National Film Awards 2026 Move to Gujarat: Why the Historic Shift From Delhi Matters
India’s prestigious National Film Awards are set to break with a decades-old tradition this year. The 72nd National Film Awards ceremony will be held in Kevadia, Gujarat, on September 22, 2026, instead of the national capital. President Droupadi Murmu is scheduled to present the honours at the ceremony.
The change is significant because the National Film Awards have traditionally been closely associated with New Delhi. The first National Awards ceremony was held in Delhi in 1954, and the capital has remained the usual setting for the presentation of these honours. While the awards have occasionally been presented outside Delhi, the Gujarat event represents a notable departure from the established pattern.
The decision also brings the national celebration of Indian cinema to a location strongly associated with one of Gujarat’s most prominent landmarks—the Statue of Unity. Here is what the move means and why the 2026 ceremony is attracting attention.
National Film Awards 2026 to Be Held in Gujarat
The 72nd National Film Awards ceremony will take place in Kevadia, Gujarat, on September 22. Kevadia is now known as Ekta Nagar and is home to the Statue of Unity, the towering monument dedicated to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
The presence of President Droupadi Murmu adds further significance to the event. As is customary for the National Film Awards, the President will present the honours to the award winners.
For the film industry, the ceremony is more than simply an awards function. It is the formal occasion when filmmakers, actors and other members of the cinema community receive one of India's most prominent national recognitions for their work.
This year, however, the setting itself will become part of the story.
A Major Break From a Long-Standing Tradition
The National Film Awards have had a strong connection with Delhi since their early years.
According to the information reported by NDTV, the first National Awards ceremony took place in Delhi in 1954. The event subsequently became closely associated with the capital, with most ceremonies being held at Delhi's Vigyan Bhawan.
That history makes the 2026 decision particularly noteworthy.
There have been exceptions. The 17th National Film Awards were held in Chennai in 1971, showing that the ceremony has not been permanently restricted to Delhi. Nevertheless, Delhi has remained the dominant venue over the decades.
The Gujarat ceremony therefore represents a rare geographical shift for an event that has traditionally been identified with the national capital.
Why the Location Matters
Moving the ceremony to another state changes more than the backdrop.
Delhi has traditionally served as the political and administrative centre associated with the awards. Holding the ceremony in Gujarat gives the event a distinctly different setting and potentially allows the National Film Awards to connect more directly with audiences and places outside the capital.
It also puts Ekta Nagar in the national spotlight at a time when the town is already recognised for the Statue of Unity.
The result could be a ceremony that combines India's film heritage with one of the country's major modern landmarks.
Who Are the Major Winners This Year?
The winners of the 72nd National Film Awards were announced in July, and several prominent names and films feature among the honours.
Article 370 has won the Best Feature Film award, while its lead actor Yami Gautam has been named Best Actress.
The Best Actor honour is being shared by Malayalam superstar Mammootty and Bollywood actor Kartik Aaryan. Mammootty has been recognised for Bramayugam, while Aaryan has received the honour for Chandu Champion.
The awards also recognise achievements beyond acting.
Actor-filmmaker Randeep Hooda has been named Best Debut Director for Swatantrya Veer Savarkar. Meanwhile, Kalki 2898 AD has been recognised as the Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment.
Tamil cinema also features prominently this year. Captain Miller, directed by Arun Matheswaran and starring Dhanush, has received recognition in the category for a feature film promoting national, social and environmental values.
These winners will now receive their honours against the backdrop of Gujarat rather than Delhi.
What Could the Gujarat Move Mean for Indian Cinema?
The immediate impact is symbolic, but the decision could also influence how future editions of the National Film Awards are perceived.
Bringing the Awards Beyond the Capital
One possible effect is greater visibility for destinations outside Delhi.
The National Film Awards are national in scope, representing India's diverse film industries and languages. A ceremony held outside the capital can reinforce the idea that the celebration of Indian cinema does not belong to one city alone.
