BTS Declares They Won’t Enter 2027 Grammy Consideration Amid New Asian Pop Category

On Wednesday Korean time, BTS used an Instagram story to declare that they will not submit any material for the 2027 Grammy Awards. The translated message expressed a wish that music be appreciated for its own qualities rather than divided by region or language, and thanked their fanbase, ARMY. Their announcement comes shortly after the Recording Academy introduced a new Asian pop music performance category, defined to honor performances that feature meaningful use of Asian languages.

The category has sparked mixed reactions online, and BTS, fresh from a successful comeback—including the March release of Arirang, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, and the single “Swim,” which topped the Billboard Hot 100—would have been a strong candidate. The Recording Academy has not issued a statement, though one outlet has sought comment.