BTS, the global K-pop phenomenon, has made a bold and unprecedented decision regarding the upcoming Grammy Awards. On Wednesday, the seven-member group announced via their individual Instagram Stories that they will not submit any of their music for Grammy consideration in the 2026 awards cycle. This move comes in direct response to the Recording Academy's introduction of a new category, Best Asian Pop Music Performance, which BTS believes reinforces geographical and linguistic divisions in music instead of celebrating artistry on its own terms.
The statement, shared simultaneously by all members—RM, Jin, Suga, j-hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook—read: "We have decided not to submit our music to the Grammys this year. We hope music can be heard and loved as music itself, rather than being divided by region or language." The group also expressed heartfelt gratitude to their dedicated fanbase, ARMY, and supporters worldwide, emphasizing that the decision was made after careful reflection on the values they stand for as artists.
BTS Steps Away from Grammys
The announcement marks a significant shift in BTS's relationship with the Recording Academy. Over the past few years, the group has been a prominent presence at the Grammys, delivering electrifying performances and earning multiple nominations, though they have never won a statue. Their absence from the submission process this year is seen by many as a principled stand against what they perceive as the institutional categorization of non-Western music.
Industry insiders note that BTS's decision was likely influenced by the Academy's June announcement of five new categories for the 69th Grammys, including Best African Music Performance, Best Alternative Jazz Album, Best Americana Performance, Best Folk Performance, and Best Asian Pop Music Performance. While the Academy framed these additions as a way to recognize diverse genres and global influences, critics argue that creating a separate category for Asian pop effectively ghettoizes artists from the region, limiting their chances of competing in major categories like Album of the Year or Record of the Year.
BTS's statement has reignited a long-simmering debate about representation and equity in award shows. The group's lead vocalist, Jungkook, hinted at the sentiment in a separate post on a fan platform, saying, "We love our fans and we love making music. But we don't want our music to be labeled and boxed in. It's for everyone."
New Category Sparks Controversy
The Recording Academy's decision to create Best Asian Pop Music Performance was met with mixed reactions from the start. Proponents argued that it would shine a spotlight on the vibrant and growing Asian pop scene, which has exploded globally thanks to acts like BTS, BLACKPINK, and Japanese groups like YOASOBI. However, many artists and critics quickly condemned the move as a form of segregation.
In an op-ed published shortly after the category's announcement, Korean-American composer and producer Wendy Lee wrote: "Creating a separate category for Asian pop implies that these artists are not good enough to compete in the general field. It's a tired playbook from the early days of the Grammys when Latin music was relegated to its own silo."
BTS's decision adds a powerful voice to the backlash. The group has a history of advocating for inclusivity and breaking barriers. Their 2020 hit "Dynamite" made history as the first song by an all-Korean group to top the Billboard Hot 100, and they have consistently used their platform to speak out against racism and discrimination. By refusing to participate in a system they see as divisive, BTS is sending a clear message that they want to be judged on the merit of their music, not their geographic origin.
The Academy has yet to respond directly to BTS's statement, but sources indicate that internal discussions are ongoing. Some members of the Academy's Diversity Committee have expressed frustration, noting that the new categories were intended to increase representation, not limit it.
A Career-Defining Year
BTS's decision is all the more striking given their extraordinary commercial success in 2025 and early 2026. In March 2026, the group released their fifth studio album, ARIRANG, a deeply personal and experimental project that blends traditional Korean folk elements with modern pop and hip-hop. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 with an astounding 641,000 equivalent album units in its first week—the largest debut for any group album in over a decade, surpassing even Taylor Swift's recent releases.
The lead single, "SWIM," made history by entering the Billboard Hot 100 at number one, becoming BTS's seventh chart-topper and the first group in history to debut at the top with a non-English lead single. The song's music video amassed over 200 million views within 48 hours, and the accompanying dance challenge went viral across TikTok and Instagram. Critics praised the track for its innovative production and introspective lyrics, with Rolling Stone calling it "a masterclass in emotional storytelling."
Despite this momentum, the group has chosen to forgo Grammy submissions. Industry analysts estimate that ARIRANG and "SWIM" would have been strong contenders in multiple categories, including Album of the Year, Best Pop Solo Performance, and even Best Music Video. BTS's absence leaves the field wide open for other artists, but also raises questions about the credibility of the awards if the biggest act in the world refuses to participate.
History with the Grammys
BTS's relationship with the Grammys has been complex. They first performed at the awards in 2020 as part of a collaboration with Lil Nas X on "Old Town Road," and delivered a breathtaking solo performance of "Dynamite" in 2021. In 2022, they performed "Butter" and were nominated for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, but lost to Doja Cat and SZA's "Kiss Me More." The following year, they received a nomination for Best Music Video for "Yet to Come (The Most Beautiful Moment)," but again went home empty-handed.
Many fans and critics argue that BTS has been consistently overlooked by the Recording Academy, with some suggesting that language and cultural barriers play a role. In 2023, the Academy made headlines for excluding BTS from the major categories entirely, sparking angry petitions from ARMY. The group's hiatus announcements—including mandatory military service for Jin, j-hope, and now others—have further complicated their Awards strategy, but the members have always expressed respect for the institution.
This latest move, however, signals a breaking point. Instead of continuing to campaign for recognition within a system they find flawed, BTS is choosing to prioritize their artistic integrity over awards. As Suga (Min Yoongi) said in a recent interview: "Awards are not the reason we make music. We make music to connect with people, to heal, to share emotions. If the platform doesn't respect that, we don't need to be on it."
Fan Reactions and Industry Implications
ARMY has responded to the announcement with overwhelming support. Within hours, the hashtags BTSBoycottsGrammys and MusicWithoutBorders trended on Twitter worldwide. Many fans expressed pride in the group's stance, while others renewed calls for a boycott of the show itself. Several BTS fan accounts have launched campaigns to stream ARIRANG and "SWIM" as a show of solidarity.
Other artists have also weighed in. Korean-American singer Eric Nam, who has long advocated for better representation of Asian artists in Western media, tweeted: "BTS is doing what many of us have felt for years. The Grammys need a complete overhaul, not just new categories." Japanese group YOASOBI, who had been submitted for the new Asian Pop category, released a statement saying they would consider following BTS's lead. "We want our music to be judged alongside everyone else," the statement read.
The Recording Academy now faces a public relations crisis. Having lost the world's biggest musical act—one that commands a fanbase of over 100 million—the Grammys risk being seen as out of touch and irrelevant to the global music landscape. Some insiders have hinted that the Academy may reconsider the Asian Pop category before the submission deadline, but no official changes have been announced.
BTS's decision also has broader implications for the music industry. It challenges the very notion of awards shows as arbiters of artistic value and questions the role of geographical labeling in an increasingly interconnected world. As K-pop continues to dominate charts and concerts around the globe, the debate over how to recognize its artists—whether through new categories or by inclusion in existing ones—will likely intensify.
For now, BTS is focusing on what matters most: their music and their relationship with ARMY. Their upcoming world tour, "ARIRANG: The Final Chapter," is set to kick off in Seoul in October and will visit 30 cities across the globe. Fans can expect a show that transcends borders, with songs that speak to universal emotions of love, loss, and hope. As the group's statement concluded: "Thank you for listening to our music as music. That is the greatest award we could ever ask for."