A total of 51 artistes were honoured with the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards at a ceremony held at Lok Bhawan in Lucknow on 5 June 2026. The awards recognized outstanding contributions to music, dance, theatre, and folk arts for the years 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.
The event was organized by the Uttar Pradesh Sangeet Natak Akademi, which plays an important role in preserving and promoting the state’s rich cultural heritage. Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak attended the ceremony as the chief guest and presented the awards to the recipients.
The ceremony also featured special honours, including the Safdar Hashmi Award and the BM Shah Award, which recognize excellence in theatre and stage performance. The awards highlighted the contributions of artists who have enriched India’s performing arts traditions.
Established in 1953, the Sangeet Natak Akademi is India’s national academy for music, dance, and drama under the Ministry of Culture. Its awards are considered among the highest national recognitions in the field of performing arts.
The Uttar Pradesh Sangeet Natak Akademi has also made significant efforts to preserve cultural heritage, maintaining more than 5,500 hours of rare audio-video recordings of folk music and theatre traditions. The event reflected India’s continued commitment to celebrating and safeguarding its diverse artistic and cultural legacy.
