The 72nd National Film Awards ceremony will be held in Gujarat on September 22, 2026, marking the first time the event has moved out of Delhi.
The ceremony will take place near the Statue of Unity in Ekta Nagar, a decision that has drawn both praise for regional promotion and criticism from filmmakers like Rahul Dholakia.
The shift is seen as part of a broader government initiative to decentralize major cultural events and promote tourism in the state of Gujarat.