K-Pop and Film Soundtracks Ignite the Grammy Stage with Unprecedented Nominations

This year's Grammy Nominations are shaking up the music world, with K-pop acts and film scores not just making an appearance, but dominating major categories in a truly historic way.

TL;DR

• K-pop groups KATSEYE and Huntr/x scored multiple major Grammy nominations, including Best New Artist and Song of the Year, marking a significant breakthrough for the genre.
• The "KPop Demon Hunters" soundtrack hit "Golden" made history with four nods, including Song of the Year, while the "Sinners" film garnered five nominations for its impactful score and songs.
• These nominations signal a major shift, indicating broader acceptance of diverse global sounds and film-integrated music in the Grammys' most prestigious categories.

Imagine Waking Up to the Biggest News of Your Life from a Group Chat

That's exactly what happened to Megan of the global girl group KATSEYE. "I woke up a little bit later so I woke up to the group chat going crazy — that’s literally how I found out," she told Billboard exclusively, just hours after the 2026 Grammy nominations were announced on Friday, November 7, 2025. This wasn't just any news; KATSEYE had snagged two nominations: one for Best New Artist and another for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.

Her reaction perfectly encapsulates the whirlwind of emotion across the music industry this year. While many artists dreamed of this moment, the 2026 Grammys delivered some truly surprising and groundbreaking nods, especially for K-pop and film music. The Recording Academy, the organization behind the Grammys, seems to be sending a clear message: global sounds and cinematic masterpieces are no longer just niche; they’re central to popular music.

KATSEYE's Meteoric Ascent from Reality Show to Grammy Nominees

For KATSEYE, these two nominations feel like a huge validation of their intense, two-year journey. The sextet — consisting of Daniela Avanzini, Lara Raj, Manon Bannerman, Megan Skiendiel, Sophia Laforteza, and Yoonchae Jeung — was formed through a reality competition called "The Debut: Dream Academy." This competition was a partnership between HYBE, the South Korean entertainment giant behind BTS, and Geffen Records, aiming to create a truly global group.

Their story was even captured in the Netflix documentary, "Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE," giving fans an intimate look at their formation. Though rooted in K-pop training elements, KATSEYE proudly identifies as a "global group," a nod to its members' diverse heritage: Avanzini, Skiendiel, and Raj are Americans of varied backgrounds; Bannerman is Swiss with Ghanaian, Swiss, and Italian roots; Laforteza hails from Manila; and Jeung is from South Korea. Source: CNN, "Katseye is having the best year ever and the Grammys just proved it," Nov 7, 2025.

Their second EP, "Beautiful Chaos," released in June, even peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 chart. But it was their breakthrough single "Gabriela" that earned them a Best Pop Duo/Group Performance nod. Megan describes this group nomination as particularly special: "Being able to get nominated with my five best friends is literally a dream come true. It’s the best feeling ever. And especially with what we represent globally, it means so much to each and every one of us."

"I woke up a little bit later so I woke up to the group chat going crazy — that’s literally how I found out."

— Megan Skiendiel of KATSEYE, on learning about her Grammy nominations.

"KPop Demon Hunters" and the Golden Touch of Huntr/x

If you have kids, or just good taste in animated movies, you've likely heard of "KPop Demon Hunters." Netflix's most popular movie of all time, with over 325 million views, has now translated its massive screen success into Grammy gold. The film's biggest song, "Golden," performed by the fictional K-pop group Huntr/x (voiced by EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami), earned a whopping four Grammy nominations.

These nominations include Song of the Year, Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, Best Song Written for Visual Media, and even Best Remixed Recording for David Guetta’s take on the track. Source: Variety, "'Golden' From 'KPop Demon Hunters' Lands Grammy Nomination for Song of the Year," Nov 7, 2025. "Golden" has been an absolute phenomenon, topping the Billboard Global 200 for 14 weeks and the Billboard Hot 100 for much of last summer.

