BTS has been nominated for Song of the Year at the American MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs), one of the event’s most prestigious honors.
According to the list of nominees announced on Tuesday for the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards, BTS’s title track “Swim” from their fifth studio album Arirang has secured a nomination for Song of the Year.
BTS’s “Swim” will compete for the coveted trophy against Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter’s “Bring Your Love,” Pink Pantheress and Zara Larsson’s “Stateside,” and Raye’s “Where Is My Husband!”
This marks BTS’s second nomination in the Song of the Year category, following their groundbreaking nomination for “Dynamite” at the 2021 MTV VMAs, where they became the first Korean act to receive this recognition.
The K-pop superstars have also clinched a nomination for Best K-Pop, a category they’ve dominated in the past, winning three consecutive years from 2019 to 2021.
The 2026 MTV VMAs are set to take place on September 27.
Since their debut in 2013, BTS has skyrocketed to global stardom with hits like “Dynamite,” “Butter,” and “Permission to Dance.” Following a brief hiatus, the group made a triumphant return in March with their fifth studio album Arirang, featuring the widely acclaimed title track “Swim.”
BTS is currently captivating audiences worldwide with their Arirang tour, with upcoming shows scheduled at Rogers Stadium in Toronto, Canada, on August 22 and 23.