K-pop had a bittersweet night at the Grammy 2026 Awards. The 68th Annual ceremony, hosted for the final time by Trevor Noah, celebrated big wins for global stars like Billie Eilish and Olivia Dean
However, the K-pop genre’s biggest names walked away without the major prizes.
Rosé (BLACKPINK) and Bruno Mars kicked off the entire televised ceremony with a high-energy, rock-infused version of their global hit “APT.” Multinational girl group KATSEYE performed their viral single “Gnarly” as part of a special segment for the Best New Artist nominees. Their confident performance also included a dance break inspired by Beyoncé’s Run the World (Girls).
Rosé and the supergroup HUNTR/X from KPop Demon Hunters came in with strong nominations in top categories, yet neither took home the coveted “Big Four” awards.
Rosé, nominated for her collaboration with Bruno Mars, “APT.,” was up for Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. HUNTR/X, the animated supergroup from KPop Demon Hunters, was also in the running in key categories.
In the end, “APT.” lost Song of the Year to Billie Eilish’s “Wildflower,” her third win in this category.
The Best Pop Duo/Group Performance went to Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande for “Defying Gravity.” The multinational girl group KATSEYE lost Best New Artist to 26-year-old British singer Olivia Dean, known for songs like Man I Need and Nice to Each Other.
Even though K-pop didn’t capture the headline awards, the genre received its first Grammy recognition this year. Amy Allen won Songwriter of the Year, Non-Classical, partly for her work on “APT.” HUNTR/X’s “Golden” won Best Song Written for Visual Media and EJAE and music producer Teddy Park became two of the first Grammy winners.
This marks the first time a K-pop song has won a Grammy. Coming from a film that became Netflix’s most-watched movie ever, the win shows K-pop’s global reach.
A David Guetta remix of the same track was nominated for Best Remixed Recording but lost to Lady Gaga’s “Abracadabra” remix. Billie Eilish took home multiple awards and delivered a politically charged speech that resonated with fans.
Kendrick Lamar, the night’s top nominee with nine nominations, earned all key rap awards. This included Best Rap Album for GNX and Best Melodic Rap Performance for “Luther” with SZA. Lady Gaga also walked away with multiple wins, including Best Pop Vocal Album.
K-pop music continues to receive attention, but converting nominations into wins in the most prestigious categories has remained a challenge. The performers themselves still struggle to break into the top tier alongside their Western peers.
Previously, BTS was the only nominated act from K-pop, earning nominations in 2021, 2022, and 2023.
Fans are hoping the next generation of music can finally break through and earn the mainstream victories the genre has long deserved.
