BTS will not submit its album ARIRANG or its songs for the 2027 Grammy Awards, saying it wants its music to be judged without being divided by region or language. Although the group did not directly criticise the Recording Academy’s new Best Asian Pop Music Performance category, the timing has renewed debate over whether the award expands recognition or separates Asian artists from mainstream competition.

The category is limited to vocal tracks connected to Asian markets and using an Asian language, while English-only songs remain eligible for other Grammy categories. ARIRANG itself would not qualify because it is an album, and its English-language lead single “SWIM” would also be ineligible; more than 80% of the album’s lyrics are reportedly in English. The Academy says artists can pursue both genre recognition and general-field awards, though submission rules can force choices between specialised performance categories.