K-pop earns first major Grammy nominations ahead of 2026 awards

Independent.co reports that K-pop and K-pop–adjacent songs have been nominated in the Grammys' "big four" categories for the first time ahead of next month's 2026 Grammy Awards, with Rosé nominated for Record of the Year for APT. (with Bruno Mars), HUNTR/X's Golden and other K-pop-linked songs up for Song of the Year, and HYBE-created girl group Katseye nominated for Best New Artist.

Scholars and industry figures quoted in the report say these nominations often reflect a de-territorialized or hybrid idea of K-pop rather than a recognition of localized Korean production. Areum Jeong argues APT. and Katseye feel less like localized K-pop and more marketed to Western listeners, while Mathieu Berbiguier points to mainstream links — a Netflix film, a Bruno Mars collaboration, and Katseye's international lineup and Netflix series — as reasons these songs broke through.

Bernie Cho describes the nominees as a "globalized" or post-idol version of K-pop, with the "K" present but quieter, and observers note an increasing use of English lyrics; Tamar Herman also suggested the U.S. pop field in 2025 made space for external hits, calling the nominees "universally friendly, accessible, good pop songs." Whether a K-pop artist will win a Grammy for the first time remains unclear.

Key Topics

Culture, K-pop, Grammy Awards, Rosé, Bruno Mars, Katseye