India’s National Film Awards are heading somewhere new this year. President Droupadi Murmu will present the 72nd National Film Awards on September 22, 2026, at Ekta Nagar (Kevadia) in Gujarat, near the Statue of Unity. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting confirmed the details on Tuesday, September 8, 2026.

This ceremony carries special historical weight. Since the very first National Film Awards were presented at Vigyan Bhawan in Delhi back in 1954, the ceremony has remained tied almost exclusively to the national capital. This year’s move to Ekta Nagar marks the first time in the award’s 72-year history that the ceremony will be held outside Delhi.

Quick Facts: 72nd National Film Awards

• Ceremony date: September 22, 2026
• Venue: Ekta Nagar (Kevadia), Gujarat, near the Statue of Unity
• Presented by: President Droupadi Murmu
• Announced by: Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
• Announcement date: Tuesday, September 8, 2026
• Films honoured for the year: 2024
• Historic first: First ceremony held outside Delhi in the award’s 72-year history
• Theme: “Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat”
• Best Feature Film: Article 370
• Best Actress (Leading Role): Yami Gautam, for Article 370
• Best Actor (Leading Role): Mammootty (Bramayugam) and Kartik Aaryan (Chandu Champion)

Why Is the Ceremony Moving Outside Delhi?

This year’s venue change reflects a deliberate policy decision by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Rather than continuing to hold the National Film Awards exclusively in the national capital, the Ministry has decided to organise future editions across different parts of the country.

According to the Ministry, this shift aims to take the awards beyond Delhi and better reflect the linguistic, cultural, and regional diversity of Indian cinema. Officials described the Ekta Nagar ceremony as an embodiment of the spirit of “Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat” (One India, Best India), bringing together cinematic talent from across the country to a symbolically significant location near the Statue of Unity.

Major Winners at the 72nd National Film Awards

The 72nd National Film Awards celebrate outstanding achievements in Indian cinema for the year 2024, spanning a wide range of languages, genres, and cinematic forms. The main winners were announced in July 2026, ahead of the formal presentation ceremony in September.

Here are the major honours at this year’s awards:

• Best Feature Film: Article 370
• Best Non-Feature Film: Bhangaar
• Best Documentary: Ram-Nami
• Best Actor in a Leading Role: Mammootty, for Bramayugam, and Kartik Aaryan, for Chandu Champion
• Best Actress in a Leading Role: Yami Gautam, for Article 370
• Best Debut Director: Randeep Hooda, for Swatantrya Veer Savarkar
• Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment: Kalki 2898 AD
• Best Feature Film Promoting National, Social and Environmental Values: Captain Miller
• Best Film Critic: Sanjeev Shrivastava
• Best Book on Cinema: Naaniruvude Nimagaagi Naadiruvude Nanagaagi: Kannada Cinemada Thathva matthu Rajakeeya (translated as I Stand for You, the State Stands for Us: Political and Philosophical Dimensions of Kannada Cinema)

72nd National Film Awards: Key Facts at a Glance

Detail	Information
Ceremony date	September 22, 2026
Venue	Ekta Nagar (Kevadia), Gujarat
Year of films honoured	2024
Winners announced	July 2026
Best Feature Film	Article 370
Best Non-Feature Film	Bhangaar
Best Documentary	Ram-Nami
Historic milestone	First ceremony held outside Delhi

A Fitting Venue for One of the Winners

The choice of Ekta Nagar carries an especially fitting connection for one of this year’s award recipients. Among the honoured films is Statue of Unity – Ekta Ka Prateek, which has been recognised at this year’s National Film Awards. As a result, this particular film will be honoured practically in the shadow of the very monument it documents, adding a symbolic layer to the ceremony’s unprecedented venue.

Recognition Across Indian Cinema’s Diversity

Beyond the headline categories, this year’s National Film Awards recognise excellence across a wide spread of India’s regional film industries. Winners span languages and forms including Marathi, Santhali, Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada, Tulu, and Garhwali cinema, among others.

Notably, this year’s ceremony includes a first for the awards: a Santhali film will be honoured in the Non-Feature Film section for the first time in the National Film Awards’ history. Several major commercial successes also feature among this year’s honourees, including Kalki 2898 AD, Amaran, Pushpa: The Rule Part 2, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, and Stree 2, each recognised in their respective categories.

About the National Film Awards

Instituted in 1954, the National Film Awards rank among India’s most prestigious cinema honours, presented annually by the President of India to recognise outstanding contributions across Indian film. The awards are conferred by the National Film Development Corporation of India, working alongside the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

Historically, the ceremony has been closely associated with New Delhi, having been presented at Vigyan Bhawan on numerous occasions, including as recently as the 71st National Film Awards in September 2025. This year’s shift to Ekta Nagar therefore represents a genuine break from more than seven decades of tradition.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

About the Ceremony

Winners and Broader Context