India's film landscape extends across multiple regions, languages and creative traditions. A rotating or geographically diverse approach to hosting major national events could potentially give different parts of the country an opportunity to participate more directly in such occasions.
However, it remains unclear whether the 2026 move signals a broader change in future years or is simply a one-time departure from tradition.
Gujarat Gets a Major Cultural Spotlight
For Gujarat, hosting the National Film Awards is an important moment.
The ceremony will bring some of India's best-known actors and filmmakers to Ekta Nagar, putting the destination under an additional national spotlight.
The location also creates a distinctive visual identity for the event. Instead of the familiar government-building setting associated with Delhi ceremonies, the awards will take place in a destination known for the Statue of Unity.
That could make the 2026 ceremony particularly memorable for audiences following the event through television, digital media and social platforms.
The Statue of Unity Connection
The choice of Ekta Nagar also gives the event an unmistakable connection to the Statue of Unity.
The monument, dedicated to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, stands 597 feet tall and was inaugurated in 2018.
Its presence provides an iconic backdrop for an event celebrating Indian cinema.
The combination of a major national cultural event and a prominent national landmark could give the 2026 National Film Awards a different character from previous ceremonies.
Rather than simply changing cities, the organisers have moved the event to a location with a strong visual and symbolic identity.
Could This Become a New Tradition?
That is one of the biggest questions surrounding the 2026 ceremony.
The move does not automatically mean that future National Film Awards ceremonies will travel from state to state. The information available so far establishes the Gujarat venue for this year's event but does not indicate that a permanent rotating system has been announced.
Still, the decision could encourage discussion about how major national cultural ceremonies should be organised.
Should such events remain in the capital because of their national and governmental significance? Or could different states host them from time to time, allowing more parts of India to share in the occasion?
The 2026 ceremony may become an important reference point in that conversation.
Why the 2026 Ceremony Is Different
There are several reasons why this year's National Film Awards are likely to attract unusual attention:
- The ceremony is moving away from Delhi.
- Gujarat will host the event at Ekta Nagar.
- President Droupadi Murmu will present the honours.
- The event comes after the announcement of the 72nd National Film Awards winners in July.
- Major winners include Yami Gautam, Mammootty, Kartik Aaryan and Randeep Hooda.
- The Statue of Unity will provide the setting for the ceremony.
Together, these factors make the 2026 event more than a routine awards ceremony.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony take place?
The ceremony is scheduled for September 22, 2026, in Gujarat.
Where will the National Film Awards 2026 be held?
The ceremony will be held in Kevadia, Gujarat, now known as Ekta Nagar.
Who will present the National Film Awards?
President Droupadi Murmu will present the honours at the ceremony.
Why is the 2026 ceremony significant?
It marks a major departure from the long-standing tradition of holding the National Film Awards in Delhi. The event is moving to Gujarat for the 2026 ceremony.
Which film won Best Feature Film?
Article 370 has been named the Best Feature Film at the 72nd National Film Awards.
Who won Best Actress?
Yami Gautam won the Best Actress honour for her performance in Article 370.
Who won Best Actor?
Mammootty and Kartik Aaryan are sharing the Best Actor honour for Bramayugam and Chandu Champion, respectively.
Conclusion
The decision to move the National Film Awards 2026 from Delhi to Gujarat is a significant moment in the history of India's most prominent national cinema honours. After decades in which Delhi served as the familiar centre of the ceremony, the 72nd edition will bring the event to Ekta Nagar on September 22.
The move is especially striking because of the location. With the Statue of Unity as the defining landmark of Ekta Nagar, this year's ceremony will have a setting unlike the traditional Delhi venue.
Whether the Gujarat event becomes the beginning of a wider practice of taking the National Film Awards to different parts of India remains to be seen. For now, it represents an important break from tradition and gives the 2026 awards a distinct identity.
As the country's leading film personalities gather in Gujarat to receive their honours, the National Film Awards will demonstrate that while the recognition remains national, the stage on which India celebrates its cinema can change.