BLACKPINK to Skip 2027 Grammys as BTS and Stray Kids Withdraw From Awards

BLACKPINK will not submit music for consideration at the 69th Grammy Awards, joining BTS and Stray Kids in stepping away from the 2027 ceremony. The three acts will be absent from the awards for different reasons, despite the Recording Academy introducing a new category for Asian pop music.

The K-pop girl group’s third mini-album, DEADLINE, was released on February 27, 2026, but reportedly failed to meet the eligibility criteria for the new Best Asian Pop Music Performance category. The eligibility period for the 69th Grammy Awards ran from August 31, 2025, to August 28, 2026.

According to reports, the album’s lead single JUMP was released on July 11, 2025, before the eligibility window opened. The remaining four tracks, GO, Me and My, Champion, and Fxxxboy, were performed in English and did not meet the language requirements for the Asian pop category.

BLACKPINK’s solo releases also reportedly do not qualify for consideration, as none meet both the release timing and language criteria.

Rosé, a member of BLACKPINK, has received three nominations for her collaboration with Bruno Mars, APT., in the Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance categories. She was also the first solo K-pop artist to perform on the main Grammy stage.

BTS Announces Withdrawal

BTS announced in July 2026 that the group would not submit any music for consideration at the 2027 Grammy Awards. All seven members shared a coordinated statement on Instagram.

We hope our music can be heard and loved for what it is, rather than being divided by region or language, the statement read. We thank the ARMY and everyone who has always stood by us.

The announcement came after the Recording Academy introduced the Best Asian Pop Music Performance category in June 2026. BTS’s album ARIRANG features lyrics primarily sung in English, which could have affected eligibility under the category’s language requirements.

Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. issued a statement expressing sadness over BTS’s decision while defending the new category.

I am saddened to hear that BTS has chosen not to participate in the Grammy Awards process this year, but as a music creator, I understand and respect their decision, Mason said.

The Asian pop category was created to celebrate the depth, diversity and extraordinary growth of pop artistry coming out of Asia, he added. More categories mean more artists work is recognized. It is never to divide, but to expand who is recognized by our 15,000 Grammy voters.

Mason also clarified that submitting in a genre category does not exclude artists from being considered in the General Field categories.

I also want to be very clear: submitting music in a genre category such as Asian Pop, or Jazz or Country does not exclude an artist from also submitting and being considered in the General Field categories, including Record of the Year, Album of the Year and Song of the Year, he said. Those categories remain open to any eligible recording, regardless of genre. Recognition in a genre category and recognition in the General Field are not mutually exclusive. An artist can absolutely pursue both.

Stray Kids Follows Suit

Stray Kids did not submit any work for consideration before the August 21 deadline for the 69th Grammy Awards. JYP Entertainment confirmed the decision on October 2.

Stray Kids did not submit for the Grammys, the agency stated.

JYP Entertainment did not specify the reason behind the decision or confirm whether it was connected to the new Asian pop category. Under Grammy rules, recordings that are not formally submitted cannot appear on the nomination ballot.

The decision drew attention because all eight Stray Kids members received invitations to join the Recording Academy as voting members in 2026. This means they can participate in the Grammy voting process despite not submitting their own music for consideration.

Stray Kids had been seen as a strong contender for the new category. The group has topped the Billboard 200 multiple times, including with their November EP DO IT and August release THIS & THAT. The title track from the latter reached No. 38 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Category Controversy

The Recording Academy announced the Best Asian Pop Music Performance category in June 2026 as one of five new awards for the 69th Grammys. The category recognizes Asian pop performances originating from or widely recognized within Asian markets, including K-pop, J-pop, and C-pop. To qualify, a recording must make meaningful use of at least one Asian language.

The category has drawn criticism from some artists and fans who argue that separating Asian pop along regional and linguistic lines could marginalize artists who have already become part of the global pop mainstream.

The Academy held listening sessions and dialogue with leaders of the Asian music community over several weeks. On October 1, Mason confirmed the Academy would move forward with the category.

Over the past several weeks the Academy has been conducting listening sessions and have been in dialogue with leaders of the Asian music community, Mason said. In this case, we heard candid feedback from people in our community who do not support the continuation of this category. We also heard from people who did not have accurate information about the category, and having space to clear up misperceptions has been especially valuable. But by far, the loudest feedback we heard was from people who were enthusiastic supporters of the category, fellow music creators expressing their encouragement for keeping it.

We understand this conclusion will not satisfy everyone, and that never feels good, he added. But at the same time, we are confident it is the right conclusion for the music community overall.

Reaction and Timeline

Other K-pop artists have commented on the situation. Kim Hong-joong, leader of the boy band Ateez, said he had been impressed by BTS’s stance.

I would love to think about that too, Kim said in an interview with Variety Magazine. I am not sure because no one can know about the real reason they tried to make that category. No one can recognize the real reason. But it seems like, for me… I agree a little with what BTS did.

BTS has been nominated for five Grammy Awards but has never won. The group returned in March 2026 after a nearly four-year musical hiatus due to mandatory military service in South Korea. Their comeback album ARIRANG debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, and the lead single Swim reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

In 2026, Golden from the animated film KPop Demon Hunters became the first K-pop song to win a Grammy, taking home the trophy for best song for visual media.

The 69th Grammy Awards are scheduled for February 7, 2027. First-round voting will run from October 12 to October 22, 2026. Nominations will be announced on November 16, 2026.