BTS will not submit their latest album, “ARIRANG,” for consideration at the 2027 Grammy Awards. The seven-member team announced the decision on July 29, 2026, through posts shared by the members on their individual Instagram profiles. The Grammy Awards ceremony is scheduled for February 7, 2027, in Los Angeles, while nominations are expected on November 16, 2026. The choice BTS made has gained attention as it followed a change recently introduced by the Recording Academy.
“We have decided not to enter the Grammys this year,” the group’s Instagram statement said in Korean. “We hope music itself can be heard and loved rather than being distinguished by region or language.”
On June 16, 2026, the Academy announced five new categories and rule updates. One was Best Asian Pop Music, a category for popular music connected to Asian markets and featuring “meaningful” use of Asian languages. The decision caused debate among fans and critics, as some have observed that the new category could limit Asian artists by separating them from the main awards, only relegating them to the Best Asian Pop Music consideration. Ayan Artan said about the change, “The addition of these new Grammy categories is not progress; it is tokenistic inclusion that dresses up white bias as recognition.
The debate also reflects concerns about how the Grammys organize music by region, language, and genre. Latin artists have faced similar limits for years, even while their music reaches global audiences. In 2026, Bad Bunny made history when Debí Tirar Más Fotos became the first Spanish-language album to win Album of the Year. However, the Recording Academy is also introducing the Best Latin Song category in 2027, adding another layer of separation.
Similarly, Beyoncé showed how genre labels can affect recognition when Cowboy Carter won both Album of the Year and Best Country Album. Following her wins, the country music section split into two categories, adding Contemporary and Traditional country. Now, BTS’ decision is being viewed as a public response to concerns about language, race, popularity, and musical genres.
