Following the start of the online entry process in mid-July, today, Friday, August 29, 2025, marks the final day for submissions to the upcoming 2026 Grammy Awards. While the nomination and voting process is technically only open to Recording Academy members, label and artist submissions tend to leak out, whether through “For Your Consideration” ads or sneaky leakers. There are always some head-scratchers, as well as artists who are incredibly ambitious with their nominations, and usually several acts whose teams play it conservatively for potential Grammy recognition.

With the ongoing heightened attention and growing respect for KPop Demon Hunters’ standout track “Golden,” and its accompanying soundtrack, along with the continuing solo and group success of BLACKPINK and BTS, this feels like the best year for K-pop visibility in some time.

For the superfans tuning in, this is entirely for fun and based on my observations from more than two decades of watching the Grammy Awards and how the Recording Academy operates with its favorites, the show’s history, how genres are interpreted, and my general gut instincts. For my industry friends, please double-check your submissions and see if this may spark an additional idea or two for your artists this year.

We’ll get the convo started sooner next year, but for now, here are the K-pop artists I think have the best chance at Grammy nomination success at the upcoming 68th Annual Grammy Awards. Only categories where I thought K-pop artists would have a serious chance are included (with additional descriptions of the categories when I thought it would be helpful)

Album of the Year

Record of the Year (This award goes to the performing artist, the producer, recording engineer and/or mixer for that song)

Song of the Year (The recipient of this award is the songwriter who actually wrote the lyrics and/or melodies to the song)

Best New Artist (Must have released a minimum of five singles/tracks or one album, may not have entered into this category more than three times and must have achieved a breakthrough into the public consciousness and impacted the musical landscape during the eligibility period)

Producer of the Year, Non-Classical

Songwriter of the Year, Non-Classical

Best Pop Solo Performance

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

Best Pop Vocal Album

Best Dance/Electronic Album

Best Dance Pop Recording (For “tracks and singles that feature up-tempo, danceable music that follows a pop arrangement.” Eligible pop dance recordings were also described as featuring “strong rhythmic beats, significant electronic-based instruments” and an emphasis on the “vocal performance, melody and hooks.” The award goes to the artist(s), producer(s), and mixer(s) of the song)

Best Dance/Electronic Recording (For works containing quality vocal performances in the dance music and/or electronic music genres...designated for solo, duo, group or collaborative performances (vocal or instrumental), and is limited to singles or tracks only. The award goes to the artist, producer and mixer.”

Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical (The prize is given to the remixer(s), not the original artist(s).)

Possibly eligible:

Best Alternative Music Album

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Best Rap Performance

Best R&B Performance 

Best Melodic Rap Performance 

Best Rap Song (The award goes to the songwriter(s), not to the artist, except when the artist is also a songwriter of the winning song)

Best Global Music Performance (Reserved for international performers exhibiting "non-European, indigenous traditions)

Best Global Music Album (Reserved for international performers exhibiting “non-European, indigenous traditions”)

Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media (The award is presented to the artist or artists of a majority of tracks or the producer or producers of a majority of tracks on the album. In the absence of either, then the award goes to the individual(s) actively responsible for the musical direction of the album)

Best Song Written for Visual Media (Awarded to songs written for films, television, video games or other visual media)

Best Music Video

Best Music Film (Presented to the artist(s), video director(s) and video producer(s))

Best Recording Package (Presented to the art director of the winning album)

Best Album Cover (New award for 2026, goes to the art director(s) of the album)