The Padma Awards 2026 ceremony will be held today at Rashtrapati Bhavan, where President Droupadi Murmu will present the first set of civilian honours. Dharmendra, Mammootty, Alka Yagnik, R Madhavan, Prosenjit Chatterjee and Satish Shah are among the major entertainment names in this year’s list.
Padma Awards 2026 ceremony begins at Rashtrapati Bhavan
The Padma Awards 2026 ceremony is set to take place today at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, bringing together some of India’s most respected names from cinema, music, public service, arts and other fields. President Droupadi Murmu will present the first set of awards at the civil investiture ceremony, which is scheduled to begin at 5:00 pm at Ganatantra Mandap. The ceremony will be streamed live on Akashvani AIR’s YouTube channel, giving viewers across the country a chance to watch the national honours being presented.
This year, the government approved 131 Padma Awards, including five Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan and 113 Padma Shri honours. In the first round of the investiture ceremony, 66 awardees are expected to receive their honours, including two Padma Vibhushan, six Padma Bhushan and 58 Padma Shri recipients. The remaining awardees will be honoured in the second phase later.
The entertainment industry has a strong presence in this year’s list. Late legendary actor Dharmendra is being honoured posthumously with the Padma Vibhushan for his contribution to Indian cinema. Malayalam superstar Mammootty and popular playback singer Alka Yagnik are among the Padma Bhushan honourees. Actors R Madhavan, Prosenjit Chatterjee, Anil Rastogi and late Satish Shah are among the Padma Shri recipients from the entertainment field.
Cinema icons take centre stage
The biggest emotional moment of the ceremony is expected to be the posthumous honour for Dharmendra, one of Hindi cinema’s most loved stars. His long career, mass popularity and contribution to Indian cinema make the recognition one of the major highlights of the 2026 Padma Awards. Reports also suggest that Hema Malini is expected to receive the honour on his behalf, making the moment even more significant for fans of the veteran actor.
Mammootty’s Padma Bhushan recognition is another major talking point. The Malayalam superstar has built a remarkable career across decades and remains one of Indian cinema’s most respected performers. His award is being celebrated not just by Malayalam cinema fans, but also by film lovers across India. Alka Yagnik’s Padma Bhushan also adds a strong musical highlight to the ceremony, as her voice has shaped some of the most memorable songs in Indian cinema.
R Madhavan’s Padma Shri recognition brings attention to an actor who has worked across languages and industries, from Tamil cinema to Hindi films and pan-India projects. Prosenjit Chatterjee’s inclusion highlights the importance of Bengali cinema, while Satish Shah’s posthumous honour recognises his lasting contribution to film, television and theatre. Together, these names show how the 2026 Padma Awards are recognising not only mainstream popularity but also long-term artistic contribution.
Vice President CP Radhakrishnan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah are among the dignitaries expected to attend the ceremony. The Padma Awards are announced every year around Republic Day and are among India’s highest civilian honours. They recognise distinguished service in fields such as art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, medicine, literature, education, sports, trade, industry and civil service.
The Padma Vibhushan is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service, the Padma Bhushan recognises distinguished service of a high order, and the Padma Shri honours distinguished service in any field. For viewers, today’s ceremony is not just an awards event, but a national moment that celebrates decades of work, cultural impact and public contribution. With major names from cinema and music included this year, the Padma Awards 2026 ceremony is expected to attract strong public attention and high online viewership.