What makes this particularly wild is that it’s a song from a kids' movie contending for major awards like Song of the Year. While film songs sometimes get nods in soundtrack categories, "Golden" transcending into the general field speaks volumes about its undeniable pop appeal. Audrey Nuna, one of the voices behind Huntr/x, shared her shock with The Hollywood Reporter: "There have [been] a lot of different emotions. Obviously, there is pure ecstasy, it’s somewhere deep in there, but I think there’s also shock."

The film itself has become a cultural touchstone, even seeing a theatrical sing-along release that grossed around $18 million over two days and another $5-6 million around Halloween, despite being widely available on Netflix. Source: Variety, "'Golden' From 'KPop Demon Hunters' Lands Grammy Nomination for Song of the Year," Nov 7, 2025. The future looks bright for Huntr/x too, with a sequel film reportedly in talks for a release around 2029.

Rosé and Bruno Mars: A Global Collaboration Dominating the Charts

Further cementing K-pop's mainstream acceptance, Blackpink member Rosé also made history with her collaboration with Bruno Mars, "APT." This snazzy Motown rocker wasn't just a hit, reaching No. 3 on the Hot 100; it also scored major Top 4 nods in Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. Source: Los Angeles Times, "Grammys 2026: K-pop finally gets its major-category nominations," Nov 7, 2025.

Rosé's nominations mark her as the first K-pop artist to be nominated in the Grammys’ general fields, a truly significant step. This demonstrates how K-pop artists’ solo careers can extend their reach into the broader entertainment industry, gaining recognition beyond genre-specific categories.

The Southern Gothic Masterpiece: "Sinners" Earns Five Grammy Nods

Beyond the K-pop explosion, Ryan Coogler's dark Southern gothic drama "Sinners" proved its cinematic and musical power, raking in an impressive five Grammy nominations. This makes it one of the most-nominated movies ever at the awards, proving its impact extends far beyond the screen into the sonic landscape.

Its nominations include Best Score Soundtrack for Film/TV for composer Ludwig Göransson's haunting, gospel-infused work, and Best Compilation Soundtrack for Film/TV. But "Sinners" truly dominated the Best Song Written for Film/TV category, landing three separate nominations for its original tracks: "I Lied to You" (performed by Miles Caton), "Pale, Pale Moon" (performed by Jayme Lawson), and "Sinners" (performed by Rod Wave). These nominations highlight the film's dynamic range, blending raw ballads with spiritual blues that echo its emotional core. The 68th Annual Grammy Awards, happening on February 1, 2026, will certainly have eyes on "Sinners" to see how many of those golden gramophones it takes home.

A Historic Turning Point for Girl Groups and K-Pop Recognition

These nominations aren't just about individual artists or films; they represent a seismic shift for girl groups and K-pop as a whole. For the first time in nearly 20 years, a girl group’s song — Huntr/x’s "Golden" — has been nominated in the Song of the Year category; the last time was in 2007 when The Chicks won for "Not Ready to Make Nice." Even more, both "Golden" and KATSEYE's "Gabriela" mark the first time girl groups have been nominated in the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance category since its creation in 2012. Source: Rolling Stone, "Girl Groups Make History at the 2026 Grammys," Nov 7, 2025.

EJAE, one of the voices and co-writers behind "Golden," also made history as the first Korean-American female songwriter to be nominated for Song of the Year. Audrey Nuna emphasized the importance of this representation: "You’re going to see three Korean faces. To think about the kids who are going to see that, and hopefully for that to shape their understanding of what they can do in this world, is the stuff that is giving me chills up my spine."

Navigating the Nuances of Mainstream Acceptance

While these nominations are a monumental step, the journey for K-pop and diverse film music isn't entirely without its complexities. For example, despite its overwhelming chart success and Song of the Year nod, Huntr/x's "Golden" surprisingly missed out on a nomination for Record of the Year. Many industry watchers expected it to make history in that field as well, showcasing that even groundbreaking hits can face unexpected hurdles in the Grammy selection process.

There's also the ongoing discussion about how Grammy voters perceive K-pop. Historically, the genre has sometimes been viewed more as a "fandom phenomenon" rather than being judged purely on its "artistic merit" in major categories. However, this year's class of nominees, with K-pop acts landing in top categories, strongly suggests that the Academy is increasingly taking the genre on its own terms, a promising sign for future recognition.

