BTS Sweeps Three Awards at 2026 MTV VMAs

Shanya Salar 43 minutes ago
Members of K-pop boy band BTS perform during iHeartRadio Music Festival at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nev., Sept. 18. Reuters-Yonhap
Members of K-pop boy band BTS perform during iHeartRadio Music Festival at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nev., Sept. 18. Reuters-Yonhap

At a Glance

  • BTS won Song of the Year for “SWIM” at the 2026 MTV VMAs.
  • The group also took home Best K-Pop and Best Group.
  • BTS became the most-awarded act in the Best Group category.
  • The wins follow the group's full reunion earlier this year.

BTS marked its return as a full group with a major sweep at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles.

Key Statements and Focus Area

  • ARMY Appreciation: “We sincerely thank ARMY for always giving us your unwavering love and support.” — BTS, through BigHit Music.
  • New Beginning: “‘ARIRANG’ feels like a new beginning for us, which makes this award all the more meaningful.” — BTS, referring to their fifth studio album.
  • Focus Area: BTS' three-award sweep highlights the group's return to full-group activities following its nearly four-year hiatus.

BTS did not attend the ceremony at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles but won all three categories in which it was nominated. “SWIM,” the lead single from the group's fifth studio album ARIRANG, secured Song of the Year after competing against releases by Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter, RAYE, Ella Langley, and Huntrix.

The song debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart dated April 4 and reached No. 2 on the U.K. Official Singles Chart. It also topped Spotify's Daily Top Songs Global chart for 25 consecutive days. The victory makes BTS the second Asian act to win Song of the Year, following BLACKPINK's Rosé, who received the award in 2025 for “APT.” with Bruno Mars.

BTS also extended its record in the Best Group category. Its latest win is the group's fifth, following four consecutive victories from 2019 through 2022. The group has now collected more than a dozen VMA awards since receiving its first nomination in 2019. In 2020, BTS became the first Asian act to win Best Pop at the ceremony for “ON.”

The latest VMA wins come about two months after BTS chose not to submit its music for consideration at the 69th Grammy Awards in 2027. The decision followed the Recording Academy's announcement of a new Best Asian Pop Music Performance category, which drew criticism over the separate recognition of Asian acts from the ceremony's General Field categories.

BTS is now continuing its BTS WORLD TOUR 'ARIRANG,' with the South American leg scheduled to begin in Bogotá on Friday. The group is set to perform 14 shows across Bogota, Lima, Santiago, Buenos Aires, and Sao Paulo.

FYI

BTS reunited as a full seven-member group in March after a nearly four-year hiatus. The group's return has centered on ARIRANG, its fifth studio album, and a new world tour.

The album's title and the group's statements around its release have framed the comeback as a new chapter for the septet and its global fanbase, known as ARMY.

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Shanya Salar

43 minutes ago

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