Which song won Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella at the 2026 Grammys?
Answer
Super Mario Praise Break
“Super Mario Praise Break” won Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella at the 2026 Grammys.
The winning recording came from The 8-Bit Big Band, a jazz-and-pops orchestra known for transforming famous video-game themes into large-ensemble arrangements. The track is a gospel-inspired medley built from Super Mario music, including the Super Mario Bros. theme, “Bob-Omb Battlefield,” “Gusty Garden Galaxy,” and the “Athletic Theme.”
The Grammy is credited primarily to arrangers Bryan Carter, Charlie Rosen, and Matthew Whitaker. That distinction matters: this category rewards the musical design and orchestration of a recording, not simply the popularity of the original game music or the musicians performing it.
The result also continued The 8-Bit Big Band’s unusual Grammy history. The group had previously won in the same category for an arrangement of “Meta Knight’s Revenge” from Kirby Super Star. The award is therefore a notable bridge between video-game composition, jazz orchestration, gospel sonics, and Grammy recognition.