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BTS Poised for Historic Grammy Sweep: Biggest Year Yet
BTS Might Finally Win a Grammy in 2027: Here’s Why This Year Could Be Different
Hey there! Imagine the Grammy Awards like the biggest, most important music trophy case in the world. For years, K-pop has been taking over the charts, but the Grammys have been slow to notice. That might finally change in 2027 — especially for BTS.
Why the Grammys Have Been Slow to Embrace K-pop
Think of the Recording Academy (the people who give out Grammys) like a really traditional club that takes a long time to let new styles of music in.
- K-pop has been huge in America for years — selling out stadiums, topping charts, breaking records.
- But very few K-pop artists have even been nominated.
- Before 2026, only BTS and Rosé from Blackpink had gotten nominations.
- The singers from Huntr/x (the fictional group from the movie KPop Demon Hunters) also got nominated in 2026.
Important Point: The songs "Apt." and "Golden" made history as the first K-pop songs nominated for Song of the Year. "Apt." also got into Record of the Year — one of the biggest awards of the night.
The "Golden" Win — But Not for the Singers
In early 2026, "Golden" won a Grammy for Best Song Written for Visual Media.
But here’s the catch: The award went to the songwriters, not the performers (Huntr/x).
So a K-pop group or solo singer has still never won a Grammy as the named performer.
The Game Changer: A Brand New Category for 2027
For the 2027 Grammy ceremony, the Recording Academy created a brand new category:
Best Asian Pop Music Performance
What it’s for: Songs that are pop and meaningfully use at least one Asian language (like Korean, Japanese, Chinese, etc.).
Who it includes: K-pop, J-pop, C-pop, and more.
Why it matters: The award goes directly to the performing artists — not just the writers.
This category feels like it was made for BTS.
BTS’s Grammy History So Far: 5 Nominations, 0 Wins
| Year | Song / Project | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | "Dynamite" | Best Pop Duo/Group Performance |
| 2022 | "Butter" | Best Pop Duo/Group Performance |
| 2023 | "My Universe" (with Coldplay) | Best Pop Duo/Group Performance |
| 2023 | "Yet to Come (The Most Beautiful Moment)" | Best Music Video |
| 2023 | Music of the Spheres (Coldplay album feat. BTS) | Album of the Year (as featured artists) |
Note: BTS has never had their own album nominated for Album of the Year.
The New Album: Arirang (Spring 2026)
BTS released their comeback album Arirang in spring 2026. It:
- Debuted at No. 1 in America
- Has multiple songs that could be submitted to different Grammy categories
But: Album of the Year is super competitive. A nomination for Arirang might be a long shot.
Better chances? Individual songs.
"Swim" — The Lead Single That Could Go Multiple Ways
"Swim" is the lead single from Arirang. It’s a massive hit:
- Debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100
- No. 1 on Billboard Global 200
- No. 1 on Billboard Global Excl. U.S.
Where "Swim" Could Be Submitted:
- Best Pop Duo/Group Performance — BTS has been here 3 times before
- Best Dance Pop Recording — New category, never tried it
- Best Dance/Electronic Recording — Also never tried this one
Strategy Tip: BTS’s team will pick just one of these for "Swim." They can’t submit the same song to multiple performance categories.
"Normal" — The Secret Weapon for the New Asian Pop Category
A few weeks after "Swim," BTS released "Normal" as a full single with:
- A music video
- A Korean-language version
It didn’t chart as high as "Swim," but it’s perfect for the new category.
Why "Normal" (Korean Version) Fits Best Asian Pop Music Performance:
- Meaningfully uses Korean (an Asian language)
- Performed by BTS (award goes to the artists)
- Different song from "Swim" = two shots at winning
Smart Move: Submit "Swim" in Pop/Dance categories, and "Normal" in Best Asian Pop Music Performance. Double the chances!
Best Music Video: Round Two?
BTS makes incredible, movie-like music videos with complex choreography.
They’ve only been nominated once before (for "Yet to Come" in 2023).
Now they have TWO eligible videos:
- "Swim"
- "Normal"
Either could get them back in the Best Music Video race — though it’s a tough category with all genres competing together.
2027 Could Be BTS’s Biggest Grammy Year Ever
With Arirang, "Swim," "Normal," and at least one video, here are all the categories BTS could land in:
| Category | Possible Submission |
|---|---|
| Album of the Year | Arirang (long shot) |
| Best Pop Vocal Album | Arirang (maybe) |
| Best Pop Duo/Group Performance | "Swim" |
| Best Dance Pop Recording | "Swim" |
| Best Dance/Electronic Recording | "Swim" |
| Best Asian Pop Music Performance | "Normal" (Korean version) |
| Best Music Video | "Swim" or "Normal" |
They only need a few nominations to beat their personal best (2 in one year).
And with the new category? Their first win feels closer than ever.
Summary: Why 2027 Looks Different for BTS
- New category = Best Asian Pop Music Performance — tailor-made for them
- Two strong singles = "Swim" (global smash) + "Normal" (Korean version for the new category)
- Smart strategy = Split the songs across categories = more chances
- History of nominations = 5 nods shows the Academy knows them
- Never won as performers = This could be the year that changes
FAQ: Your Questions Answered
Has any K-pop artist ever won a Grammy?
No — not as a performer. "Golden" won for songwriters, not the singers. BTS, Blackpink, and others have been nominated but never won.
What is the new "Best Asian Pop Music Performance" category?
It’s a brand new Grammy category for 2027 for pop songs that meaningfully use an Asian language (Korean, Japanese, Chinese, etc.). The award goes to the performing artists.
Can BTS submit the same song to multiple categories?
No. One recording = one performance category. But they can submit different songs to different categories — like "Swim" for Pop and "Normal" for Asian Pop.
Why hasn’t BTS won yet?
The Grammys have historically favored English-language, Western pop. K-pop’s global explosion is recent, and the Academy moves slowly. The new category signals they’re finally paying attention.
When will we know the 2027 nominations?
Nominations are usually announced in November 2026. The ceremony happens in early 2027 (typically January or February).
Final Thought: BTS has broken every other record. With a new category designed for music like theirs, and two perfect songs to submit… 2027 might finally be the year they hear "And the Grammy goes to… BTS!"
