CNN Central News & Network-ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: The Central Government has announced a major change in the venue policy for the National Film Awards, ending the long-standing practice of holding the prestigious ceremony in Delhi. According to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the awards ceremony will now be organised in different parts of the country in different years. The government said the initiative aims to take the National Film Awards beyond the national capital and connect the prestigious event with India’s diverse cultural and cinematic landscape.
The new arrangement will begin with the 72nd National Film Awards. The ceremony is scheduled to be held on September 22, 2026, at Ekta Nagar, Kevadia, Gujarat, near the Statue of Unity. President Droupadi Murmu will present the awards to filmmakers, actors, technicians and other artists for their outstanding contributions to Indian cinema.
The decision comes amid a debate over moving the ceremony from Delhi to Gujarat. Filmmaker Rahul Dholakia questioned why Gujarat was selected instead of other major film-producing regions such as Maharashtra, Kerala or Tamil Nadu.
The government, however, has described the move as a broader national initiative intended to showcase India’s linguistic, cultural and regional diversity in cinema. The new policy could see the National Film Awards hosted by different states in the coming years.
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