BTS and Stray Kids are sitting out the 2027 Grammys, and one new category is why

K-pop's two biggest groups will not be in contention at the 69th Grammy Awards on 7 February 2027. Neither entered music for consideration, and the conversation around both decisions comes back to one rule change.

What the Recording Academy changed

On 16 June 2026, the Recording Academy announced five new categories for the 2027 show. The one that started the argument is Best Asian Pop Music Performance, for singles and tracks from contemporary pop "originating from or widely recognized within Asian markets", with K-pop, J-pop and C-pop named as examples.

The category rules require "meaningful use of one or more Asian languages". A few words or ad-libs do not count, and songs sung entirely in English are not eligible. The Academy says musical style, not an artist's ethnicity or nationality, decides eligibility. Critics argue a separate lane makes it easier for voters to keep Asian acts out of the big general categories.

What BTS said

On 29 July 2026, the members of BTS posted the same message on their Instagram accounts saying they would not submit for this year's Grammys. In the English version reported by ABC News, they said they hope music "can be heard and loved for what it is" rather than divided by region or language. That means ARIRANG, their March 2026 comeback album, is not in the running.

Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. told ABC News the same day that entering a genre category does not stop an artist from also entering Record, Album or Song of the Year.

What Stray Kids' label said

On 2 October 2026, JYP Entertainment confirmed to Korean media that "Stray Kids did not submit for the Grammys". Exclaim! and Korea JoongAng Daily, which both covered the confirmation, did not report JYP giving a reason. So far the link to the BTS decision is being drawn by coverage, not by JYP. The group's album THIS & THAT came out on 7 August 2026, inside the eligibility window. The entry window closed on 21 August.

The Academy is not budging

On 1 October 2026, Mason told Variety the category will go ahead after weeks of listening sessions, saying "the loudest feedback" came from supporters. First-round voting runs from 12 to 22 October, and nominations arrive on 16 November 2026.

Why it matters here

The rule text names East Asian scenes, but it also says "including", and any Asian language qualifies. On paper, that leaves room for pop sung in Hindi, Punjabi or Tamil. The Academy has not said how it will treat South Asian entries, so watch the 16 November nominations list to see who actually lands in it.