K-pop made Grammy history for the first time on Sunday, Feb. 1, when “Golden,” the breakout hit from Netflix’s Kpop Demon Hunters, won Best Song Written for Visual Media at the 2026 Grammy Awards.
Performed in the film by fictional girl group HUNTR/X, voiced by EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and REI AMI, the win marks the first-ever Grammy victory for a K-pop song, a milestone moment for the genre.
The award was announced during the pre-telecast portion of the ceremony, with EJAE among the songwriters onstage to accept the honor. Also credited on the track are Park Hong Jun, Joong Gyu Kwak, Yu Han Lee, Hee Dong Nam, Jeong Hoon Seo, and Mark Sonnenblick, who delivered remarks on behalf of the creative team.
Beyond its win, “Golden” had a massive awards season showing, earning four Grammy nominations, including Song of the Year, Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, and Best Remixed Recording (David Guetta). The Kpop Demon Hunters soundtrack, also a Billboard 200 No. 1, picked up a nomination for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media.
The achievement adds to an already historic run for the song, which spent eight weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2025, won Best Original Song at the 2026 Golden Globes, and is nominated for Best Original Song at the Oscars later this March.
Its Grammy win lands amid a broader uptick in K-pop recognition at the Recording Academy, which last summer welcomed 10 K-pop artists, producers, and songwriters into its New Member Class, expanding voting representation.
K-pop’s Grammy presence has grown steadily but cautiously over the years. BTS became the first K-pop act nominated in 2021 and the first to perform on the Grammy stage, though the group has yet to secure a win.
This year added another first: ROSÉ became the first solo K-pop artist to perform at the Grammys, opening the broadcast alongside Bruno Mars with a rock-leaning rework of “APT.”
Taken together, the night signaled a turning point. With “Golden” claiming a Grammy, K-pop crossed a symbolic threshold, from nominations and performances to a definitive win, underscoring how global, soundtrack-driven hits can reshape awards history just as decisively as traditional chart toppers.
- What is the significance of the song 'Golden' at the Grammy Awards?
'Golden' is the first K-pop song to win a Grammy, specifically the award for Best Song Written for Visual Media at the 2026 Grammy Awards.
- Who performed the song 'Golden'?
'Golden' was performed in the film by the fictional girl group HUNTR/X, voiced by EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and REI AMI.
- How many Grammy nominations did 'Golden' receive?
'Golden' received four Grammy nominations, including Song of the Year and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.
- What other awards has 'Golden' won?
'Golden' won Best Original Song at the 2026 Golden Globes and is nominated for Best Original Song at the Oscars.
- What milestone did ROSu00c9 achieve at the Grammy Awards?
ROSu00c9 became the first solo K-pop artist to perform at the Grammys, opening the broadcast alongside Bruno Mars.
- How has K-pop's presence at the Grammy Awards evolved?
K-pop's presence has grown, with BTS being the first nominated act in 2021 and the Recording Academy welcoming 10 K-pop artists into its New Member Class in 2022.
