For more than seven decades, the National Film Awards have had a familiar address. Since their inception in 1954, India’s most prestigious cinematic honours have overwhelmingly been presented in New Delhi, with Vigyan Bhavan serving as the ceremony’s traditional home. There was just one major exception: the 1971 ceremony, which was held in Chennai.
Now, that tradition is about to change. On September 22, 2026, the National Film Awards 2026 venue will be Ekta Nagar in Gujarat, placing the country’s biggest celebration of cinema against one of its most ambitious modern tourism destinations. President Droupadi Murmu is scheduled to present the awards to 92 winners at a specially constructed venue close to the Statue of Unity.
From Vigyan Bhavan To The Statue Of Unity
The move also comes at a moment when Vigyan Bhavan’s long association with the awards is coming to an end. The New Delhi landmark is slated for demolition as part of the redevelopment of the Central Vista, with its annexe already demolished. That makes the 2026 ceremony not merely a change of scenery, but a significant moment in the history of the National Film Awards.
In Ekta Nagar, the organisers are going considerably bigger on infrastructure. A German aluminium structural dome is being erected in the Bus Bay area of the Statue of Unity complex. The temporary structure is expected to accommodate around 1,000 guests, including dignitaries and leading personalities from the Indian film industry. And there is an almost cinematic quality to the choice of venue. The awards will be presented in the vicinity of the Statue of Unity, the 182-metre monument dedicated to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and the world’s tallest statue.
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Why Ekta Nagar?
The answer lies in how dramatically Ekta Nagar has transformed. Once known as Kevadia, the town rose to national prominence after the Statue of Unity project turned the Narmada landscape into a major tourism hub. The monument, inaugurated in 2018, has since become the anchor for an expanding destination of gardens, museums, wildlife experiences, adventure activities and entertainment.
Today, the Ekta Nagar tourist destination is much more than a place to photograph an enormous statue. The surrounding area offers a sizeable menu of things to do in Ekta Nagar, including the Statue of Unity Viewing Gallery, Valley of Flowers, Jungle Safari, river cruises, the Cactus Garden, Butterfly Garden, Glow Garden and Children’s Nutrition Park. The official visitor ecosystem lists more than 30 attractions and experiences across nature, culture, adventure and family entertainment. The Jungle Safari, for instance, spans 375 acres and features wildlife from different biogeographical regions, while the Viewing Gallery inside the Statue of Unity provides expansive views of the Narmada landscape and Sardar Sarovar Dam.
A Technology-Enabled Tourism Hub
Beyond the Statue of Unity, Ekta Nagar is emerging as one of Gujarat’s most technology-enabled tourism destinations, combining smart infrastructure, electric mobility and immersive visitor experiences with large-scale hospitality and entertainment projects. The destination has introduced electric buses and smart mobility infrastructure, while attractions such as the Children’s Nutrition Park incorporate technologies including 5D virtual reality and augmented reality. Solar power projects, digital visitor services and integrated transport infrastructure further reflect the government’s vision of developing Ekta Nagar as a modern, sustainable and technology-driven tourism hub rather than simply a gateway to the Statue of Unity.
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A New Gujarat Tourism Showcase
The National Film Awards could therefore become another chapter in Ekta Nagar’s evolution from a monument-led excursion into a full-fledged destination. For Gujarat tourism, the timing is particularly useful. The ceremony brings some of the country’s biggest filmmakers, actors, technicians and cultural figures to a location that has increasingly been positioned as a premium leisure and experiential destination. Its combination of monumental architecture, landscaped attractions, riverfront experiences and hospitality also gives the region the ingredients for a growing luxury travel Gujarat proposition.
