BTS wins three awards at 2026 MTV VMAs including Song of the Year

BTS swept all three categories for which they were nominated at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards, winning Song of the Year for ‘SWIM’, Best K-Pop, and Best Group. The win for ‘SWIM’, a track from their fifth studio album ‘ARIRANG’, makes BTS the first K-pop group to win the Song of the Year award.

Despite their success, the group did not attend the ceremony at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles due to their ongoing ‘ARIRANG’ World Tour. Through their agency, Big Hit Music, the members expressed gratitude to their fans, known as ARMY, stating that the album ‘ARIRANG’ represents a “new beginning” for the group following their return from mandatory military service.

The group also extended their record in the Best Group category, marking their fifth win in that division. Their recent comeback has seen significant commercial success, with ‘SWIM’ previously reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and the Spotify Daily Top Songs Global chart.