The 72nd National Film Awards were scheduled for September 22, 2026 at Ekta Nagar in Gujarat under a plan to take future ceremonies beyond New Delhi. The Information and Broadcasting Ministry announced the arrangement on September 8.
The dates refer to different stages of the awards process. The presentation was a 2026 event, but the films being recognised belonged to the 2024 award year. A ceremony date should not be treated as the release year of the winning films.
The announced selections included Article 370 for Best Feature Film and separate recognition for non-feature work and writing on cinema. That structure means the awards are broader than a single ranking of popular theatrical releases.
The geographical change was also distinct from the judging process: taking presentations to different cities offers a new setting for the honours, but does not itself establish a change in selection standards or wider access to film production.
October 12 archive update: the ministry's September 22 ceremony report confirms that President Droupadi Murmu presented the awards at Ekta Nagar. The earlier announcement is retained here as historical context, not as an invitation to a forthcoming event.
