72nd National Film Awards 2026: When, where to watch ceremony live from Gujarat

The 72nd edition of the National Awards ceremony, is set to take place in Kevadia, Gujarat, on Tuesday (September 22, 2026). President Droupadi Murmu will present the awards for outstanding achievements in Indian cinema for 2024.

Breaking a decades-long tradition, the prestigious ceremony is being organised outside New Delhi for the first time, moving away from its historical venue at Vigyan Bhawan.

When, where to watch National Film Awards 2026

The award ceremony is set to begin at 3 p.m. IST, with the highly anticipated red carpet expected to start earlier at 2:30 p.m. For those who can’t attend the event, they can watch the entire event stream live online for free on the official DD National YouTube Channel.

National Awards winners

Established in 1954, the National Awards are considered one of the highest honours in Indian cinema. It celebrates outstanding achievements in feature films, non-feature films, and cinema writing, encompassing a diverse array of languages, regions and filmmaking styles.

The chairpersons of the three juries announced the winners on July 18, 2026.

At the 72nd National Awards, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award will be presented to veteran actor Anant Nag in recognition of his outstanding contribution to Indian cinema. With a career spanning over five decades, Anant Nag has made an enduring contribution to Kannada and Indian cinema through his diverse body of work. The honour celebrates his remarkable artistic journey and lasting contribution to the rich legacy of Indian cinema.

Yami Gautam-starrer ‘Article 370’ has bagged the Best Feature Film, while ‘Bhangaar’ has been selected as the Best Non-Feature Film and ‘Ram-Nami’ as the Best Documentary.

In the acting categories, Mammootty for ‘Bramayugam’ and Kartik Aaryan for ‘Chandu Champion’ have been selected for Best Actor in a Leading Role, while Yami Gautam will receive the Best Actress in a Leading Role award for ‘Article 370’.

Randeep Hooda has been selected for the Best Debut Director award for ‘Swatantrya Veer Savarkar’. Rajkumar Periasamy was honoured with the Best Director award for Amaran. Srikanth, starring Rajkummar Rao and directed by Tushar Hiranandani, was named Best Hindi Film, while Mithya won Best Kannada Film. Films including ‘Kalki 2898 AD’, ‘Amaran’, ‘Pushpa: The Rule’, ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3’ and ‘Stree 2’ will also receive honours in various categories.

Why the National Film Awards moved out of New Delhi

The 72nd National Film Awards also mark a new chapter in the celebration of Indian cinema. The ceremony, organised at Ekta Nagar, Gujarat, intended to take the National Film Awards beyond the National Capital.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has also decided to take the celebration of the National Film Awards to different parts of the country in the coming years. According to a press release, the initiative is primarily to bring the celebration of Indian cinema closer to different regions and showcase the country’s rich cultural and cinematic diversity.

(With ANI inputs)