Stray Kids will not be in contention for nominations at the 69th Grammy Awards after it was confirmed that the group did not submit any music for consideration this year.
The news comes after the group had been mentioned as a potential contender for the newly introduced Best Asian Pop Music Performance category.
According to a report published on October 2, Stray Kids did not submit any eligible work before the August 21 deadline for the 2027 Grammy Awards.
JYP Entertainment subsequently confirmed the information, stating,
“Stray Kids did not submit any work to the Grammys.”
The agency did not disclose a specific reason behind the decision or confirm whether the move was connected to the Grammys’ newly established Asian Pop category.
The Recording Academy’s official submission guidelines state that recordings must be formally entered during the designated submission period to be considered for Grammy nominations and voting.
For the 2027 ceremony, the Online Entry Period ran from July 7 through August 21, 2026.
Stray Kids Were Mentioned as Potential Asian Pop Contenders
Stray Kids’ decision has attracted attention because the group had previously been discussed as one of the possible contenders for the Grammys’ new Best Asian Pop Music Performance category.
The Recording Academy introduced the category for the 69th Grammy Awards as part of five new categories.
It recognizes artistic excellence in Asian pop performances originating from or widely recognized within Asian markets, including K-pop, J-pop, and C-pop, when the music makes meaningful use of one or more Asian languages.
Sports Kyunghyang reported that Billboard had previously identified Stray Kids among potential contenders for the new category.
The group had also achieved notable U.S. chart results during the eligibility period, including a No. 1 debut for its album “KARMA” on the Billboard 200 and a strong performance for its title track on the Billboard Hot 100.
However, without an official submission, Stray Kids’ music cannot move forward through the Grammy nomination process for this ceremony.
The decision is particularly notable because all eight members of Stray Kids joined the Recording Academy as voting members this year.
Their membership allows them to participate in the voting process for Grammy nominees and winners, even though they did not submit their own work for consideration.
Stray Kids Join BTS in Not Submitting Music
Stray Kids’ decision follows a similar announcement from BTS.
Earlier this year, BTS confirmed that they would not submit music for the 69th Grammy Awards.
In July, BTS members shared a statement saying,
“We hope that music will be heard and loved for what it is, rather than being categorized by region or language.”
The Recording Academy’s creation of the Best Asian Pop Music Performance category had sparked discussion within the Asian music industry.
The Academy later maintained the category as part of the changes taking effect for the 2027 Grammys.
Stray Kids have also previously emphasized that awards and records are not the central goal of their activities.
At an August press conference, Hyunjin said,
“We have never once set any award result or record as a goal in our activities,” adding that “Our top priority is that fans are happy and satisfied.”
The 69th Grammy Awards will take place on February 7, 2027, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
First-round voting is scheduled for October 12 through October 22, with the nominees set to be announced on November 16.
With Stray Kids confirmed to have made no submission, the group’s eligible releases will not be considered for Grammy nominations at the upcoming ceremony.
