K-pop group BTS announced on July 29, 2026, that they will not submit their music for consideration at the 2027 Grammy Awards. The decision was shared simultaneously by all seven members via their individual Instagram stories, where they stated, "We have decided not to enter the Grammys this year. I hope that music can be heard and loved for what it is, rather than being divided by region or language. Thank you to Army and everyone who is always with us" [1, 2].

Their withdrawal comes after the Grammy Awards introduced a new category in June 2026 called "Best Asian Pop Music Performance." This category requires nominated songs to include a meaningful use of Asian languages, effectively excluding BTS's March 2026 album "Arirang," which features over 80% English lyrics, including its lead single "Swim" that reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 [1, 2, 3, 4].

The introduction of the new category drew mixed reactions within the K-pop community. Many fans criticized the Grammys for allegedly pigeonholing Asian artists and segregating Asian music by region and language. BTS's statement echoed this sentiment, expressing a desire for music to transcend such divisions [1, 2, 5, 3].

BTS has been nominated for Grammys five times since 2021 but has yet to win an award. They have been voting members of the Recording Academy since 2019 [1, 2, 5, 6].

Grammy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. expressed regret at BTS's decision but emphasized respect for their choice. He clarified that the new Asian Pop Music Performance category was meant to highlight the diversity and rapid growth of Asian pop music, not to divide or segregate it. He noted that participation in the new category does not prevent eligibility for general categories like Album of the Year or Song of the Year [7, 8, 3, 4].

After BTS's withdrawal announcement, some official Grammy performance videos featuring BTS became inaccessible or were removed from media platforms, leading fans to suspect possible retaliation. However, the Recording Academy has not officially confirmed any such action [7, 8, 3].

BTS is currently on a world tour expected to rival Taylor Swift's Eras Tour in box office revenue, maintaining their position as one of the biggest musical acts globally [1, 2, 5].

The 69th Grammy Awards ceremony is scheduled for February 7, 2027, where BTS's absence will be notable [9, 10].