K-pop made history Friday as women dominated the 2026 Grammy nominations, marking a milestone moment for global pop music.
The breakout hit “Golden” from the Netflix animated film KPop Demon Hunters earned nods for song of the year and best pop duo/group performance, becoming the first song by a female K-pop group to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Performed by EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and REI AMI—the voices behind the film’s fictional group HUNTR/X—the song also continues to top the Billboard Global 200 after a record 14 weeks at No. 1.
BLACKPINK’s ROSÉ also scored major nominations alongside Bruno Mars for their duet “APT.,” recognized in both song and record of the year categories, as well as best pop duo/group performance. The track, released in late 2024, debuted at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and at No. 1 globally, adding another milestone to the singer’s rapidly expanding solo career.
Joining the lineup is KATSEYE, the Los Angeles-based global girl group inspired by K-pop artistry. Formed through the 2023 reality series Dream Academy and signed under HYBE Entertainment, KATSEYE earned nominations for best new artist and best pop duo/group performance. The group—Sophia, Manon, Daniela, Lara, Yoonchae, and Megan—reacted with disbelief on social media, celebrating their dual nominations for their 2025 EP Beautiful Chaos.
If any of these women take home an award in February, it would mark the first Grammy win for a K-pop act. Until now, BTS was the only Korean group ever nominated.
Beyond pop, the South Korean musical Maybe Happy Ending earned a nod for best musical theater album. The show, which won six Tony Awards earlier this year, features lyrics by Hue Park and performances by Marcus Choi, Darren Criss, Dez Duron, and Helen J. Shen.
The 68th Annual Grammy Awards will take place Feb. 1, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, celebrating a year when women in K-pop officially took center stage.
A full list of 2026 nominees is available at https://www.grammy.com/news/2026-grammys-nominations-full-winners-nominees-list
Source: ABC, Grammy, grammy.com