BTS earn two 2026 MTV VMA nominations for 'Swim' from album 'Arirang'

BTS earned two nominations at the 2026 MTV VMAs: Swim, from their new album Arirang, is up for Song of the Year and Best K-pop.

Golden — last year's theme song for the animated film K-pop Demon Hunters, which won both a Grammy and an Oscar — also earned a Song of the Year nomination. That gives BTS two shots at the same award.

The ceremony happens September 27 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.

Context matters here. BTS were the first Korean musicians to win at the VMAs in two categories back in 2019. Last year BLACKPINK's Rosé became the first K-pop artist to win Song of the Year there. The category carries real weight now.

In the broader K-pop field, BLACKPINK's Lisa leads with four nominations for Dream: Best Pop, Best K-pop, Best Cinematography, and Best Editing. She's the K-pop artist with the most category nominations this cycle. Cortis is up for Rookie of the Year and Best K-pop. Catsai landed nominations for Best Choreography and Best K-pop. (The VMAs have run since 1984 and rank alongside the Grammys, Billboard Music Awards, and AMAs as one of America's four major pop music awards.)

Madonna leads all artists with 11 nominations, including Artist of the Year and Video of the Year.