BTS will not submit music for consideration at the 2027 Grammy Awards. The announcement came shortly after the Recording Academy unveiled a new category, Best Asian Pop Music Performance.

In a joint statement posted to social media, the group confirmed that neither recent singles nor material from their March album “ARIRANG” would be entered this year.

Photo: Instagram

“We have decided not to submit our work to this year’s Grammy Awards,” the statement read. “We hope music can be heard and loved for itself, beyond regions or languages.”

The statement reflects the group’s view that music should be judged on its own merits rather than being defined by region or language.

The Recording Academy introduced Best Asian Pop Music Performance to recognize excellence in K-pop, J-pop, C-pop and other Asian pop forms. To qualify, recordings must feature an Asian language prominently. Songs performed entirely in English are not eligible. The Academy described it as an expansion of representation.

BTS, however, framed the issue differently. Their statement suggests concern that geography and language could become the primary lens for evaluation, rather than the music itself.

It touches on a long-running debate: should international artists be celebrated within a dedicated category, or should they compete, and be judged, in the general field?

Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. said he was disappointed but respected the decision. He also clarified that artists who do submit to genre categories remain eligible for the top awards, Album of the Year, Record of the Year, and Song of the Year.

The decision also comes at an important time for the group. “ARIRANG” is BTS’ first full album since all seven members completed military service and reunited. It was led by “SWIM,” an English-language single that became one of the group’s biggest releases of the year.

Despite five prior Grammy nominations, including nominations for “Dynamite,” “Butter,” and “My Universe” with Coldplay, the group has yet to win a Grammy.

Photo: Getty images

The decision marks a rare move by one of the world’s most influential music groups, choosing to step back from the Grammy submission process even as a new category appears designed to recognize more Asian pop artists.

Their absence will be noticed during the next Grammy season. The move is unlikely to diminish BTS’s standing as one of the world’s biggest music acts.

Whether the new category succeeds in broadening representation or further compartmentalizes it will be tested in the coming years. For now, BTS has made its stance clear. The focus, at least for 2027, is not on awards campaigns. It is on the idea that music should be heard on its own terms.

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The 2026 FIFA World Cup finale will offer far more than the crowning of a champion. FIFA has revealed plans for a spectacular closing ceremony in New Jersey, bringing together music, cinema, and digital entertainment to celebrate the tournament’s historic conclusion.

Headlining the event are Hollywood actor Tom Cruise,  Nicole Scherzinger, and creator IShowSpeed. They will be joined by international vocalists Laura Pausin and Robbie Williams for a production billed as a celebration of the tournament’s expanded 48-team format. Ahead of kick-off, Grammy-winning artist Jennifer Hudson is slated to perform the U.S. national anthem.

Photo: Instagram

The ceremony is being produced in partnership with Balich Wonder Studio, the firm behind large-scale global events and Olympic opening ceremonies. According to FIFA, the show will highlight the cultural scope of the first World Cup hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, using music, storytelling and visuals to mark the end of the month-long competition.

A Final Show Before the Biggest Match

Photo: Getty images

The closing ceremony will take place shortly before the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, setting the stage for a highly anticipated clash between Spain and Argentina.

Spain secured its place in the championship match with a commanding 2-0 victory over France in the semi-finals, while Argentina booked the other spot after edging England 2-1 in a tense encounter.

With two football powerhouses preparing to battle for the sport’s most prestigious trophy, the star-studded ceremony is expected to provide a fitting prelude to one of the biggest events on the global sporting calendar.

The victors will take the pitch immediately after the entertainment wraps, in what FIFA has described as one of the most significant finals in the tournament’s history.

Biggest World Cup Yet

Photo: Getty images 

The 2026 edition is already the largest in World Cup history, with more teams and matches than any previous tournament. Organizers say the closing show is designed to reflect that scale.

“ This is a celebration of the players, the host cities, and the fans who have made this World Cup historic,” a FIFA spokesperson said in the announcement.

Additional performer and guest details are expected closer to the final. For now, focus remains on the semi-finals as four nations push for a place in the final.

Whether viewers are watching for the football or the entertainment, FIFA is positioning the 2026 final as an event that extends well beyond the 90 minutes on the pitch.

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After helping Norway reach the quarterfinals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Erling Haaland returned to Norway with an unexpected travel companion, a taxidermied raccoon holding a whiskey bottle.

The Norwegian striker arrived in Oslo following Norway’s quarterfinal exit from the 2026 World Cup, but it was not only his performance on the pitch that captured attention. Photos of Haaland disembarking the team plane with the unusual piece quickly spread online, turning the animal figure into one of the most unexpected highlights of his return home.

Photo: Instagram

Known for his personality away from football, Haaland embraced the moment with humor. Shortly after the images went viral, the Manchester City forward shared a post on X joking, “It followed me home,” accompanied by a raccoon and laughing emoji.

The striker later invited fans to help choose a name for his new companion through an Instagram poll, offering options including “Cowboy,” “Ranger,” “TEX,” and “R.O.W. (Raccoon on Wheels).”

The taxidermied raccoon reportedly came from Wild Bill’s Western Store in Dallas, Texas, where Haaland had visited during Norway’s World Cup journey. Fans quickly identified the item as the “Whiskey Raccoon,” a decorative piece featuring a raccoon holding a whiskey bottle, with reports suggesting it was priced at around $750.

Beyond the viral souvenir, Haaland also arrived carrying a white and maroon Prada bag, adding another memorable detail to his post-tournament appearance. The combination of designer fashion and a quirky Western-themed purchase reflected the striker’s distinctive style and playful personality.

Haaland’s return followed a historic World Cup run for Norway. The 25-year-old played a central role in helping the team reach the quarterfinals, marking one of the nation’s strongest performances on football’s biggest stage. Although Norway’s journey ended with a 2–1 defeat against England, Haaland described the experience as life-changing.

Photo: Instagram

“It’s been quite a row, thank you for making it so special,” he wrote after the tournament, sharing his appreciation for the support he received throughout the competition.

While the raccoon may have stolen attention at the airport, Haaland’s World Cup performance remains the defining moment of his summer. His combination of elite football ability, confidence, and off-field personality has made him one of the sport’s most recognizable figures, both during matches and in the moments that follow.

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