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BTS Declines to Submit Arirang for 2027 Grammys Amid New Asian Pop Category
On July 29 2026, BTS announced that it would not submit its latest studio album, Arirang, for consideration at the 69th Annual Grammy Awards. The decision followed the Recording Academy’s June 16 announcement of a new category, Best Asian Pop Music Performance, slated to debut on February 7 2027.
The Korean‑language post on the group’s official accounts was concise: “We have decided not to submit to the Grammys this year,” BTS wrote, adding thanks to fans for their continued support. No explanation was offered.
Arirang dropped on March 20 2026 under Big Hit Music. It marked the first BTS album released after all members completed their mandatory South Korean military service in 2025. The record opened at number one in more than 25 countries, shattered streaming milestones on Spotify and Apple Music, and became the group’s seventh U.S. number‑one album on the Billboard 200. Its title, a nod to the traditional Korean folk song “Arirang,” frames lyrics that explore identity, reunion, and cultural heritage.
The Academy’s new Best Asian Pop Music Performance category aims to “recognize 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.” The award will sit within the Pop & Dance/Electronic field, and its addition brings the total number of Grammy categories to 100 for the 69th ceremony.
In South Korea, critics have branded the new category as a form of segregation that pushes Asian acts into a separate box. The Korea Times reported that the focus on language and market origin could marginalize artists who blend Korean with other languages or who appeal to a global audience. BTS’s decision to boycott the Grammys follows a broader pattern of limited recognition for K‑pop acts in recent years. The group earned nominations in 2020, 2021 and 2022 but has not been nominated since 2022. Other K‑pop artists—Stray Kids, Tomorrow X Together and Blackpink’s Rosé—also failed to secure nominations in 2024 and 2025.
Hybe clarified that the boycott is not a company‑wide stance. In a statement to regional outlets, the label said it had approved the decision not to submit Arirang for consideration, but that the company remains open to future participation. The message underscored that the group’s choice was a personal decision rather than a corporate position.
Fans reacted positively to the announcement. Comments on BTS’s social media posts praised the group for standing up for non‑discrimination and promoting inclusivity. While the boycott has sparked debate about the Grammys’ approach to Asian pop music, no official response from the Recording Academy has been issued.
The 69th Annual Grammy Awards will take place at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on February 7 2027. The ceremony will be broadcast on ABC and streamed on Disney+ and Hulu under a new ten‑year partnership with the Recording Academy. The event will feature 100 categories, including the new Best Asian Pop Music Performance, Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance, and Best R&B Collaboration or Duo/Group Performance.
BTS continues its Arirang World Tour, which began in April 2026 and will run through March 2027. The group has not announced any changes to the tour schedule in light of the Grammy boycott. The band’s next release is expected to be a single or EP later in 2026, but no official title or release date has been confirmed.
In summary, BTS has chosen not to submit Arirang for the 2027 Grammys, a move that follows the introduction of a new Asian pop category and reflects ongoing tensions between K‑pop artists and the Recording Academy. The boycott highlights the broader issue of representation for Asian artists in Western award shows, while the group’s continued touring and future releases suggest that the decision is a statement rather than a halt to its commercial activities.
The Korean‑language post on the group’s official accounts was concise: “We have decided not to submit to the Grammys this year,” BTS wrote, adding thanks to fans for their continued support. No explanation was offered.
Arirang dropped on March 20 2026 under Big Hit Music. It marked the first BTS album released after all members completed their mandatory South Korean military service in 2025. The record opened at number one in more than 25 countries, shattered streaming milestones on Spotify and Apple Music, and became the group’s seventh U.S. number‑one album on the Billboard 200. Its title, a nod to the traditional Korean folk song “Arirang,” frames lyrics that explore identity, reunion, and cultural heritage.
The Academy’s new Best Asian Pop Music Performance category aims to “recognize 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.” The award will sit within the Pop & Dance/Electronic field, and its addition brings the total number of Grammy categories to 100 for the 69th ceremony.
In South Korea, critics have branded the new category as a form of segregation that pushes Asian acts into a separate box. The Korea Times reported that the focus on language and market origin could marginalize artists who blend Korean with other languages or who appeal to a global audience. BTS’s decision to boycott the Grammys follows a broader pattern of limited recognition for K‑pop acts in recent years. The group earned nominations in 2020, 2021 and 2022 but has not been nominated since 2022. Other K‑pop artists—Stray Kids, Tomorrow X Together and Blackpink’s Rosé—also failed to secure nominations in 2024 and 2025.
Hybe clarified that the boycott is not a company‑wide stance. In a statement to regional outlets, the label said it had approved the decision not to submit Arirang for consideration, but that the company remains open to future participation. The message underscored that the group’s choice was a personal decision rather than a corporate position.
Fans reacted positively to the announcement. Comments on BTS’s social media posts praised the group for standing up for non‑discrimination and promoting inclusivity. While the boycott has sparked debate about the Grammys’ approach to Asian pop music, no official response from the Recording Academy has been issued.
The 69th Annual Grammy Awards will take place at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on February 7 2027. The ceremony will be broadcast on ABC and streamed on Disney+ and Hulu under a new ten‑year partnership with the Recording Academy. The event will feature 100 categories, including the new Best Asian Pop Music Performance, Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance, and Best R&B Collaboration or Duo/Group Performance.
BTS continues its Arirang World Tour, which began in April 2026 and will run through March 2027. The group has not announced any changes to the tour schedule in light of the Grammy boycott. The band’s next release is expected to be a single or EP later in 2026, but no official title or release date has been confirmed.
In summary, BTS has chosen not to submit Arirang for the 2027 Grammys, a move that follows the introduction of a new Asian pop category and reflects ongoing tensions between K‑pop artists and the Recording Academy. The boycott highlights the broader issue of representation for Asian artists in Western award shows, while the group’s continued touring and future releases suggest that the decision is a statement rather than a halt to its commercial activities.
