Stray Kids and BTS Boycott 2027 Grammys Over New Asian Pop Category

Major K-pop acts Stray Kids and BTS are officially bypassing the 2027 Grammy Awards, withholding their music from consideration in protest of the Recording Academy's newly established Best Asian Pop Music Performance category. On October 2, 2026, JYP Entertainment informed outlets that Stray Kids did not submit for the Grammys, following a similar move announced by BTS in July 2026.

Why are Stray Kids and BTS boycotting the Grammys?

Artists and critics argue that the newly created category isolates Asian music genres away from general categories like Album or Song of the Year. The Recording Academy introduced the Best Asian Pop Music Performance category in June 2026, following the February 2026 historic wins for Golden (from the movie K-pop Demon Hunters) and Bad Bunny’s Album of the Year victory for Debí Tirar Más Fotos. However, a strict category rule requiring the "meaningful use of one or more Asian languages" paradoxically excludes major English-language releases from prominent acts like BTS and Blackpink.

The boycott carries significant weight within the voting body itself. Clarín reported that all eight members of Stray Kids and all seven members of BTS are official Recording Academy voting members withholding their catalogs. Stray Kids holds nine Billboard 200 No. 1 albums, a record among groups second only to The Beatles, while BTS holds five past Grammy nominations with zero wins.

How has the Recording Academy responded?

Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. addressed the pushback, stating that the category was meant to expand recognition rather than divide artists. "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," Harvey Mason Jr. said in a statement reported by Billboard.

Harvey Mason Jr. also noted that the academy held a virtual call in September 2026 with over 80 artists, executives, and stakeholders from the Asian music community. According to Billboard and BBC reports, Harvey Mason Jr. claimed that "by far, the loudest feedback we heard was from people who were enthusiastic supporters of the category."

Despite the controversy, Stray Kids members have emphasized that industry accolades are not their primary motivation. Addressing the group's stance, Hwang Hyun-jin stated, "We have never once set award results or records as our goal. Our top priority is for our fans to be happy and satisfied," as reported by the BBC. Seungmin added to Rolling Stone, saying, "It’s less about outside expectations around awards and more about capturing the sound and story we want to tell."

What happens next for the 2027 awards?

The full scope of the boycott and the list of participating artists will become clear on December 10, 2026, when the official Grammy nominations are revealed. While other major acts have not officially confirmed their withdrawal, ATEEZ leader Kim Hong-joong expressed partial alignment with the movement, telling outlets he agreed "a little" with the stance taken by BTS. Meanwhile, the Recording Academy stated it will continue discussions regarding the evolution of the award, acknowledging that the current framework will not satisfy all stakeholders.