Group BTS swept three awards, including 'Song of the Year', with 'SWIM', the title track of their 5th full-length album 'Arirang' released following their military hiatus, at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs).

At the 2026 MTV VMAs held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on September 27 (local time), BTS won 'Song of the Year' and 'Best K-Pop' with 'SWIM', and added 'Best Group' to win all three categories they were nominated in.

According to BigHit Music, this is the first time a K-pop group has won 'Song of the Year'. 'Song of the Year' is considered the grand prize category of the MTV VMAs.

Through their agency, BTS shared their thoughts, saying, "'Arirang' is an album that feels like a new beginning for us, which makes this award even more meaningful. Winning such a huge award like 'Song of the Year' with 'SWIM' is entirely thanks to everyone who loves our music." They added, "We will continue to show you great music and performances together as seven members."

'SWIM' was a song that divided opinions upon its release. As a comeback track following their military hiatus, it felt unfamiliar to those expecting a more groundbreaking, dance-heavy track or Korean lyrics. The members showed the same reaction when they first heard the pre-completion version. In the Netflix documentary 'BTS: The Return', the members also agreed that the track itself felt a bit subdued.

Furthermore, 'SWIM' is the first title track of a full-length BTS album to feature entirely English lyrics. Online reactions were mixed, with some expressing disappointment over the absence of Korean lyrics while overseas reaction videos praised the track. There were also views questioning whether the character of the song aligned with the album's identity, given that the album is titled 'Arirang'.

RM, who participated in writing and composing the song, explained his special affection for 'SWIM' during a live broadcast. Regarding the song, he said, "It sounds like a love song while also being a song about life. In a double-sided way, 'you' could be a fan, a loved one, or the life I am looking at. I think it's a very rare song that encompasses all those various emotions, the joys and sorrows."

He also noted, "Personally, it's a song I wish would receive even more love," and emphasized the sincerity within the lyrics once again, saying, "I hope 'SWIM' stays around for a very long time. For me, 'SWIM' is a song I want to hear in my grave."

Despite the mixed reviews, 'SWIM' topped the Billboard Hot 100 (dated April 4), reached No. 2 on the UK Official Singles Chart (dated March 27 to April 2), and maintained No. 1 on Spotify's 'Daily Top Songs Global' for 25 consecutive days from March 20 to April 13. Beyond these achievements, fans' reactions gradually began to shift. Evaluations emerged that the power of the lyrics in 'SWIM' and the 14-year narrative experienced by BTS created a strong synergy. Some fans expressed growing affection, stating that rather than their initial impression, they fell deeper into the charm of 'SWIM' as they continued to digest it.

Following the 'Song of the Year' category, BTS also clinched the 'Best Group' trophy. This is an award BTS previously won for four consecutive years from 2019 to 2022, and with this win, they claimed their 5th trophy overall, extending their own record for the most wins in history.

BTS will kick off their 'BTS WORLD TOUR 'ARIRANG'' South American tour starting in Bogota, Colombia on October 2. They will hold a total of 14 shows across 5 cities, including Lima, Peru; Santiago, Chile; Buenos Aires, Argentina; and Sao Paulo, Brazil.

 

(Photo: Yonhap News) (Reported by Kang Kyung-yoon, SBS Entertainment News)