September 8, 2026

Breaking a 72-Year Tradition: The 72nd National Film Awards Ceremony Moves to Gujarat

Last Updated: 8 September 2026, 11:57 AM IST | Fact Checked By: SpotlightersPost Editorial Team India’s 72nd National Film Awards ceremony is taking a historic turn. Break with a 70-year tradition: the nation’s most prestigious movie awards are being held outside the capital. Moving the event to Gujarat highlights its rising visual appeal and tourism,... Read More

Last Updated: 8 September 2026, 11:57 AM IST | Fact Checked By: SpotlightersPost Editorial Team

India’s 72nd National Film Awards ceremony is taking a historic turn. Break with a 70-year tradition: the nation’s most prestigious movie awards are being held outside the capital. Moving the event to Gujarat highlights its rising visual appeal and tourism, offering a fresh new setting to honor India’s best films.

Breaking a 56-year tradition, the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony is heading to Ekta Nagar in Gujarat. This big move places the National Film Awards Gujarat event right at the foot of the Statue of Unity for a live outdoor broadcast on September 22, 2026, according to Vibes of India’s exclusive event coverage.

Table of Contents

A New Chapter: National Film Awards outside Delhi

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting’s announcement surprised the Indian film industry. The 72nd edition of the national honors is moving away from its traditional home. Since the awards were first introduced in 1954, New Delhi has been the principal host city, with Vigyan Bhawan serving as the home for nearly every presentation ceremony.

The upcoming event represents only the second time in 72 years that the awards ceremony has crossed Delhi’s borders. Since 1970, when the 17th awards took place in Chennai, the ceremony has always stayed in Delhi. Bringing the event National Film Awards Gujarat ends a 56 year tradition and creates a brand new practice of celebrating National Film Awards outside Delhi.

As reported by ThePrint’s official ceremony announcement, Indian President Droupadi Murmu is visiting the state on September 22, 2026, to present the trophies to the winners. The National Film Awards Gujarat ceremony is organized by the National Film Development Corporation, the agency running the awards since 2022.

Under the German-Aluminium Dome: Logistical Preparations in Ekta Nagar

Behind the scenes, the state machinery is pulling out all the stops to mount a massive physical setup worthy of the country’s film elite. The venue is situated right beneath the 597-foot Statue of Unity, the tallest monument in the world, which opened in 2018 in memory of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

To host President Murmu, the winners, and almost 1,000 attendees, teams are working fast to put up a temporary German-aluminum structural dome. To ensure safety and protection from the weather, a heavy-duty outdoor theater is being set up in the Bus Bay section of the Statue of Unity Ekta Nagar complex. The main program is scheduled for exactly 75 minutes.

Narmada District Collector Ganga Singh is leading the local administrative preparations. He recently led a major meeting with police, transport, and tourism officials to settle security, travel plans, and event rules. The National Film Awards Gujarat ceremony plays an important role in making Kevadia a leading location for major national events.

Under the Gujarati Sky: Confirmed Winners of the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony

Even though the main event moved to western India, the top winners were revealed earlier in New Delhi on July 18, 2026. These honors celebrate films certified in 2024, and you can see the complete list in the Hindustan Times’s national award winners list.

Article 370 bagged the Best Feature Film award, with lead actress Yami Gautam winning Best Actress. Meanwhile, two actors shared the Best Actor trophy: Malayalam star Mammootty for his performance in Bramayugam and Kartik Aaryan for transforming physically in Chandu Champion.

Randeep Hooda won Best Debut Director for his biographical film Swatantrya Veer Savarkar, where he also starred as the lead. The Telugu sci-fi film Kalki 2898 AD took home the award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment. Meanwhile, Dhanush’s Tamil action film Captain Miller, directed by Arun Matheswaran, won Best Feature Film Promoting National, Social and Environmental Values.

Policy-Backed Progress: Inside the Gujarat Cinematic Tourism Policy 2022

This historic geographic relocation didn’t happen in a vacuum. It is the direct result of a highly calculated, policy-backed commercial push. The state government announced the comprehensive Cinematic Tourism Policy 2022 to turn the state into a preferred filming and entertainment destination between 2022 and 2027.

Under the policy guidelines managed by the Industries and Mines Department, the state offers a 25% base subsidy on eligible local production expenses. This subsidy is capped based on how many projects a production house shoots in the state, offering up to ₹1.50 Crore for the first film, ₹2 Crore for the second, and ₹2.50 Crore for the third and subsequent projects.

To attract national and international film festivals and award shows, the state introduced a dedicated “Mega Film Events” incentive. This program offers a 20% subsidy on eligible event expenditures, capped at a massive ₹25 Crore. To qualify, organizers must spend a minimum of ₹10 Crore within the state and obtain prior clearance from the State Level Empowered Committee, which is chaired by the Chief Minister and includes 11 senior members.

The policy also provides capital grants to build long-term local capacity. Private developers building integrated Film Cities on at least 30 acres can receive up to a 15% capital subsidy for investments under ₹500 Crore, and a 20% subsidy for investments exceeding that threshold. The state also offers a 100% stamp duty reimbursement on land transfers and leases for these studios.

