diff --git a/src/core/p5.Renderer3D.js b/src/core/p5.Renderer3D.js
index 363773befc..c4acc17b72 100644
--- a/src/core/p5.Renderer3D.js
+++ b/src/core/p5.Renderer3D.js
@@ -247,6 +247,8 @@ export class Renderer3D extends Renderer {
 
     this._curShader = undefined;
     this.drawShapeCount = 1;
+    // Set by the instances() wrapper; undefined means "no instancing".
+    this._instanceCount = undefined;
 
     this.scratchMat3 = new Matrix(3);
 
@@ -548,6 +550,11 @@ export class Renderer3D extends Renderer {
   }
 
   model(model, count = 1) {
+    // Use _instanceCount only when count was NOT explicitly passed.
+    // arguments.length distinguishes model(geom) from model(geom, 1).
+    if (arguments.length < 2 && this._instanceCount !== undefined) {
+      count = this._instanceCount;
+    }
     if (model.vertices.length > 0) {
       if (this.geometryBuilder) {
         this.geometryBuilder.addRetained(model);
@@ -679,6 +686,7 @@ export class Renderer3D extends Renderer {
   }
 
   _drawGeometryScaled(model, scaleX, scaleY, scaleZ) {
+    const count = this._instanceCount || 1;
     let originalModelMatrix = this.states.uModelMatrix;
     this.states.setValue("uModelMatrix", this.states.uModelMatrix.clone());
     try {
@@ -687,7 +695,7 @@ export class Renderer3D extends Renderer {
       if (this.geometryBuilder) {
         this.geometryBuilder.addRetained(model);
       } else {
-        this._drawGeometry(model);
+        this._drawGeometry(model, { count });
       }
     } finally {
       this.states.setValue("uModelMatrix", originalModelMatrix);
diff --git a/src/webgl/3d_primitives.js b/src/webgl/3d_primitives.js
index 0d10bfdf4b..1cb4014534 100644
--- a/src/webgl/3d_primitives.js
+++ b/src/webgl/3d_primitives.js
@@ -2595,6 +2595,77 @@ function primitives3D(p5, fn){
     }
     return this._renderer.curveDetail(d);
   };
+
+  /**
+   * Draws `count` instances of the next 3D primitive or model using WebGL
+   * instanced rendering.
+   *
+   * Call a draw method on the returned object to render that primitive
+   * `count` times in a single draw call. Instance-specific transforms and
+   * attributes (position, color, etc.) are supplied through a custom shader
+   * that reads per-instance data from an instanced attribute buffer.
+   *
+   * @method instances
+   * @param  {Number} count number of instances to draw. Must be a positive
+   *   integer.
+   * @returns {Object} an object with methods `sphere`, `box`, `plane`,
+   *   `ellipsoid`, `cylinder`, `cone`, `torus`, and `model`. Call one of
+   *   these to draw `count` instances of that primitive.
+   *
+   * @example
+   * <div>
+   * <code>
+   * // Draw 10 spheres in a single instanced draw call.
+   * // A custom shader reads gl_InstanceID to offset each sphere.
+   * function setup() {
+   *   createCanvas(100, 100, WEBGL);
+   * }
+   * function draw() {
+   *   background(200);
+   *   instances(10).sphere(20);
+   * }
+   * </code>
+   * </div>
+   */
+  fn.instances = function(count) {
+    this._assert3d('instances');
+
+    if (typeof count !== 'number' || !isFinite(count) || count < 1) {
+      console.log(
+        '🌸 p5.js says: instances() requires a positive integer count.' +
+        ' Clamping to 1.'
+      );
+      count = Math.max(1, Math.round(count) || 1);
+    } else {
+      count = Math.round(count);
+    }
+
+    const r = this._renderer;
+    const p = this;
+
+    // Each wrapped method: set _instanceCount, call the renderer method with
+    // the correct `this`, clear _instanceCount in finally so it never leaks.
+    const wrap = method => function(...args) {
+      r._instanceCount = count;
+      try {
+        method.apply(r, args);
+      } finally {
+        r._instanceCount = undefined;
+      }
+      return p;
+    };
+
+    return {
+      sphere:    wrap(r.sphere),
+      box:       wrap(r.box),
+      plane:     wrap(r.plane),
+      ellipsoid: wrap(r.ellipsoid),
+      cylinder:  wrap(r.cylinder),
+      cone:      wrap(r.cone),
+      torus:     wrap(r.torus),
+      model:     wrap(r.model)
+    };
+  };
 }
 
