Grammys 2026: K-pop showdown heats up — Blackpink's Rosé and HUNTR/X in the lead

Who’s going up, up, up?

As the 68th Annual Grammy Awards draw closer, artists with Korean pop roots are showing up not as long-shot nominees, but as strong contenders in some of the ceremony’s most closely watched categories.

This year feels different and bigger. For the first time ever, a K-pop track is competing in both Song of the Year and Record of the Year, while other acts are spread across pop duo, soundtrack and even Best New Artist.

Taken together, the nominations point to a clear shift: global popularity is finally being rewarded on the Grammys’ main stage. And if this year is any indication, K-pop’s Grammy moment isn’t coming. It’s already here.

The front-runner: Rose and Bruno Mars APT

Leading the charge is APT, the collaboration between BLACKPINK’s ROSÉ and Bruno Mars. It's a catchy bop, and it was part of every second Instagram reel that you scrolled.

And now, the track has made Grammy history as the first K-pop song ever nominated for both Song of the Year and Record of the Year, placing it in direct competition with the industry’s most established names. The nomination follows a year of overwhelming global performance.

APT. has accumulated 2.24 billion Spotify streams, reached No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200, and already secured major honours at ceremonies including the Asia Artist Awards, MAMA Awards and the MTV Video Music Awards.

HUNTR/X’s ‘Golden’ gains ground fast

Close behind is Golden by HUNTR/X (Ejae, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami), from the film K-Pop Demon Hunters. The track has emerged as one of the most talked-about entries in the Song of the Year conversation, marking a rare crossover moment where a soundtrack release is competing at the highest level.

Golden has surpassed 1.31 billion Spotify streams, hit a No. 1 peak on Billboard, and has already won 16 awards across music and film ceremonies, reinforcing its momentum heading into Grammy night.

KATSEYE enters the conversation

One category where K-pop’s presence is especially concentrated is Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. APT. and Golden both feature prominently here, joined by Gabriela from KATSEYE, a group not officially labelled K-pop, but widely recognised for mixing Korean pop influences with Western pop sensibilities.

KATSEYE has also landed a Best New Artist nomination, underlining how hybrid, globally engineered pop acts are increasingly resonating with Grammy voters.

What the early numbers suggest

While the Grammys are ultimately decided by voters, data analysts have begun tracking how streaming performance, chart history and awards momentum align with past winners.

One such analysis, conducted by PlayerTime, examined metrics across Spotify, YouTube, Billboard and major award ceremonies to assess which nominees are entering the race with the strongest statistical profiles. The analysis places APT. and Golden among the most competitive entries across several major categories, reflecting how fan engagement and global reach are increasingly translating into awards-season momentum.

Taken together, the data paints a clear picture: K-pop is no longer competing at the fringes of the Grammys. It is now statistically dominant in at least one major category and strongly competitive in several others.

“K-pop’s footprint on the 2026 Grammys is undeniable,” says Silvana Vladimirova, data analyst at PlayerTime, in a statement. “Artists are translating fan energy into real Grammy momentum. ROSÉ & Bruno Mars’ APT. and HUNTR/X’s Golden are both showing strong odds across multiple categories, and even emerging acts like KATSEYE are making waves.”

Key K-pop-related grammy nominations to watch

ROSÉ (with Bruno Mars) – ‘APT.’

• Record of the Year

• Song of the Year

• Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

HUNTR/X (Ejae, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami) – ‘Golden’

• Song of the Year

• Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

• Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical

• Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media

• Best Song Written for Visual Media

KATSEYE

• Best New Artist

• Best Pop Duo/Group Performance (Gabriela)