BTS is making a bold statement ahead of the next Grammy Awards by opting out of the competition entirely.
Rather than submitting their latest music for consideration, the global K-pop superstars announced they are stepping away from this year’s awards cycle, citing concerns over how music is categorized.
The decision comes just weeks after the Recording Academy unveiled a new Grammy category specifically recognizing Asian pop performances, sparking mixed reactions across the music industry.
As the Recording Academy continues accepting submissions for the 69th Grammy Awards, BTS has confirmed it will not be participating in the process.
The group shared the announcement through its members’ individual social media accounts, explaining that the decision reflected its wider views on how music should be evaluated.
“We decided not to submit to the Grammys this year. We want music to be heard and loved for what it is, rather than categorized by region or language,” the statement read per Korean JoongAng Daily.
Although the group did not directly reference the Recording Academy’s newest rule changes, the timing of the announcement quickly fueled speculation that the statement was aimed at the organization’s decision to introduce a dedicated category for Asian pop music.
BTS Decision Fuels Debate Over The Recording Academy’s New Category
According to a report from Korean JoongAng Daily, rather than uniting the music world, the Academy’s newest category has opened another debate.
Among five additions announced for the upcoming Grammy Awards is Best Asian Pop Music Performance, an honor intended for recordings that originate from, or are strongly associated with, Asian music markets while making meaningful use of one or more Asian languages.
To supporters, the category acknowledges the explosive global rise of Asian pop after years of international success.
Others, however, have questioned whether creating a separate award risks placing Asian artists on a parallel track instead of recognizing them alongside all other performers in the Grammys’ biggest races.
Responding to those concerns, the Recording Academy described the changes as part of “its ongoing commitment to reflecting today’s dynamic musical landscape.”
CEO Harvey Mason Jr. added, “The changes advanced by our Recording Academy members speak to the breadth of today’s music industry and the many genres, crafts and creators shaping it. We’re excited to see these updates come to life in the year ahead as we celebrate the […] people who are driving music forward.”
BTS Has Long Viewed The Grammys As An Important Goal
The group’s decision carries extra weight because of its long history with the Recording Academy.
Although BTS has collected countless awards around the world, a Grammy victory has remained one of the few major milestones still missing from its résumé.
The members have never hidden their ambitions. During a 2020 interview with Esquire, leader and main rapper RM described the Grammys as “the final part of the whole American journey.”
That journey began with the group’s first Grammy nomination for “Dynamite” before “Butter” earned another nomination the following year.
In 2022, BTS returned to the ballot with “My Universe,” its collaboration with Coldplay, along with recognition for its appearance on “Music of the Spheres” and “Yet To Come.”
BTS’s Latest Music Still Raises Eligibility Questions
Even if BTS had chosen to compete this year, uncertainty remained over how some of the group’s newest songs would fit within the Recording Academy’s updated rules.
The Academy has stated that multilingual recordings must feature an Asian language in a significant way to qualify for Best Asian Pop Music Performance, noting that isolated words, ad-libs, or short phrases alone would not meet the standard.
That guideline leaves questions surrounding tracks from BTS’s latest album, “Arirang.” While lead single “Swim” contains no Korean lyrics, songs including “Body to Body,” “Hooligan,” and “2.0” incorporate Korean verses, making their eligibility unclear under the Academy’s criteria.
BTS Swept The 2026 AMAs Before Turning Down The Grammys
BTS’s decision to skip this year’s Grammy race is even more striking considering the group’s momentum on the international awards circuit.
Just months earlier, the K-pop superstars emerged as one of the biggest winners at the 2026 American Music Awards, taking home three trophies, including the night’s top honor, Artist of the Year.
The group also won Favorite K-Pop Male Artist and Song of the Summer, cementing its continued dominance despite an extended period focused on solo activities and military service.
The ceremony also marked a major night for K-pop overall, with TWICE winning Favorite K-Pop Female Artist and rookie girl group KATSEYE earning New Artist of the Year, showing the genre’s expanding influence on the global music scene.
