K-pop supergroup BTS has announced that it will not submit its music for consideration at the 2027 Grammy Awards, saying it believes music should be evaluated beyond regional or language segregation.
In a joint statement released on Wednesday, July 29, all seven members confirmed their decision to forgo Grammy submissions this year, weeks after the Recording Academy introduced a new Best Asian Pop Music Performance category.
The category was among the five new Grammy categories unveiled in June, which recognizes “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”, according to the Academy’s description.
BTS, however, suggested that they would rather see music compete equally regardless of language or country of origin, while fans of Asian artists have also reportedly criticized the move as “exclusionary” rather than “inclusive”.
“We have decided not to submit our music to the Grammys this year,” the group said in a statement shared across their individual Instagram accounts. “We hope music can be heard and loved as music itself, rather than being divided by region or language.”
The members also expressed gratitude to their fans, writing, “We would like to express our gratitude to ARMY and everyone who has always supported us.”
The group has previously earned multiple Grammy nominations, including Best Pop Duo/Group Performance and Best Music Video, but has yet to take a win home. All seven members have also served as voting members of the Recording Academy since 2019.
They recently headlined the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final’s inaugural halftime show at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, where they performed alongside global stars Madonna, Shakira, and Justin Bieber.
BTS will resume the U.S. leg of its “ARIRANG” World Tour before heading to Asia, including three scheduled shows at the Philippine Sports Stadium in Bulacan on March 13, 14, and 16, 2027.
