Blackpink and Other K-Pop Groups Skipped Grammy Submissions

The groups did not submit music for consideration for the 69th Grammy Awards held in February 2027.

Updated on Oct. 4, 2026 in Pop

Graphic illustration of golden, stylized trophy gramophones against a high-contrast black and cream background. — Blackpink, BTS, and Stray Kids opted not to submit music for the 69th Grammy Awards, citing language requirements and eligibility windows. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Blackpink, BTS, and Stray Kids opted not to submit music for the 69th Grammy Awards. While Rosé earned three nominations, the groups missed out on the new Best Asian Pop Music Performance category due to eligibility and language requirements.

Why it matters

The Recording Academy added a category for Asian Pop that requires the use of Asian languages, creating a specific barrier for international artists whose recent English-heavy releases fell outside the eligibility window.

Blackpink released the album DEADLINE on February 27, 2026, featuring five tracks, including the July 2025 single JUMP. Four of the album tracks were performed entirely in English.

The players

Blackpink

Blackpink is a globally recognized K-pop girl group from South Korea known for breaking records in digital music streaming and international chart performance.

BTS

BTS is a major South Korean boy band that has achieved unprecedented international success and holds multiple Grammy nominations.

Stray Kids

Stray Kids is a popular South Korean boy band managed by JYP Entertainment that has a significant following in the global music market.

Rosé

Rosé is a vocalist and member of Blackpink who achieved individual recognition with three nominations for the 69th Grammy Awards.

The Recording Academy

The Recording Academy is the professional organization of musicians and industry professionals responsible for presenting the annual Grammy Awards.

The details

Blackpink failed to qualify for the 69th Grammy Awards because their album tracks were released outside the eligibility window of August 31, 2025, to August 28, 2026, or did not meet the language criteria for the new Asian Pop category. Stray Kids also declined to submit entries, joining BTS, who announced their decision to abstain from the 2027 awards in August 2026.

July 11, 2025: The track JUMP was released.
August 31, 2025: The Grammy eligibility period began.
February 27, 2026: The album DEADLINE was released.
August 2026: BTS announced they would not submit music.
February 2027: The 69th Grammy Awards ceremony will be held.

Industry Dynamics

The introduction of the Best Asian Pop Music Performance category signifies a pivot for the Recording Academy to better capture the international growth of the genre. This move forces major labels to balance their global English-language appeal against regional language requirements to remain competitive for mainstream industry accolades.

Fans should note that these submission decisions do not impact the availability of music on streaming platforms, as the albums remain fully accessible to listeners globally. Audience members interested in the Grammy results should look for the awards ceremony scheduled for February 2027.

The takeaway

The intersection of international music markets and traditional award criteria remains a complex challenge for global artists. K-pop acts must weigh the benefits of catering to Western English-language audiences against the specific criteria set by organizations like the Recording Academy.