BTS will not submit music for 2027 Grammy Awards consideration

BTS will not submit music for 2027 Grammy Awards consideration

BTS announced Wednesday that the group will not submit music for consideration at the 69th Grammy Awards, scheduled for Feb. 7, 2027. All seven members — RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook — posted a coordinated statement on their individual Instagram accounts.

"We have decided not to submit for Grammy consideration this year. We hope our music can be heard and loved for what it is, rather than being divided by region or language. We thank Army and everyone who has always stood by us."

BTS, via Instagram

The decision follows the Recording Academy's introduction of a new Best Asian Pop Music Performance category just over a month ago. According to the Academy, this category is designed to recognize artistic excellence in performances originating from or recognized within Asian markets, such as C-pop, J-pop, and K-pop. A primary requirement for the award is the meaningful use of one or more Asian languages.

The group's specific mention of region and language in their statement appears to reflect concerns shared by some in online K-pop spaces, where the new category received mixed reactions and some fans complained that the awards had pigeonholed Asian artists.

The timing of the boycott is notable given the group's recent commercial momentum. Following the completion of their mandatory military service in South Korea, the members reunited for group activities and released their fifth studio album, Arirang, in March. The record topped Billboard's main albums chart and the lead single, Swim, reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Because more than 80% of the lyrics on Arirang are in English, the project would have been excluded from the new Asian pop prize. Despite this, expectations were high that the group would compete in major categories, including album of the year and song of the year.

BTS has a long-standing relationship with the Recording Academy. All seven members have been voting members since 2019. Since 2020, they have earned five nominations, including categories for Best Music Video and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, but they have never won. Their first nomination in 2021 was for Dynamite, which was their first song performed entirely in English.

By opting out, BTS joins other artists who have boycotted the ceremony, such as Frank Ocean, Morgan Wallen, The Weeknd and Will Smith. The Recording Academy has also faced criticism from others, including Drake, who in 2020 argued that the awards often overlooked rap music and black artistry.

The Academy has attempted to integrate K-pop more deeply into its structure over recent years. In 2025, it added several Korean artists and producers to its voting academy, including all six members of Katseye, Le Sserafim's Huh Yunjin, Seventeen's Vernon and Woozi, and Enhypen's Jungwon. This year, voting privileges were extended to members of Stray Kids and Twice.

Recent ceremonies have seen increased K-pop presence, including an opening performance by Blackpink's Rosé and Bruno Mars. Additionally, the song Golden from KPop Demon Hunters became the first K-pop song to win a Grammy in the category of best song written for visual media. Like Arirang, however, Golden would have been ineligible for the new Asian Pop category because its lyrics were written almost entirely in English.

The group is currently performing its World Tour Arirang. The European leg recently concluded in Paris, where the run drew approximately 720,000 total attendees. On July 19, the group performed Dynamite as part of an 11-minute set during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Halftime Show at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The performance, shared with Justin Bieber, Shakira and Madonna, was the first halftime show in the 96-year history of the World Cup final.

BTS is scheduled to resume the U.S. Leg of their tour starting Aug. 1 in East Rutherford. Variety, The Hollywood Reporter and BBC News have all reached out to the Recording Academy for comment, but no statement has been issued.