 export default primitives3D;
diff --git a/test/unit/webgl/p5.RendererGL.js b/test/unit/webgl/p5.RendererGL.js
index 69ccf620da..90e12e329a 100644
--- a/test/unit/webgl/p5.RendererGL.js
+++ b/test/unit/webgl/p5.RendererGL.js
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { suite } from 'vitest';
+import { suite, vi } from 'vitest';
 import p5 from '../../../src/app.js';
 import '../../js/chai_helpers';
 const toArray = typedArray => Array.from(typedArray);
@@ -2527,6 +2527,71 @@ void main() {
     });
   });
 
+  suite('instances() API', function() {
+    let drawSpy;
+
+    beforeEach(function() {
+      myp5.createCanvas(10, 10, myp5.WEBGL);
+      drawSpy = vi.spyOn(myp5._renderer, '_drawGeometry');
+    });
+
+    afterEach(function() {
+      vi.restoreAllMocks();
+    });
+
+    test('instances(5).sphere() sets correct instanceCount on draw and clears it', function() {
+      myp5.instances(5).sphere(10);
+
+      expect(drawSpy).toHaveBeenCalled();
+      const lastCall = drawSpy.mock.calls[drawSpy.mock.calls.length - 1];
+      assert.equal(lastCall[1].count, 5);
+
+      assert.isUndefined(myp5._renderer._instanceCount);
+    });
+
+    test('instances(5).box() sets correct instanceCount on draw and clears it', function() {
+      myp5.instances(5).box(10);
+
+      expect(drawSpy).toHaveBeenCalled();
+      const lastCall = drawSpy.mock.calls[drawSpy.mock.calls.length - 1];
+      assert.equal(lastCall[1].count, 5);
+
+      assert.isUndefined(myp5._renderer._instanceCount);
+    });
+
+    test('instances(5).model(geom) uses instances count', function() {
+      const geom = new p5.Geometry();
+      geom.gid = 'instances_model_test';
+      geom.vertices.push(myp5.createVector(0, 0, 0));
+      geom.vertices.push(myp5.createVector(1, 0, 0));
+      geom.vertices.push(myp5.createVector(1, 1, 0));
+
+      myp5.instances(5).model(geom);
+
+      expect(drawSpy).toHaveBeenCalled();
+      const lastCall = drawSpy.mock.calls[drawSpy.mock.calls.length - 1];
+      assert.equal(lastCall[1].count, 5);
+
+      assert.isUndefined(myp5._renderer._instanceCount);
+    });
+
+    test('instances(10).model(geom, 1) has explicit-count precedence', function() {
+      const geom = new p5.Geometry();
+      geom.gid = 'instances_precedence_test';
+      geom.vertices.push(myp5.createVector(0, 0, 0));
+      geom.vertices.push(myp5.createVector(1, 0, 0));
+      geom.vertices.push(myp5.createVector(1, 1, 0));
+
+      myp5.instances(10).model(geom, 1);
+
+      expect(drawSpy).toHaveBeenCalled();
+      const lastCall = drawSpy.mock.calls[drawSpy.mock.calls.length - 1];
+      assert.equal(lastCall[1].count, 1);
+
+      assert.isUndefined(myp5._renderer._instanceCount);
+    });
+  });
+
   suite('clip()', function() {
     //let myp5;
     function getClippedPixels(mode, mask) {