’t think it is.
I was on board for a while after the band “went on hiatus”. And when Big Time Rush came back in 2022, it did spark hope. But once the boys started dropping their second or third solo albums, I gave up. So naturally, when I saw accounts like iHeartRadio and X Factor posting super nostalgic content like the boys’ old video diaries this year, I was gobsmacked.
Then I took a step back and realised the posts were probably aimed at fuelling the collective delulu, especially considering 1D was literally one of The X Factor’s biggest success stories ever. Sucks for us as fans but it is really heartwarming (and a teeny bit sad) to reminisce about the good times.
That wasn’t all, though. There has also been a bit of chatter about the boys’ disappearance, as everyone’s calling it, which is fuelling the rumours even more. Zayn has gone back to being his usual inactive self, Harry’s socials have been really quiet for over 400 days, and Niall and Louis’s tours are wrapping up. Liam seems to just be living life, but also seems free enough for… a reunion.
Then there’s the ‘18 theory’ that has been making the rounds on TikTok. Personally, I think it’s quite a fun one. It all started back in May, when Zayn told The Daily Mail that he wanted to bring the band back together. The fandom then speculated the band would randomly drop a music video for their song ‘18’ from their album FOUR at some point (and the song has a lot of Larry lore, so fans are hoping for a little more than just a reunion). Following that, there’s hopes for either a reunion tour announcement or eras album drop about 18 months after Zayn’s aforementioned interview.
Doing the math on that, it’s looking like November 2025 is the month I should be keeping an eye out for. And as a directioner, I can tell you that the boys LOVE dropping an album in November.
People have even gone as far as to check their spiritual life path alignment things, which all point to a reunion this year, apparently? It’s pretty wild stuff. Directioners do NOT play around (but wbk!).
Sure, this all seems like some pretty strong speculation, but I’m not convinced. Yes, the boys have been going to each other’s concerts — and yes, I did freak out about Harry singing and dancing to ‘Stockholm Syndrome’ — but I don’t think it’s hinting to anything band-wise. It seems like they’re just rekindling their friendships in the public eye, which is an incredible amount of progress (I feel like a proud mum). Also, they’re allowed to meet up and have fun without immediately sparking reunion rumours.
Let’s not forget that Zayn, our introverted king, has just announced his first solo tour (I will be fighting for those tickets). Niall’s also dropping two live albums while finishing up his current tour, and Liam just dropped a brand new single. It just feels like everyone’s still focusing on their own careers.
And while I’d love to hope for a reunion tour — some of this sounds pretty solid — I can’t be on board until something is confirmed. It just looks like the boys are really settled in their own lives and careers while supporting each other, which I promise is actually a good thing. I’m surprisingly okay with the 1D-sized hole in my heart remaining empty for a little while longer, because I love watching their solo careers thrive, too. <3
Written by Nishika Sharma, who’s now going to rewatch the video diaries and the Adventurous Adventures of One Direction. You can follow her at @nishikasharma_ on socials.
Image credit: Instagram + Punkee