BTS will not submit any of its music for consideration at the 2027 Grammy Awards, with the group saying it hopes music can be appreciated beyond regional and linguistic boundaries.
All seven members shared the same statement on their personal Instagram Stories on 29 July, days after the Recording Academy opened submissions for the 69th Grammy Awards.
Jimin, posting through his @j.m account, wrote in Korean: “We have decided not to submit to the Grammys this year. We hope music can be heard and loved for itself, rather than being divided by region or language.
“We thank ARMY and everyone who is always with us.”
We hope that music is heard and loved for what it is, rather than being categorized by region or language.
We are grateful to ARMY and everyone who is always with us.”
The message did not name a specific Grammy policy. However, it was widely interpreted as a response to the Recording Academy’s recently announced Best Asian Pop Music Performance category, which will debut at the 2027 ceremony.
The category is intended for pop recordings originating from, or widely recognised in, Asian markets — including K-pop, J-pop and C-pop — and requires meaningful use of at least one Asian language. The Academy says the musical style, rather than an artist’s ethnicity or nationality, determines eligibility.
Its introduction has prompted debate among K-pop fans and commentators online. Critics argue that separating Asian pop into a regional category risks pigeonholing artists rather than giving them equal access to the Grammys’ most prominent awards. Others have welcomed a dedicated category as overdue recognition for a major global music market.
Recording Academy chief executive Harvey Mason Jr. said the new category was intended to expand recognition, not divide artists. He also stressed that an artist entered in an Asian pop category can still be considered for general-field honours, including Record of the Year, Album of the Year and Song of the Year.
BTS’ decision comes during the Grammy submission window, which runs until 21 August 2026. It means the group’s work will not be considered for nominations at the ceremony scheduled for 7 February 2027 in Los Angeles.
The group returned in March with ARIRANG, its first full-group album following the members’ military-service hiatus. BTS has received five Grammy nominations to date but has not won a Grammy.