A Glimpse into the Future: What These Nominations Mean

Consider a young aspiring musician, perhaps a Korean-American girl, sitting at home, scrolling through social media. She sees news about EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami, the faces behind Huntr/x, beaming as they talk about their Grammy nominations. She's seen "KPop Demon Hunters" a dozen times, she knows every lyric to "Golden." Now, she sees artists who look like her, singing songs she loves, being recognized on the biggest music stage in the world. That's the tangible impact of these nominations—they don't just celebrate success; they inspire the next generation to dream bigger, to pursue diverse sounds, and to believe that their unique voices have a place in the global spotlight. This shift towards recognizing true global appeal and diverse talent changes the game for what's considered "mainstream."

Practical Takeaways for Music Fans and Industry Watchers

• Embrace Global Sounds: These Grammys highlight an undeniable surge in K-pop and diverse international music gaining mainstream recognition. Now is the time to explore artists beyond your usual playlists.
• Film Music is a Powerhouse: Soundtracks and scores from films like "KPop Demon Hunters" and "Sinners" are proving to be major contenders, showing how integral music is to cinematic storytelling and its appeal.
• The "Girl Group" Resurgence is Real: After years of underrepresentation, girl groups like KATSEYE and Huntr/x are making a powerful comeback in major Grammy categories, breaking historical barriers.
• Diversity in Recognition: The nominations reflect a growing, albeit still evolving, commitment by the Recording Academy to recognize a broader spectrum of artists, genres, and backgrounds.
• Mark Your Calendars: The 68th Annual Grammy Awards are on Sunday, February 1, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. It's set to be a night of celebration and historic wins.

FAQ: Your Quick Guide to the 2026 Grammy Buzz When are the 2026 Grammy Awards? The 68th Annual Grammy Awards will take place on Sunday, February 1, 2026. Where can I watch the 2026 Grammy Awards? The ceremony will be broadcast live from the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on CBS and will stream on Paramount Plus. Which K-pop groups were nominated for major awards this year? Global girl group KATSEYE received nominations for Best New Artist and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. The fictional K-pop group Huntr/x from "KPop Demon Hunters" (voiced by EJAE, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami) received four nominations, including Song of the Year and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. Rosé of Blackpink also received major nods for her song "APT." with Bruno Mars, including Record of the Year and Song of the Year. What are the major nominations for the "KPop Demon Hunters" movie? The film's hit song "Golden" earned nominations for Song of the Year, Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, Best Song Written for Visual Media, and Best Remixed Recording. The "KPop Demon Hunters" soundtrack also received a nomination for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media. Sources

• Billboard, "KATSEYE’s Megan on Grammy Nods," October 29, 2024 (referencing Nov 7, 2025 nominations).
• CNN, "Katseye is having the best year ever and the Grammys just proved it," Lisa Respers France, Nov 7, 2025.
• The Hollywood Reporter, "Women of Huntrix React to Grammy Nominations," Nicole Fell, November 7, 2025.
• Variety, "'Golden' From 'KPop Demon Hunters' Lands Grammy Nomination for Song of the Year," Thania Garcia, Jazz Tangcay, Nov 7, 2025.
• Rolling Stone, "Girl Groups Make History at the 2026 Grammys," Tomás Mier, Nov 7, 2025.
• Los Angeles Times, "Grammys 2026: K-pop finally gets its major-category nominations," August Brown, Nov 7, 2025.
• Polygon, "KPop Demon Hunters’ Huntr/x lands four Grammy nominations," November 8, 2025.
• ABS-CBN, "Rosé reacts to first Grammy nominations: 'This means so much to me'," Toff C., Push Team, Nov 09, 2025.
• (Source for Sinners nominations derived from an unsourced document, but consistent with other nominations) "Sinners Makes History with 5 Grammy Nominations," [Publisher Not Provided in Extract], [Date Not Provided in Extract].