LOS ANGELES: BTS, the global K-pop phenomenon that has broken countless records and built one of the world’s largest music communities, has decided to step away from the Grammy race this year.
The group announced that it will not submit its music for consideration at the 69th Grammy Awards, saying it wants its work to be recognized simply as music rather than being defined by language or region.
The seven-member group revealed the decision on Wednesday through their official social media accounts, stating that they want their music to be appreciated for its artistic value rather than being categorized based on regional identity or language.
“We decided not to submit to the Grammys this year,” the members wrote in their respective Instagram Stories. “We want music to be heard and loved for what it is, rather than categorized by region or language.”
The group also thanked its official fandom, ARMY, and supporters worldwide for their continued love and encouragement.
this is the sexiest thing they’ve ever done tbh i’m so glad they know their worth and that they’re bigger than the scammys https://t.co/zH5DvYyppn
— 🔍deb🪭arirang tour!!!🔎 (@theultimatedodo) July 29, 2026
my love, respect and admiration for bts keeps multiplying and i didn’t even know that was possible. what a statement this is https://t.co/xU1sy85H10
— lia⁷ (@storyofpjm) July 29, 2026
The decision comes after the Recording Academy introduced five new categories in June for the upcoming Grammy ceremony, including Best Asian Pop Music Performance. The category recognizes performances that originate from or are widely recognized in Asian markets and feature meaningful use of one or more Asian languages.
The introduction of the category has sparked debate among music industry observers, with some critics arguing that creating a separate category could place Asian artists into a limited classification rather than allowing them to compete equally across broader award categories.
BTS’s announcement comes during a major career milestone for the group. Their fifth studio album “ARIRANG,” released in March, topped the Billboard 200 chart with 641,000 units, marking one of the biggest opening weeks for a group album in more than a decade. The album’s lead single “SWIM” also debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
The Recording Academy is currently accepting entries for the 69th Grammy Awards, with the online submission period running from July 7 through August 21. The awards ceremony is scheduled to take place in February.
BTS’s decision has added fresh discussion to the wider debate over global representation in the music industry. As artists from different regions continue to achieve international success, the question of how music should be categorized and recognized by major award institutions remains a growing conversation.
