National Film Awards Leave Delhi After 72 Years, Head To Gujarat

The 72nd National Film Awards will break a 72-year tradition when the prestigious ceremony moves out of Delhi to Ekta Nagar (Kevadia), Gujarat, on September 22, 2026. President Droupadi Murmu will present the honours, making it the first time the National Film Awards ceremony will be held outside the national capital.

The awards were first presented in 1954, with Delhi’s Vigyan Bhawan hosting most ceremonies over the decades. The decision to shift the event to Ekta Nagar marks a significant departure from that established tradition.

The Gujarat venue is home to the 597-foot Statue of Unity, dedicated to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2018. Hosting the ceremony there provides an opportunity to connect one of the country’s biggest cultural events with a major national landmark and showcase Gujarat’s tourism and heritage.

The move could also open the possibility of turning the National Film Awards into a travelling national cultural event. Instead of holding the ceremony permanently in one location, future editions could rotate among states, allowing destinations such as Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata, Kochi, Jaipur, Bhubaneswar and Guwahati to showcase their regional cinema, music, cuisine, crafts and heritage.

Such a model could bring filmmakers, artists, journalists and visitors to different parts of the country while giving national attention to destinations beyond Delhi. It could also provide a platform for screenings, cultural programmes and exhibitions alongside the main awards ceremony.

However, Delhi need not be permanently excluded. The capital's constitutional and ceremonial importance could be preserved through periodic hosting, while other states receive opportunities to stage the event.

The 2026 ceremony could therefore become a test case for taking major national cultural events beyond Delhi, combining recognition of Indian cinema with the promotion of the country's diverse cultural and tourism destinations.