BTS is heading into the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards with three nominations — and one of them could extend a record the group already owns.
So, what exactly is BTS nominated for this year, and why is the Best Group category getting so much attention?
BTS Has Three MTV VMA Nominations in 2026
BTS is nominated in three categories:
- Song of the Year — “SWIM”
- Best K-Pop — “SWIM”
- Best Group — BTS
“SWIM,” the title track from BTS’s fifth studio album ARIRANG, was first nominated for Song of the Year and Best K-Pop.
Then another nomination arrived.
MTV added BTS to the Best Group race alongside BLACKPINK, CORTIS and KATSEYE, giving BTS three nominations in total.
Why Is the Best Group Nomination Special?
This is where the story becomes more interesting.
BTS already has an unusually strong history in this category.
The group won Best Group four consecutive times from 2019 through 2022. Those four victories remain the most by any act in the category.
That means the 2026 nomination gives BTS a chance to add a fifth Best Group trophy to its record.
For longtime ARMY, this nomination also feels different because BTS spent several years away from full-group activities while the members completed their military service.
Their return in 2026 has therefore been more than another album cycle. It has marked the return of all seven members to the global stage.
“SWIM” Is Competing Beyond the K-Pop Category
Another important detail is that “SWIM” is not competing only in Best K-Pop.
It is also nominated for Song of the Year, one of the VMAs’ major categories.
That puts BTS in a broader race with major international releases rather than limiting the group’s recognition to a genre-specific K-pop award.
It also reflects how much the position of K-pop at American music awards has changed.
BTS is no longer the only Korean act appearing across the VMA nominations. BLACKPINK, LISA, LE SSERAFIM, CORTIS and other K-pop-related acts are represented this year as well.
When Are the 2026 MTV VMAs?
The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards will take place on September 27 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.
For BTS fans, there are now three results to watch.
But Best Group may carry the most history.
BTS already won it four years in a row.
Now, after returning as a full group, they have a chance to add another chapter to that record.