Consecutive Filmfares and the Live Concert Economy

The National Film Awards Gujarat are part of a continuous pipeline of mega entertainment events. Gujarat has already hosted major movie award shows. In July 2023, the state government signed a big deal to bring the 69th Filmfare Awards to Gujarat. State tourism commissioner Dr. Sourabh Pardhi and Worldwide Media CEO Deepak Lamba signed the agreement in Gandhinagar, and the event took place at GIFT City in early 2024.

Building on that success, the Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Limited signed a second consecutive agreement in August 2025 to host the 70th Filmfare Awards. This agreement was signed by state tourism managing director Prabhav Joshi and Worldwide Media’s Rohit Gopakumar, with prominent filmmaker Karan Johar and actor Vikrant Massey attending the signing ceremony.

The state is attracting more global events than ever before. According to Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium, which holds 100,000 people, allows the city to host big sports events and huge concerts, including Coldplay. The government supports production crews by offering streamlined permissions and up to a 50% discount on state-owned hotel stays.

The Hospitality Boom: Room Demands and Vadodara’s RevPAR Surge

The arrival of film crews, trade delegates, and VIP tourists is creating a major boom in the local hotel industry. According to Gujarat Hotels Limited’s 43rd Annual General Meeting, demand for high-end hotel rooms grew by 14% in 2024–25, four times higher than in 2018–19.

Vadodara city, which serves as the primary transit gateway for guests traveling to Ekta Nagar, has recorded the strongest hotel performance. The city saw an 18% year-on-year growth in Revenue Per Available Room. WelcomHotel Vadodara, the first five-star hotel in the city licensed to ITC Hotels Limited, saw its license fee income rise to ₹27.35 Crore, contributing to a total income of ₹7.45 Crore, a license fee of ₹4.10 Crore, and a net post-tax profit of ₹5.30 Crore.

The property has regularly hosted international leaders, including the Prime Minister of Spain, and provided premium outdoor catering services during the inaugural India vs West Indies Women’s One-Day International Series at the newly opened Hotel Stadium in Vadodara.

To keep up with this heavy traffic, the state’s budget for the financial year 2025-26 has allocated ₹278 Crore to build high-speed corridors linking Vadodara to Ekta Nagar, alongside ₹210 Crore to build a new Greenfield Airport at Dahod and expand the existing airport terminals in Vadodara, Surat, Bhavnagar, and Porbandar.

The National Film Awards Location & Production History

Edition of the Awards	Year	Hosted City	Host Venue	Historical Significance
1st Edition	1954	New Delhi	Vigyan Bhawan	Inception of the national cinema awards under the Union Government
17th Edition	1970	Madras (Chennai)	University Centenary Auditorium	The first time in history the ceremony was hosted outside New Delhi
71st Edition	2025	New Delhi	Vigyan Bhawan	Graced by President Droupadi Murmu, honoring films certified in 2023
72nd Edition	2026	Ekta Nagar (Kevadia)	Statue of Unity Complex	Second time in history, and first in 56 years, the event moves outside Delhi

Most Asked Questions (FAQs)

Where is the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony being held?

The 72nd National Film Awards ceremony was held in Ekta Nagar, Gujarat, directly in front of the 597-foot Statue of Unity complex, on September 22, 2026.

Why are the National Film Awards being held outside Delhi?

The relocation is part of a strategic state government push supported by the Cinematic Tourism Policy 2022 to showcase regional attractions and promote the state as a premier national film destination.

Has the National Film Awards ceremony ever been held outside Delhi before?

Yes. The ceremony was held outside New Delhi once before in 1970, when the 17th National Film Awards were hosted at the University Centenary Auditorium in Madras (now Chennai).

Which actors won the Best Actor award at the 72nd National Film Awards?

The Best Actor in a Leading Role award was shared by Mammootty for his performance in Bramayugam and Kartik Aaryan for his role in Chandu Champion.

Where can I stream the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony live?

The ceremony will be broadcast live across national TV networks and digital streaming platforms on September 22, 2026. Official streaming links will be confirmed by the National Film Development Corporation.

Who is presenting the National Film Awards in Gujarat?

The President of India, Droupadi Murmu, will travel to Ekta Nagar to present the prestigious honors to the winners during the 75-minute ceremony.

What is the budget subsidy for hosting mega film events under Gujarat’s Cinematic Tourism Policy?

The state offers a 20% subsidy on eligible local event expenditures, capped at a maximum of ₹25 Crore, for mega events that spend a minimum of ₹10 Crore in Gujarat.

How are Vadodara hotels impacted by the National Film Awards in Ekta Nagar?

Vadodara serves as the main transit hub, driving hotel Revenue Per Available Room up by 18% and increasing upscale hotel room demand by 14% year-on-year.

What is the significance of the German-aluminium dome at the Statue of Unity?

The specialized structure is being built in the Bus Bay area to serve as a weather-proof, highly secure venue to host the President, winners, and 1,000 national dignitaries.