The National Film Awards ceremony will be held outside New Delhi for the first time in its 72-year history on September 22, 2026. President Droupadi Murmu will present the 72nd edition honours to 92 winners at Ekta Nagar, Gujarat, against the backdrop of the Statue of Unity.
EKTA NAGAR / NEW DELHI — The ceremony for the 72nd National Film Awards will be held in Ekta Nagar, Gujarat, on September 22, 2026, shifting the nation's premier cinematic honour out of New Delhi for the first time in its 72-year history.
President of India Droupadi Murmu will present the awards to 92 recipients against the backdrop of the world's tallest monument, the Statue of Unity, situated in Gujarat's Narmada district. The decision represents a historic departure from the decades-long convention of staging the gala at Vigyan Bhawan in the national capital, aligning with central government initiatives to decentralize marquee cultural institutions and showcase national tourism landmarks to international and domestic audiences.
Historic Relocation to the Statue of Unity Precinct
Established in 1954, the National Film Awards have historically convened the country's preeminent filmmakers, actors, technicians, and writers in New Delhi under the auspices of the Directorate of Film Festivals and the Union government. The decision to stage the 72nd edition at Ekta Nagar—formerly known as Kevadia—replaces traditional auditorium seating with an open-format cultural precinct along the Narmada River.
Administrative preparations are being overseen by the Gujarat state administration and the Narmada district collectorate. Authorities confirmed that a specialized German aluminium dome structure is being installed within the transit concourse area of the Statue of Unity complex to seat over 1,000 invitees, foreign cultural attaches, senior government ministers, and industry dignitaries.
The 75-minute formal ceremony will witness President Murmu presenting awards across feature, non-feature, and cinema writing categories for films certified during the 2024 calendar year.
72nd Edition Honourees and Cinematic Representation
The ceremony will formally confer honours previously announced by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in July. The 72nd National Film Awards roster reflects broad regional and linguistic representation across India’s multifaceted entertainment industries:
Best Feature Film: Conferred upon Article 370, directed by Aditya Suhas Jambhale.
Best Actor in a Leading Role: Jointly awarded to Malayalam cinema veteran Mammootty for the monochrome period horror Bramayugam, and Kartik Aaryan for the biographical sports drama Chandu Champion.
Best Actress in a Leading Role: Conferred upon Yami Gautam for her portrayal of an intelligence officer in Article 370.
Best Direction: Awarded to Rajkumar Periasamy for the Tamil-language military biographical drama Amaran.
Wholesome Entertainment and Commercial Cinema: Nag Ashwin's science-fiction epic Kalki 2898 AD earned the honour for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment, alongside technical prizes.
The inclusion of major commercial and independent works from Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, and Kannada industries ensures a broad cross-section of Indian cinema figures will travel to Gujarat for the event.
Strategic Decentralization and Tourism Promotion
Relocating the National Film Awards reflects broader administrative moves to disperse major civic conventions, summits, and cultural gatherings across tier-2 and non-metropolitan centers. The Statue of Unity complex has previously hosted international diplomatic retreats, defense conferences, and all-India civil service conclaves, positioning Ekta Nagar as a flagship destination for large-scale administrative and cultural programming.
State authorities expect the ceremony to generate significant promotional dividends for regional tourism and hospitality infrastructure. Ekta Nagar features dedicated riverfront attractions, tent cities, and eco-tourism corridors built to handle domestic and international travelers. Bringing India’s most visible cinematic talent to the venue aims to bolster its positioning as an attractive filming location and destination event hub.
Impact Across Cultural, Tourism, and Industry Stakeholders
The geographic transition generates diverse outcomes across multiple sectors:
Regional Tourism and Hospitality: Hospitality providers, transport fleets, and retail operators in Gujarat’s Narmada and Vadodara districts receive immediate occupancy and economic activity during the high-security event window.
Film Fraternity Logistics: Production houses, awardees, and studio entourages must coordinate interstate travel and charter logistics to the Narmada district, moving away from standard capital transit hubs.
Cultural Policy Observers: Demonstrates that long-standing sovereign state functions can be decoupled from New Delhi, establishing operational blueprints for moving other national ceremonies to distinct states in future editions.
National Viewership: Expanded multi-camera broadcasting and open-air production values alter the visual presentation of the awards for domestic broadcast networks.
Official Sources
According to official briefings released by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and notifications issued by the Press Information Bureau (PIB), the 72nd ceremony was formally relocated to Ekta Nagar in consultation with the President's Secretariat.
Administrative logistics and security protocols are being managed in coordination with the Government of Gujarat and the Statue of Unity Area Development and Tourism Governance Authority (SOUADTGA) under the administrative supervision of the Narmada District Magistrate.
Official Statements
According to district administration officials overseeing on-site venue construction, the event will blend national cultural heritage with monumental civic infrastructure.
In a formal briefing, the Narmada district administration stated:
"The national ceremony, to be held against the spectacular backdrop of the world-famous Statue of Unity, is expected to give Narmada district another distinctive identity at national and international levels. The convergence of three elements—the dignified presence of the President of India, leading personalities from the Indian film industry, and the global identity of the Statue of Unity—will make the ceremony at Kevadia a memorable and historic occasion."
Officials confirmed that comprehensive security, transit protocols, and specialized green-room arrangements are being finalized across the Bus Bay precinct.
Why It Matters
The relocation of the National Film Awards carries significant cultural and institutional implications:
Breaking Centralized Conventions: Ends 72 continuous years of hosting the awards exclusively in New Delhi, setting a modern precedent for federal cultural decentralization.
MICE Tourism Acceleration: Enhances the profile of Ekta Nagar as a premier domestic destination for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE).
National Integration Narrative: Staging national cinematic honours at the monument honoring Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel reinforces institutional narratives of cultural and territorial cohesion.
Key Facts at a Glance
Event: 72nd National Film Awards Ceremony.
New Venue: Ekta Nagar (Kevadia), Narmada District, Gujarat (Statue of Unity Complex).
Date: September 22, 2026.
Chief Guest: President of India Droupadi Murmu.
Historical Precedent: First time the official ceremony has left New Delhi in 72 years.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why have the National Film Awards been moved to Gujarat?
The ceremony was moved to Ekta Nagar to decentralize major national events outside New Delhi and showcase prominent infrastructure landmarks like the Statue of Unity to national and international audiences.
Who will present the awards at the 72nd ceremony?
President of India Droupadi Murmu will present the awards to the 92 winners during her official visit to Gujarat.
When and where will the event take place?
The ceremony is scheduled for September 22, 2026, at a specially constructed venue within the Statue of Unity precinct in Ekta Nagar, Narmada district, Gujarat.
Who are the prominent winners being felicitated this year?
Key winners include Article 370 for Best Feature Film, Yami Gautam for Best Actress, and Mammootty (Bramayugam) and Kartik Aaryan (Chandu Champion) sharing the Best Actor honour.
Source: Official circulars published by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, event notifications issued by the Press Information Bureau (PIB), administrative releases from the Government of Gujarat, and venue management updates via the Statue of Unity Authority.
