Ustad Kamal Sabri
A seventh-generation custodian of the Sarangi tradition, Sabri adds another international milestone to a career dedicated to Indian classical music, cultural diplomacy and the global journey of the Sarangi
The soulful voice of the Sarangi has once again found a place on the global stage. Ustad Kamal Sabri, internationally known as the "Sarangi Sultan", has won the Intercontinental Music Award 2026 in the USA, adding a major international distinction to a career spanning performance, composition, education and cultural exchange.
The honour marks another significant moment in Sabri's continuing effort to take the Sarangi beyond geographical and cultural boundaries. The award follows the international recognition received by Tore Bina Shyam, a musical collaboration involving Sabri and legendary singer Pt. Anup Jalota. Sabri served as the composer and singer of the work, while Jalota lent his voice as singer. The composition had earlier been shortlisted in the Bollywood Music category representing Asia at the Inter Continental Music Awards.
For Sabri, however, the award is not simply another trophy. It represents the continuing recognition of an instrument that has historically occupied a distinctive place in Hindustani classical music and of the centuries-old musical tradition that he inherited from his father and guru, the legendary Aaftab-e-Sarangi Ustad Sabri Khan.
"Winning the Intercontinental Music Award 2026 USA is a deeply emotional and humbling moment for me," Sabri said after receiving the recognition. "I receive this honour not simply as an award, but as a recognition of the timeless voice of the Sarangi, the rich heritage of Indian classical music, and the musical legacy passed on to me by my revered father and guru, Aaftab-e-Sarangi Ustad Sabri Khan."
A legacy carried across generations
Ustad Kamal Sabri represents the seventh generation of the celebrated Moradabad Gharana and was trained by his Legendary father, Ustad Sabri Khan, from the age of five. Over the decades, he has emerged not merely as a performer but as an ambassador for the Sarangi and Indian classical music.
His artistic journey has encompassed solo classical performances, accompaniment, composition, recording, world music, film and documentary projects, collaborations with international musicians and educational programmes. His work has helped present the Sarangi to audiences who may previously have encountered the instrument only within traditional Indian classical concerts.
That international outlook has been central to Sabri's career. His performances and collaborations have taken the Sarangi to major cultural platforms across Europe, North America and Asia. He has worked with internationally recognised musicians including Ustad Zakir Hussain and Jan Garbarek, while his artistic activities have extended into world music and contemporary musical collaborations.
A remarkable list of honours
The Intercontinental Music Award joins an already impressive list of national and international recognitions received by Sabri.
Among his earlier honours are the Best Instrumentalist Award, the Sangeet Bhushan Award and the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Award. His professional standing has also been recognised through his association with All India Radio as a Top Grade Artist and through recognition connected with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations. A Ministry of Culture fellowship has also been associated with his career.
In 2016, Sabri received the Nashville Music City Award for International Artist of the Year in the United States. The award was presented in Nashville in recognition of his contribution to music and his role in bringing cultures together through musical collaboration.
His international honours continued to grow. In 2023, he was named World Music Artist of the Year in Uzbekistan after representing India at the International Bakhshi Festival, an event that brought musicians and artists from more than 40 countries together.
The same year brought another important recognition: Composer of the Year 2023 for his composition Sajna Mein, associated with the MID-DAY Icons of India Awards. Sabri's recognition as both an instrumentalist and composer underlined the widening scope of his musical work.
In 2024, he received the Dadasaheb Phalke Icon Films International Award in Dubai, where he was recognised as an Iconic World Music Artist and for his work as a composer. His composition Dil Da Jaani was also associated with the recognition.
His achievements also include a Gold Medal recognition at the Global Music Awards in Los Angeles, acknowledging his artistic contribution and innovation. In 2025, he received the Outstanding Achievement in Performing Arts Award from GOPIO International USA. He has additionally received recognition by the Mayor of New York for his contribution to world music and cultural exchange.
The year 2026 has proved particularly significant. Sabri was honoured in London with the Global Iconic Artist Award at the World Heart Beat Awards, recognising his contribution to world music and the international promotion of the Sarangi.
Now, with the Intercontinental Music Award 2026, another chapter has been added to that remarkable journey.
Tore Bina Shyam: tradition meets contemporary expression
The latest award is especially meaningful because it is connected to Tore Bina Shyam, a project that brought together Sabri's skills as composer, singer and lyricist with Pt. Anup Jalota's celebrated voice.
The project also received support from the Green FAD Museum and the International Museum of the Saree, which sponsored Tore Bina Shyam. Sabri has expressed gratitude for their support, saying that the encouragement helped take the musical creation to a wider audience while celebrating India's cultural heritage.
The collaboration illustrates an important dimension of Sabri's artistic philosophy: tradition does not have to remain confined to the past. The Sarangi can converse with contemporary musical forms while retaining its unmistakable identity.
Beyond awards
While awards have brought international attention to Sabri's work, his contribution extends far beyond the honours themselves.
He has participated in international festivals, concerts, workshops and educational initiatives and has used these platforms to introduce younger audiences to Indian classical music. His academic contributions include an Honorary Doctorate in Music and Professor of Practice roles at institutions in India and Australia.
For Sabri, teaching and performing are part of the same responsibility: ensuring that the Sarangi remains a living tradition.
He believes that every generation must inherit not only the technique of playing the instrument but also an understanding of its emotional and cultural vocabulary.
"This award is also a responsibility"
Perhaps the most revealing aspect of Sabri's response to the Intercâ¦
