Ahead of the Grammys 69th edition scheduled for February 2027, the Recording Academy has unveiled five new categories and revised parts of its eligibility rules.

Opening the announcement is Best Asian Pop Music Performance, a landmark addition that gives one of the world’s most influential music markets a dedicated space at the Grammys. The category will recognise standout recordings from Asian pop scenes including K-Pop, J-Pop, and C-Pop, provided they make meaningful use of one or more Asian languages.

The move arrives at a time when Asian pop acts continue to dominate global charts, sell out stadium tours, and shape fan culture across continents. While artists from these scenes have long competed in broader categories, this marks the first time the Academy has created a category specifically designed to spotlight the genre’s artistic achievements.

Beyond Asian pop, the Academy is introducing Best Latin Song, a songwriting category dedicated to newly written songs performed predominantly in Spanish. Songwriters, rather than performers, will be the primary recipients of the award, placing greater emphasis on the craft behind Latin music’s global success.

This moment continues to spread the spotlight on the Latin community after Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny became the first artist to win the prestigious Album of the Year prize for a Spanish-language record.

R&B is also receiving renewed attention with the introduction of the Best R&B Collaboration or Duo/Group Performance category. The category accommodates the genre’s increasingly collaborative nature, recognising performances that often blur the lines among R&B, hip-hop, pop, and electronic music. Its introduction also results in the existing Best R&B Performance category being redefined as Best R&B Solo Performance.

In addition, the Academy is drawing a clearer distinction between traditional and contemporary forms of music. Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance will celebrate recordings rooted in classic pop traditions and standards. At the same time, Best Traditional Folk Album will honour projects that preserve folk music’s longstanding storytelling traditions, from ballads and work songs to community-rooted cultural recordings. The existing Folk Album category will now be renamed Best Contemporary Folk Album.

The changes extend beyond categories. The Academy has also updated its Best New Artist rules, increasing the number of times an artist can be submitted from three to four. The adjustment reflects the reality that career breakthroughs no longer follow a single path, with streaming, social media, and independent releases allowing artists to build audiences over longer periods before reaching mainstream recognition.

“2027 is going to be an amazing year for the Grammy Awards, and one that reflects the extraordinary growth we’re seeing across music,” said Grammys CEO Harvey Mason jr.

As global music continues to expand, the Recording Academy appears determined to broaden the definition of what and who gets celebrated on the world’s biggest music stage.