BTS Chooses Not to Submit for 2027 Grammy Awards

Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. has addressed BTS’s decision to forgo participation in the 2027 Grammy Awards. Mason expressed disappointment but respect for BTS’s choice, emphasizing their importance as music creators.

BTS, consisting of members RM, Suga, j-hope, Jimin, V, Jung Kook, and Jin, announced on Instagram their decision not to submit their comeback album, ARIRANG, or its songs for Grammy consideration. The group shared that they wish their music to be appreciated for its intrinsic value, without being categorized by language or region.

The announcement came after the Recording Academy introduced five new Grammy categories, including one for best Asian pop music performance. BTS performed at the World Cup final in East Rutherford, N.J., on July 19, 2026.

The new category encompasses K-pop, J-pop, C-pop, and more, but has faced criticism from fans who view it as a racial barrier for Asian artists.

Mason Jr. clarified that the Asian Pop category aims to celebrate the diversity and growth of Asian music, not to segregate artists. He stressed that more categories mean broader recognition for artistic work, and the intention is to celebrate diverse voices in the industry.

The Academy CEO reiterated that genre submission does not impede artists from pursuing general categories like album, song, or record of the year. Artists can submit to both fields simultaneously.

BTS has been nominated for five Grammys, with nods in categories like best pop duo/group performance, album of the year (working with Coldplay on Music of the Spheres), and best music video for Yet to Come. Despite nominations, BTS has yet to win a Grammy.

Notably, no K-pop act won a Grammy until recently when Golden from Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters secured the award for best song for visual media. This marked a significant moment for K-pop at the Grammys, where the genre’s global impact has not always been acknowledged.