BTS will not submit their music for consideration at the 2027 Grammy Awards, removing one of the yearâs biggest global acts from the nomination race. RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook announced the decision through identical messages shared on their Instagram Stories.
The group said it wanted music to be heard and loved for what it is rather than being divided by region or language. BTS also thanked ARMY and everyone who has continued to support them.
The announcement came just over a month after the Recording Academy introduced Best Asian Pop Music Performance. BTS did not directly name the category as the reason for its decision, but the timing and wording have intensified debate over how Asian artists are recognised by global awards.
What BTS has decided
BTS have not withdrawn from an existing nomination or confirmed that they will boycott the ceremony. The group has chosen not to enter its eligible releases into the Grammy submission process.
Recordings must be submitted before they can be screened and considered by voters. The decision therefore prevents the comeback album Arirang, its lead single Swim and other eligible BTS releases from receiving 2027 nominations.
How the new Asian pop Grammy works
The Recording Academy announced the category on June 16, 2026. Its official 2027 Grammy rules update says it recognises performances originating from or widely associated with Asian markets, including K-pop, J-pop and C-pop.
Eligible songs must make meaningful use of at least one Asian language. Supporters see the award as overdue recognition for Asian pop, while critics fear it could separate Asian performers from major fields such as Record, Song and Album of the Year.
The language condition is particularly relevant to BTS. Reports state that more than 80% of the lyrics on Arirang are in English, while Swim is an English-language single. The song may not have qualified for the Asian pop category, although it could have been submitted in other eligible fields.
Arirang and Swim were expected to compete
BTS released Arirang in March following the completion of the membersâ mandatory military service in South Korea. The album reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200, and Swim topped the Billboard Hot 100.
Those results made both releases possible contenders in the 2027 Grammy race. However, commercial success does not automatically produce a nomination; every recording must pass through submission, eligibility screening and voting.
The groupâs Arirang comeback concert and Netflix livestream demonstrated the worldwide demand surrounding its reunion. BTS are now continuing their world tour, with performances scheduled to resume at MetLife Stadium on August 1.
BTS has five Grammy nominations but no win
BTS became the first K-pop group to receive a Grammy nomination when Dynamite competed for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance at the 2021 ceremony. The group has earned five nominations overall, including recognition in pop performance and music-video categories, but has never won.
All seven members have been Recording Academy voting members since 2019 and have performed on the Grammy stage several times. Their current decision is therefore significant, but it does not end their relationship with the awards or prevent submissions in future years.
The group also remains active across other awards and live events. Its strong presence among the 2026 American Music Awards winners shows that this is a decision about one Grammy cycle rather than a wider withdrawal from industry recognition.
Why the decision matters for K-pop
The Grammys has gradually expanded its Korean and K-pop voting membership. Meanwhile, Golden from KPop Demon Hunters became the first K-pop song to win a Grammy when it received Best Song Written for Visual Media.
That song was written almost entirely in English and would not meet the stated language requirement for the new Asian pop prize. This comparison highlights the central concern: whether Asian identity should be defined through language when artists increasingly release music for global audiences.
What happens next
The Recording Academy had not publicly responded to the announcement at the time of reporting. Attention will now turn to whether other Asian performers raise similar concerns or submit music across both Asian pop and general categories.
Nominations are scheduled to be announced on November 16, 2026, followed by the 69th Grammy Awards at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on February 7, 2027. BTS will be absent from this nomination cycle but can return to Grammy consideration in future years.
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