K-pop, a global cultural phenomenon, stands on the cusp of a historic moment at the 2026 Grammy Awards, potentially breaking its long-standing drought in taking home a trophy. Despite its significant impact on the global music scene, the genre has been underrepresented at the Grammys, with K-pop artists performing but never winning.
This year, however, marks a turning point with K-pop artists and K-pop-adjacent acts securing nominations in the major categories. Rosé, of the renowned girl group Blackpink, has made history as the first K-pop artist to be nominated for Record of the Year for "APT.," her collaboration with Bruno Mars. The song debuted at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and quickly rose to No. 1 on the Billboard Global Charts after its release in October 2024.
Adding to the excitement, the Song of the Year category also features K-pop nominees for the first time, with "APT." competing against HUNTR/X's "Golden". "Golden" is performed by Ejae, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami, who portray a fictional K-pop group in the Netflix film "KPop Demon Hunters". Furthermore, Katseye, a girl group created by HYBE, the company behind BTS, has been nominated for Best New Artist. Katseye has also received a nomination for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.
The increased recognition has sparked debate about what qualifies as K-pop. Areum Jeong, an assistant professor of Korean Studies at Arizona State University, notes that these nominations represent a "de-territorialised, hybrid idea of K-pop" rather than a recognition of traditional K-pop. While Rosé trained under the K-pop system and "APT." incorporates motifs from Korean culture, the song does not feel like a localized K-pop production. Similarly, Katseye, while fashioned after the K-pop idol system, is marketed more towards Western audiences.
Several factors contribute to this potential breakthrough. Some experts believe that the Recording Academy has historically snubbed K-pop acts due to a resistance to non-English lyrics. The fact that "APT." and Katseye's music predominantly feature English lyrics may have played a role in their nominations. Others point to the growing globalization of K-pop, with more artists incorporating English lyrics and Western musical styles.
Industry experts also suggest that the nominees represent a "post-idol K-pop" that appeals to a globalized audience. The success of "KPop Demon Hunters" and the international backgrounds of Katseye members demonstrate K-pop's expanding reach and influence.
Despite the optimism, some remain cautious, recalling BTS's multiple Grammy nominations without a win. BTS, the first Korean pop act to receive a Grammy Award nomination, has received nominations for five Grammy Awards. The group has won multiple American Music Awards, Billboard Music Awards, and Golden Disc Awards. Whether this year will finally be K-pop's moment remains to be seen, but the nominations mark a significant step forward for the genre's recognition on the global stage.
The 68th Grammy Awards will be held on February 1st at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
