The 72nd National Film Awards ceremony will be held at Ekta Nagar in Gujarat on September 22, moving away from its traditional Delhi setting.
The National Film Awards ceremony is set for a significant change of venue, with the 72nd edition scheduled to be held at Ekta Nagar, formerly known as Kevadia, in Gujarat’s Narmada district on Tuesday, September 22, 2026.
President Droupadi Murmu is expected to present the honours during the ceremony near the Statue of Unity. The event will recognise achievements in Indian cinema across feature films, non-feature films and writing on cinema.
The ceremony has traditionally been associated with New Delhi, particularly Vigyan Bhawan. Several reports have described the Gujarat event as the first time in the awards’ 72-year history that the main ceremony will move outside Delhi, although one report notes that it is not the first National Film Awards-related event held beyond the capital. The confirmed development is that the 2026 presentation ceremony is shifting from its customary Delhi venue to Gujarat.
National Film Awards Move From Their Traditional Delhi Venue
The decision represents a major departure from the ceremony’s long association with the national capital. Vigyan Bhawan has hosted most editions since the National Film Awards were instituted in the 1950s, making Delhi an important part of the event’s public identity.
This year’s ceremony will instead unfold against the backdrop of the Statue of Unity, the monument dedicated to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Ekta Nagar has increasingly been promoted as a destination for high-profile national and international gatherings.
The relocation gives Gujarat an opportunity to host leading actors, filmmakers, technicians and other representatives from India’s diverse film industries. It also places one of the country’s most important cultural events at a major tourist destination rather than a conventional government venue.
September 22 Ceremony to Be Presented by President Murmu
President Droupadi Murmu is scheduled to present the awards to 92 recipients. The ceremony is expected to run for approximately 75 minutes and welcome nearly 1,000 guests, including senior officials and prominent members of the film industry.
Preparations are underway in the Bus Bay area of the Statue of Unity complex. Authorities plan to erect a temporary German aluminium structural dome with seating and infrastructure suitable for the national event.
Officials are coordinating security, protocol, transportation and venue-management arrangements ahead of the President’s visit. Narmada district officials and the Gujarat government are working together to prepare the complex for the recipients, dignitaries and invited guests.
Ekta Nagar Event Will Honour Indian Cinema’s Winners
The 72nd National Film Awards recognise films released in 2024. The winners were announced in July, setting the stage for the September presentation ceremony.
Article 370 was named Best Feature Film, while Yami Gautam received the Best Actress in a Leading Role honour. Mammootty and Kartik Aaryan shared the Best Actor in a Leading Role award for Bramayugam and Chandu Champion, respectively.
Rajkumar Periasamy won Best Direction for Amaran, while Randeep Hooda received the Best Debut Director honour for Swatantrya Veer Savarkar. Kalki 2898 AD, Captain Miller, Maharaja, Pushpa: The Rule Part-02 and Stree 2 were also recognised in different categories.
The awards bring together talent from multiple languages and regions, making the venue decision relevant to the entire Indian film industry rather than any single cinema market.
Venue Selection Draws Questions From Filmmaker Rahul Dholakia
The move has also generated debate over why Gujarat was selected. National Film Award-winning filmmaker Rahul Dholakia questioned the choice of Kevadia and suggested that states with larger film-production centres, including Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana, could also have been considered.
His remarks focused on the cultural connection between the ceremony and regions with major film industries. However, Gujarat officials view the event as an opportunity to expand Ekta Nagar’s identity as a destination for prestigious national gatherings.
With the September 22 ceremony approaching, attention will now turn to the preparations at the Statue of Unity and the arrival of award winners from across India. The change of venue ensures that the 72nd National Film Awards will stand apart from the ceremony’s recent editions.
