BTS has made one of the most significant awards-related decisions of its career by choosing not to submit any music for consideration at the 69th Annual Grammy Awards, scheduled for February 7, 2027. The announcement, shared on July 29, 2026 (Wednesday, local Korean time), is widely being interpreted as a protest against the Recording Academy’s newly created Best Asian Pop Music Performance category.
The decision has sparked worldwide discussion about whether music should be categorized by language or geography rather than artistic merit. Coming from one of the world’s most successful music groups, the move has immediately become one of the biggest entertainment stories of the year.
Rather than issuing a lengthy explanation, all seven BTS members—RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook—personally shared identical (or near-identical) statements through their individual Instagram Stories, making the announcement directly to fans instead of relying solely on their agency.
This comes just weeks after the band’s own record-setting turn on a global stage. To know more about that moment, check our story, BTS just made FIFA World Cup history, and the internet has not stopped talking about it.
The Announcement: BTS Explains Why It Won’t Submit Music to the 2027 Grammys
The members’ message remained brief but carried a clear message.
They wrote:
“We have decided not to submit to the Grammys this year” / “We have decided not to submit our music to the Grammys this year” / “We have decided not to submit for Grammy consideration this year.”
The statement continued:
“I hope that music can be heard and loved for what it is, rather than being divided by region or language” / “We hope music can be heard and loved as music itself, rather than being divided by region or language” / “We hope our music can be heard and loved for what it is, rather than being divided by region or language.”
The members concluded by thanking fans:
“Thank you to ARMY and everyone who is always with us.”
Although the wording varies slightly across translations, the central message remains consistent. Neither BTS nor Big Hit Music/HYBE released any additional explanation or direct criticism of the Recording Academy. As of the latest reports, the Recording Academy has not issued a public response, although outlets including The Hollywood Reporter and Variety noted they had reached out for comment.
Choosing to speak directly to fans rather than through official channels is very on-brand for this group; even off the awards circuit, the members have shown a preference for keeping communication with ARMY personal and low-key. To know more, check our piece, BTS’ V Just Asked Fans For One Simple Thing, And It Says A Lot About Life On Tour.
The New Grammy Category That Sparked the Debate
The controversy follows the Recording Academy’s announcement on June 16, 2026, introducing five new Grammy categories, increasing the total number to 100 for the 69th Annual Grammy Awards, which will air on ABC, Disney+, and Hulu.
Among them is Best Asian Pop Music Performance, officially described as:
“This category recognizes artistic excellence in Asian pop music performances originating from or widely recognized within Asian markets, including but not limited to K-pop, J-pop and C-pop, with meaningful use of one or more Asian languages. Awards are presented to the performing artist(s).”
The category has been placed within the Pop & Dance/Electronic field.
The remaining new Grammy categories are:
- Best R&B Collaboration or Duo/Group Performance
- Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance
- Best Traditional Folk Album
- Best Latin Song
According to Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr., the additions were part of the Academy’s annual member-driven process to better reflect today’s evolving music landscape.
However, reactions to the Asian Pop category quickly became divided. Critics argued that the award creates unnecessary separation by grouping Asian artists into a regional category rather than allowing equal competition in mainstream Pop fields. Supporters, meanwhile, viewed the category as long-overdue recognition of Asian pop music’s global influence.
BTS has become the first major artist to publicly opt out in response.
The timing is notable, too, since the category was unveiled while BTS was riding the wave of one of the best-reviewed releases of its career. To know more about why that record has resonated so widely with critics, check our story, The Sound of a Cultural Phenomenon: Why BTS’ ‘Arirang’ Is the Critics’ Darling of 2026.
Timeline: From Grammy Rule Changes to BTS’s Announcement
| Date | Event |
| June 16, 2026 | Recording Academy announces five new Grammy categories, including Best Asian Pop Music Performance. |
| March 2026 | BTS releases its fifth studio album ARIRANG, debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with approximately 641,000 units, marking the biggest opening week for a group album in more than a decade. |
| March 2026 | Lead single “SWIM” debuts at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. |
| July 19, 2026 | BTS performs during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Halftime Show at MetLife Stadium, alongside Madonna, Shakira, and Justin Bieber. |
| July 29, 2026 | All seven BTS members announce they will not submit music for Grammy consideration for the 2027 awards cycle. |
| February 7, 2027 | Scheduled date for the 69th Annual Grammy Awards. |
Laid out this way, the timeline shows just how eventful the past year has been for the group — a stretch that’s only the latest chapter in a career full of milestones. To know more about how BTS got here, check our timeline piece, When Did BTS Debut? Timeline of Every Major BTS Era Explained (2013–2026).
BTS’s Grammy History Makes This Decision Even More Significant
The announcement comes during one of the group’s strongest commercial years following the completion of all members’ mandatory South Korean military service and the resumption of full-group activities.
Their achievements include:
- ARIRANG debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with approximately 641,000 units.
- “SWIM” debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
- Ongoing World Tour Arirang, following European performances including Paris and U.S. concerts after the announcement.
BTS has previously received five Grammy nominations, though the group has yet to win.
| Grammy Category | Work |
| Best Pop Duo/Group Performance | “Dynamite” (63rd) |
| Best Pop Duo/Group Performance | “Butter” (64th) |
| Best Pop Duo/Group Performance | “My Universe” with Coldplay (65th) |
| Best Music Video | “Yet To Come” (65th) |
| Album of the Year | Featured on Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres (65th) |
All seven BTS members have also been voting members of the Recording Academy since 2019, making their decision particularly notable.
It’s a track record that puts this year’s near-miss-turned-boycott into sharper focus, especially given how the group’s music has continued to command attention even outside awards season. Case in point: a surprise vinyl-only release that had fans buzzing. To know more, check our story, BTS Drops SUGA-Produced Hidden Track “Come Over” on Vinyl Only — ARMY Demands Streaming Release.
Expert and Public Reaction
ARMY, BTS’s global fandom, largely welcomed the announcement as a principled stand.
Supporters described the decision as “the Grammys’ loss,” expressed pride in the group’s integrity, and argued that BTS’s worldwide influence already extends beyond awards recognition. Many also praised the members for delivering the message personally instead of through a corporate statement.
Korean media and international outlets including Korea Times, The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, and Gulf News widely framed the move as a protest against regional categorization.
Support also circulated from rapper Tablo, who posted:
“ARIRANG > GRAMMYS”
The wave of goodwill isn’t limited to music, either — the group’s ventures outside the recording booth have kept fans just as engaged this year. To know more, check our story, BTS Partners with Nex Playground in Major New Collaboration.
What’s Next for BTS and the Grammys?
For now, BTS’s decision applies only to submissions for the 2027 Grammy Awards cycle. It does not prevent the group from submitting music in future years, nor does it affect their existing Grammy nomination history or any other participation with the Recording Academy.
With ARIRANG, “SWIM,” and the ongoing World Tour Arirang continuing to dominate headlines, BTS remains one of the world’s most commercially successful acts—even without pursuing Grammy recognition this year.
Disclaimer
This article is based on thorough research from contemporaneous reporting published on or around July 29, 2026, including information from The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Korea Times, official Recording Academy/Grammy announcements, Gulf News, and other established news sources. Slight variations in the translated wording of BTS’s statement exist across reports, but the core facts and message remain consistent across verified sources.
Sources:
Image Credit:
- Getty Images / Amy Sussman
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