BTS won't submit 'ARIRANG' for 2027 Grammys following new Asian Pop category

BTS have announced that they will not submit their music for consideration at the 69th Grammy Awards, set to take place in February 2027.

The group shared the news via Instagram Stories across all seven members' accounts on 29 July, revealing that they had decided against entering this year's awards cycle.

"We have decided not to submit to the Grammys this year. We hope music can be heard and embraced for what it is, beyond region or language. Thank you to ARMY and everyone who continues to support us," the group wrote.

The decision comes just weeks after the Recording Academy introduced Best Asian Pop Music Performance, a new category that will debut at the 2027 Grammys. Created to recognise excellence in Asian pop music, the award covers works in one or more Asian languages, including K-pop, J-pop, and C-pop.

The addition of the category has sparked widespread discussion across the music industry. While some have welcomed it as long-overdue recognition of Asian pop's global influence, others have questioned whether it creates a separate lane for Asian artists rather than recognising them alongside other acts in the Grammys' General Field categories.

Although BTS did not explain the reason behind their decision beyond their statement, the timing has led many fans and industry observers to connect it to the newly introduced category.

The announcement is particularly notable given the group's long-standing history with the Recording Academy. Over the years, BTS have openly spoken about winning a Grammy as one of their career ambitions. They previously earned Grammy nominations for 'Dynamite', 'Butter', and 'My Universe', but have yet to take home a trophy.

Earlier this year, the septet made a record-breaking return with ARIRANG, their first full-length studio album in six years. The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, while lead single 'SWIM' topped the Billboard Hot 100, further cementing the group's global impact.

Whether or not BTS return to Grammy consideration in future years remains to be seen, but their latest decision has reignited conversations about how global music—and particularly Asian artists—are recognised on one of music's biggest stages.