BTS Withdraws From Grammy Consideration In Apparent Protest Over New Asian Pop Category - Deadline

BTS announced it will not submit its music for Grammy consideration this year, with all seven members — RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook — sharing the statement on their Instagram accounts.
The decision appears to be a protest against the Recording Academy's recent creation of a Best Asian Pop Music Performance category, with the group saying they hope their music is judged "for what it is, rather than being divided by region or language."
The new category, announced last month, is designed to honor performances originating from or recognized in Asian markets, including K-pop, J-pop and C-pop, that make meaningful use of Asian languages.
BTS had been widely expected to earn multiple nominations, potentially including Album of the Year for its comeback record "Arirang," while its No. 1 lead single "Swim" was also anticipated to score nods.
Fans and the Academy had hoped the group would perform at the February 7 Grammy ceremony, which for the first time will air on ABC and stream on Hulu and Disney+ after more than 50 years on CBS.
BTS is currently on a world tour and recently performed "Dynamite" at the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Halftime Show on July 19 at MetLife Stadium, alongside Madonna, Shakira and Justin Bieber, and returns to the venue August 1 to begin the U.S. leg.