The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has announced that the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony will take place on 22 September 2026 at Ekta Nagar in Kevadia, Gujarat. The President of India will present awards honouring outstanding achievements in Indian cinema for the year 2024. This marks the first time the National Film Awards, one of India’s most prestigious cinema honours, will be held outside Delhi.
Key Awards and Winners
Article 370 has been named Best Feature Film. Bhangaar is the Best Non-Feature Film, while Ram-Nami received recognition as the Best Documentary.
In acting categories, Mammootty for Bramayugam and Kartik Aaryan for Chandu Champion have been selected for Best Actor in a Leading Role. Yami Gautam will receive the Best Actress in a Leading Role award for Article 370. Randeep Hooda has been chosen for the Best Debut Director award for Swatantrya Veer Savarkar.
Other films receiving honours include Kalki 2898 AD, Amaran, Pushpa: The Rule Part-02, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 and Stree 2 across various categories.
Veteran actor Anant Nag will receive the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2024 in recognition of his five-decade career and contributions to Kannada and Indian cinema. The President will present this honour at the ceremony.
What This Means for You
If you work in or follow Indian cinema, you will see recognition given to a range of films across languages and regions. The decision to hold the awards in Gujarat rather than Delhi signals that the Ministry plans to rotate the ceremony across different states in future years, potentially bringing the celebration of Indian cinema closer to various parts of the country. For competitive exam aspirants, this represents an important institutional development in how India’s film honours are administered and celebrated nationally.