Contemporary Instrumental Music
About Contemporary Instrumental Music
Music Facts: Contemporary Instrumental
- Contemporary instrumental music covers several genres, but it contains a distinctly modern element that sets it apart from other instrumental styles.
- The Contemporary Instrumental Music Field was first introduced at the 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards in 2015; the Best Pop Instrumental Album category was renamed Best Contemporary Instrumental Album that same year.
- Of the past six GRAMMY Awards shows, the band Snarky Puppy has won the GRAMMY for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album three times.
Every Contemporary Instrumental Music category, ceremony by ceremony.
| Year | Category | Winner | Work | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Best Contemporary Instrumental Album | ARKAI | Brightside | All Nominees |
| 2025 | Best Contemporary Instrumental Album | Taylor Eigsti | Plot Armor | All Nominees |
| 2024 | Best Contemporary Instrumental Album | Béla Fleck, Zakir Hussain, Edgar Meyer, Rakesh Chaurasia | As We Speak | All Nominees |
| 2023 | Best Contemporary Instrumental Album | Snarky Puppy | Empire Central | All Nominees |
| 2022 | Best Contemporary Instrumental Album | Taylor Eigsti | Tree Falls | All Nominees |
| 2021 | Best Contemporary Instrumental Album | Snarky Puppy | Live At The Royal Albert Hall | All Nominees |
| 2020 | Best Contemporary Instrumental Album | Rodrigo y Gabriela | Mettavolution | All Nominees |
| 2019 | Best Contemporary Instrumental Album | Steve Gadd | Steve Gadd Band | All Nominees |
| 2018 | Best Contemporary Instrumental Album | Jeff Lorber | Prototype | All Nominees |
| 2017 | Best Contemporary Instrumental Album | Snarky Puppy | Culcha Vulcha | All Nominees |
| 2016 | Best Contemporary Instrumental Album | Snarky Puppy, Metropole Orkest | Sylva | All Nominees |
| 2015 | Best Contemporary Instrumental Album | Chris Thile, Edgar Meyer | Bass & Mandolin | All Nominees |
Previous Winners
Brightside
Plot Armor
As We Speak
Empire Central
Tree Falls
Live At The Royal Albert Hall
Mettavolution
Steve Gadd Band
Prototype
Culcha Vulcha
Sylva
Bass & Mandolin
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