Stray Kids will not be entering music for consideration at the 69th Grammy Awards, scheduled for February 7, 2027.
JYP Entertainment confirmed on October 2 that the group did not submit any work before the Recording Academy’s submission deadline. Under the Grammys’ official rules, recordings that are not formally submitted during the Online Entry Process cannot proceed to Grammy nomination consideration or appear on the voting ballot.
The news comes shortly after the Recording Academy confirmed that its newly introduced Best Asian Pop Music Performance category will proceed at the 2027 ceremony. However, JYP Entertainment did not say whether the new category had anything to do with Stray Kids‘ decision.soompi
Stray Kids Did Not Submit Music for Grammy Consideration
According to a report published October 2, Stray Kids did not submit any eligible work during the Grammy’s Online Entry Process.
JYP Entertainment subsequently confirmed the information, stating that Stray Kids did not submit any work to the Grammys. The agency did not provide a specific explanation for the decision.
The submission window for the 2027 Grammys ran from July 7 through August 21, 2026, with the deadline set at 6 p.m. PT / 9 p.m. ET on August 21.
This means Stray Kids‘ eligible recordings will not enter the Grammy nomination process for the 2027 ceremony.
Why the Grammy Submission Matters
The Grammy Awards have a formal submission process.
The Recording Academy explains that eligible recordings must be entered during the Online Entry Process. After submissions close, the Academy reviews entries for eligibility before the voting stages begin.
For the 2027 Grammys:
- Eligibility period: August 31, 2025 – August 28, 2026
- Online Entry Process: July 7 – August 21, 2026
- First Round Voting: October 12–22, 2026
- Nominees announced: November 16, 2026
- Final voting: December 10, 2026 – January 7, 2027
- Grammy ceremony: February 7, 2027
The important distinction is that being eligible for the Grammys does not automatically place a recording on the ballot. A recording must first be formally submitted.
Stray Kids Had Eligible Music During the Grammy Period
Stray Kids had music released within the 2027 Grammy eligibility period.
Their 10th EP, DO IT, was released on August 7, 2026, which falls within the Recording Academy’s eligibility window. The group therefore had releases that could have been considered if submitted.
Their August release also became a major U.S. chart milestone for the group. DO IT reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200, giving Stray Kids their ninth No. 1 album on the chart, according to Sports Kyunghyang’s report.
That makes the decision not to submit particularly notable because it came during a Grammy cycle in which the group had recent eligible music and significant U.S. chart activity.
Stray Kids Were Asked About the Grammys Before the Deadline
The group had already been asked about the Grammys before the submission deadline.
At a press conference for their August release, members did not directly confirm whether they planned to submit music.
According to Sports Kyunghyang, Hyunjin said the group had never made award results or records their goal, emphasizing that the members’ priority was that their fans were happy and satisfied.
Variety similarly reported that members avoided giving a direct answer when questioned about their Grammy plans at the August 6 press conference.
The New Best Asian Pop Music Performance Category
A major part of the discussion surrounding the 2027 Grammys is the Recording Academy’s creation of a new Best Asian Pop Music Performance category.
The category was announced in June 2026 as one of five new categories for the 69th Grammy Awards. The Academy says it is intended to recognize artistic excellence in Asian pop music, including K-pop, J-pop and C-pop.
The official eligibility rules state that recordings must make meaningful use of one or more Asian languages. Recordings performed entirely in English are not eligible for this specific category, although they can remain eligible for other appropriate Grammy categories.
The Academy describes the category as a way to recognize the growing influence of Asian pop music globally.
Why the New Category Has Become Controversial
The category has received criticism from some artists and industry figures.
The concern reported by multiple outlets is that a dedicated regional category could potentially separate Asian artists from broader Grammy recognition. This interpretation is a criticism from artists and industry observers, not an established fact about the Academy’s intent.
The Recording Academy has defended the category as a form of recognition for the growing influence of Asian pop.
Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. said the organization consulted people across the Asian music industry before deciding to continue with the category for 2027. The Academy ultimately confirmed that the award would proceed as planned.
Importantly, artists entered in the Asian Pop category can still be eligible for other Grammy categories when their recordings meet those categories’ requirements.
BTS Also Chose Not to Submit
Stray Kids‘ decision follows a similar decision from BTS.
In July 2026, BTS announced that the group would not submit music for consideration at the 69th Grammy Awards. The members said they hoped their music would be heard and appreciated without being divided according to region or language.
The timing has led several outlets to discuss the decisions by BTS and Stray Kids together.
“Stray Kids‘ decision comes after BTS previously announced that it would not submit music for the same Grammy cycle.”
The latter presents the reason as confirmed, when JYP Entertainment has not actually confirmed that connection.
All Eight Stray Kids Members Joined the Recording Academy
Another notable part of the story is that all eight Stray Kids members were invited to join the Recording Academy as voting members in 2026.
The members are:
- Bang Chan
- Lee Know
- Changbin
- Hyunjin
- Han
- Felix
- Seungmin
- I.N
Their membership means they can participate in the Grammy voting process for nominees and winners.
This creates an unusual situation: the members can participate as Recording Academy voters while their own music was not submitted for consideration for the 2027 ceremony.
What Happens Next?
Stray Kids will not appear in the 2027 Grammy nomination process through their own submitted recordings because no work was entered during the submission period.
The next major date in the Grammy calendar is First Round Voting from October 12 to October 22, followed by the announcement of the official nominees on November 16, 2026.
The 69th Grammy Awards will take place on February 7, 2027, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
Stray Kids and the 2027 Grammys: Key Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Group | Stray Kids |
| Agency | JYP Entertainment |
| Grammy ceremony | 69th Grammy Awards |
| Ceremony date | February 7, 2027 |
| Submission deadline | August 21, 2026 |
| Submitted music | None |
| 2026 eligible release | DO IT |
| New Grammy category | Best Asian Pop Music Performance |
| Stray Kids Recording Academy members | All 8 members |
| Grammy nominees announced | November 16, 2026 |
