video upload by Georgia Tech School of Music
"Ten innovators from six countries have advanced to the competition's final round. They will meet on the Georgia Tech campus in Atlanta, Georgia on March 13 and 14, 2026, to compete for $10,000 in prizes. Each finalist and their instrument has a compelling story — these are the world's next generation of musical instruments."
Press release follows:
28th Annual Guthman Musical Instrument Competition Announces 2026 Finalists: The Next Generation of Musical Expression
ATLANTA (February 10, 2026) — The Georgia Tech School of Music has announced the ten finalists for the 28th annual Guthman Musical Instrument Competition. Often cited as "the Pulitzer of the new instrument world" by The Guardian, the competition identifies the inventors and instruments that will define the next century of performance.
The competition is essential to the "lifeblood" of the music industry, providing the research and development that leads to new sonic textures. Past finalists include industry-shaping brands such as Artiphon, Roli, and Teenage Engineering.
The 2026 Finalists: The ten finalists include instruments that redefine the relationship between the player and the sound source. Highlights include the Gajveena, a seven-foot bass-veena hybrid; The Amphibian Modules, which uses salt water to shape audio; and VERTO, which allows players to "sculpt" electricity using magnetic fingertips.
Other finalist innovations—The Lethelium, The Masterpiece, Fiddle Henge, Post-Digital Sax, EV, The Demon Box, and Kalíptera—offer new paths for the future of the performing artist through robotic automation and digital-acoustic hybrids.
See and hear the 10 finalist instruments in this short YouTube video.
The Judges: The 2026 competition will be overseen by a prestigious panel of judges:
Gérard Assayag: Founder of the Music Representation Group at IRCAM.
Kerry Hagan: Researcher at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in algorithmic composition and real-time processing.
Vivek Maddala: Four-time Emmy-winning composer and multi-instrumentalist.
"Georgia Tech’s sponsorship of the Guthman Musical Instrument Competition reflects the school’s role as a premier institution for musical innovation," said Jeff Albert, Associate Professor and Competition Head. "Our focus remains on the human and artistic impact. Our classes and programs are providing a platform that gives musicians new ways to create music and sound, ensuring that the technology serves the art."
The competition will be held on the Georgia Tech campus on March 13-14, 2026, with $10,000 in prize money awarded to the winners.
Pictured in order:
Finalists Collage
The Demon Box [additional posts here]
The Masterpiece
The Amphibian Modules
Kalíptera
The Lethelium
EV
Fiddle Henge
Gajveena
and
Post-Digital Sax
