BTS has decided not to submit its music for consideration at the 2027 Grammy Awards, making a striking statement about how global music should be recognised.
The South Korean group confirmed that none of its music will be entered for the 69th Grammy Awards, scheduled to take place on February 7, 2027. The decision comes shortly after the Recording Academy announced a new Best Asian Pop Music Performance category for next year’s ceremony.
All seven BTS members — RM, Jin, Suga, j-hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook — backed the decision. In a joint message shared through their personal social media accounts, the group said they hoped music could be appreciated without being divided according to region or language.
The announcement has attracted widespread attention because BTS has long been one of the most visible Asian acts in the Grammy system. The group became the first K-pop act to receive a Grammy nomination and has collected five nominations over the years. However, it has never won a Grammy.
The timing of the decision is particularly significant. The Recording Academy recently introduced five new categories for the 2027 Grammy Awards, including Best Asian Pop Music Performance, Best R&B Collaboration or Duo/Group Performance, Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance, Best Traditional Folk Album and Best Latin Song.
The new Asian Pop category is designed to recognise artists working in K-pop, J-pop, C-pop and other forms of Asian pop music. However, there is an important eligibility condition: recordings must make meaningful use of at least one Asian language. Songs performed entirely in English are not eligible for the category, although they can still compete in other appropriate Grammy categories.
That distinction has added another layer to the BTS decision.
BTS returned as a group this year after completing their mandatory military service commitments in South Korea. Their comeback album, ARIRANG, released in March 2026, marked their first group studio album since 2020’s BE and their first major release following the members’ period of military service.
The album combines Korean and English-language material and includes the single “SWIM”. Its release marked an important moment for BTS and their millions of fans, who had waited several years for a full-group comeback.
Given the scale of the group’s return, a Grammy submission would normally have been expected. Instead, BTS has chosen to stay out of the 2027 awards race altogether.
The decision has reopened a larger conversation about how music awards should recognise artists from outside traditional Western music markets.
For years, the Grammy Awards have faced criticism over the representation of international artists and genres. At the same time, the Recording Academy argues that its new categories reflect the changing global music industry and the growing influence of Asian music.
Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr. has previously described Asian pop as one of the most important and sustained forces in global music. He said the new category was created because of the genre’s growing influence and the need to recognise its scale and artistic identity.
The Academy’s rules also make clear that eligibility for Best Asian Pop Music Performance is based on the musical style rather than the ethnicity or nationality of the performer. The category is intended to recognise Asian pop as a genre, rather than simply create an award based on an artist’s background.
Still, BTS’s decision suggests that the distinction does not sit comfortably with the group.
For BTS, the issue appears to go beyond whether it can win another award. Their statement reflects a desire to have their music evaluated alongside artists from around the world without being placed into a separate regional framework.
That message carries particular weight given the group’s history. BTS helped take K-pop from a largely regional phenomenon to a dominant force in global pop culture. Songs such as “Dynamite”, “Butter” and “Life Goes On” helped establish the group as a major presence in international music.
Their Grammy journey has also been symbolic. BTS’s nominations represented a breakthrough for K-pop at one of the world’s biggest music awards, even as the group repeatedly missed out on a win. The Recording Academy currently lists five Grammy nominations for BTS and zero wins.
The debate over the new category also comes at a time when Asian and Asian-origin artists are receiving greater visibility across major Western awards. At the 2026 Grammys, artists connected to K-pop and Asian pop were prominent among the nominees, showing how quickly the genre has moved into mainstream global music.
BTS’s withdrawal therefore sends a message beyond one awards ceremony. It raises questions about whether creating dedicated categories for fast-growing regional genres strengthens representation or unintentionally creates new boundaries.
