BTS to Boycott Grammy Awards, Won't Submit Nominations

K-pop group BTS announced it will not submit nominations for the 69th Grammy Awards, protesting the new category for Asian pop music. The decision joins a growing trend of boycotts by top artists against the Recording Academy.

K-pop group BTS announced last night (Wednesday) that it will not submit nominations for the 69th Grammy Awards, in protest of the new category for Asian pop music. The announcement was made on the group's social media accounts, where they stated: 'We hope that music can be heard and loved for what it is, rather than being divided by geographic region or language.' Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. expressed regret but respected the decision. The move means their comeback album 'Arirang' will not compete for the award. BTS joins a boycott trend by artists like The Weeknd, who criticized the Academy's secret committees. K-pop has a complex history with the Grammys – BTS has been nominated five times without winning, and the genre's first major achievement came at the last ceremony in February 2026.

BTS to Boycott Grammy Awards, Won't Submit Nominations