Padma Awards 2026 Ceremony Today; Mammootty, Alka Yagnik Among Awardees

India’s top civilian honours are set to recognise some of the entertainment industry’s most celebrated names.

At the Padma Awards 2026 ceremony in New Delhi on Sunday. Legendary actors, playback singers and theatre veterans will be among those honoured during the first Civil Investiture Ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan. President Droupadi Murmu will confer the awards on May 25. This year, the Government of India has announced 131 Padma honours, comprising five Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan and 113 Padma Shri awards.

Among the biggest names from the film and music world being recognised this year are late Dharmendra, Mammootty, Alka Yagnik and R. Madhavan.

Instituted in 1954, the Padma Awards are among the country’s highest civilian honours and are presented for distinguished service across disciplines including art, literature, education, medicine, sports, public affairs and social work.

Veteran Hindi cinema icon Dharmendra will be honoured posthumously with the Padma Vibhushan. The actor, whose career spanned more than six decades, starred in classics such as Sholay, Chupke Chupke, Phool Aur Patthar and Satyakam.

Malayalam superstar Mammootty will receive the Padma Bhushan for his contribution to Indian cinema. The actor has worked extensively across Malayalam, Tamil and Hindi films and was earlier conferred the Padma Shri in 1998.

Celebrated playback singer Alka Yagnik has been selected for the Padma Bhushan. One of the most successful voices in Bollywood music, she has delivered several iconic songs over a career spanning decades.

Actor R. Madhavan will be honoured with the Padma Shri. Popularly known as “Maddy”, he is known for films such as Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein, Rang De Basanti, 3 Idiots and Rocketry: The Nambi Effect.

Late actor Satish Shah will also be posthumously honoured with the Padma Shri. Known for his comic brilliance, he became a household name through television shows including Sarabhai vs Sarabhai and Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi, besides memorable film roles.

Bengali cinema veteran Prosenjit Chatterjee has been selected for the Padma Shri. One of Bengali cinema’s biggest stars, he has acted in more than 350 films during a career spanning nearly five decades.

Veteran theatre and film actor Anil Kumar Rastogi will also receive the Padma Shri. He is known for his work in theatre as well as films such as Ishaqzaade, Mulk and Thappad.

Senior actor-director Arvind Vaidya is another Padma Shri awardee this year. With a career spanning over six decades, he is currently seen as Hasmukh “Babuji” Shah in the television show Anupamaa.