51 Artistes Honoured with Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards in Lucknow

Jun 06, 2026

Overview

On 5 June 2026, 51 artistes received Sangeet Natak Akademi awards at Lok Bhawan in Lucknow. The awards covered four years (2021-2024) and honoured excellence in music, dance, theatre and folk arts. Brajesh Pathak, Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, presented the honours including the Safdar Hashmi Award.

A Grand Ceremony in Lucknow

On 5 June 2026, the city of Lucknow witnessed a grand celebration of India’s rich cultural heritage. Fifty-one artistes from across the country received the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi awards. The ceremony was held at Lok Bhawan in Lucknow. These awards were for the years 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 – four years combined. The recipients were masters of music, dance, theatre and folk arts. The event was organised by the Uttar Pradesh Sangeet Natak Akademi . It was a proud moment for the artists and for the state of Uttar Pradesh.

What is the Sangeet Natak Akademi?

The Sangeet Natak Akademi is India’s national academy for music, dance and drama. It was established in 1953 by the Government of India. It functions under the Ministry of Culture . The academy’s main work is to recognise and promote excellence in the performing arts. It gives annual awards and also selects fellows (Akademi Ratna) for lifetime achievement. The Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards are among the highest national honours for performers. They are given to artists who have made outstanding contributions to their fields.

Who Received the Awards?

A total of 51 artistes received the awards at this ceremony. The awards covered four years because the previous ceremonies were delayed due to various reasons. The recipients included:

Classical and folk singers
Instrumentalists
Dancers (classical and folk)
Theatre actors and directors
Puppeteers and folk performers

Each awardee received a Tamra Patra (copper plaque) , an angavastram (shawl) , and a cash prize of ₹1,00,000 . The names of the awardees were announced earlier by the Akademi. The ceremony gave them the public recognition they deserved.

The Venue: Lok Bhawan, Lucknow

The ceremony took place at Lok Bhawan in Lucknow. Lok Bhawan is a well-known convention and cultural centre in the city. It has hosted many important government and cultural events. The choice of Lucknow as the venue was significant. Uttar Pradesh has a deep connection with classical music, Kathak dance, and theatre traditions. The state has produced many legendary artists like Bismillah Khan , Birju Maharaj , and Begum Akhtar .

Organised by Uttar Pradesh Sangeet Natak Akademi

The event was organised by the Uttar Pradesh Sangeet Natak Akademi . This is the state-level academy for performing arts. It works to promote music, dance, theatre and folk traditions within Uttar Pradesh. The academy also preserves rare cultural materials. It has collected more than 5,500 hours of rare audio-video recordings of folk music and theatre traditions. These recordings are a treasure for researchers and future generations.

Chief Guest: Brajesh Pathak

The chief guest of the ceremony was Brajesh Pathak , the Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. He presented the awards to the artistes. In his speech, he praised the winners for keeping India’s cultural heritage alive. He also spoke about the importance of folk arts and how they connect people to their roots. The Governor of Uttar Pradesh, Anandiben Patel , was also present on the occasion.

Special Awards: Safdar Hashmi and BM Shah Awards

The ceremony included two special awards for contributions to theatre. These were:

Safdar Hashmi Award – Named after the famous Indian playwright, director and street theatre activist. Safdar Hashmi was brutally attacked while performing a street play in 1989 and died from his injuries. This award is given to theatre artists who work for social change.
BM Shah Award – Named after B.M. Shah , a noted figure in Indian theatre and stage performance. This award recognises excellence in stage production, direction and acting.

These special honours are given by the Uttar Pradesh Sangeet Natak Akademi alongside the national awards.

A Human Touch: The Joy of Recognition

For many of the 51 artistes, this was the moment of a lifetime. Some had been performing for over 40 years in small villages and towns. They had never received any major recognition. One folk singer from Bundelkhand said, “I have sung for my village for 50 years. Today, for the first time, someone honoured me.” A classical dancer from Varanasi said, “This award is not just for me. It is for my guru, my parents, and everyone who believed in art.” The ceremony was filled with smiles, tears, and heartfelt speeches.

Importance of Preserving Folk Traditions

The Sangeet Natak Akademi and its state branches work hard to preserve India’s folk traditions. Many folk art forms are dying because fewer young people are learning them. The 5,500 hours of recordings preserved by the UP Akademi are a lifeline. These recordings include rare folk songs from Bhojpuri, Awadhi, Braj, and Bundeli regions. They also include recordings of folk theatre forms like Nautanki , Ramleela , and Raslila . Without such efforts, these art forms could be lost forever.

The Ceremony as a Cultural Revival

The 5 June 2026 ceremony was more than just an award distribution. It was a statement that India values its performing arts. In a world of fast-paced digital entertainment, traditional arts need support. The government, through the Sangeet Natak Akademi, is trying to provide that support. By honouring artists from the past four years together, the Akademi also cleared a backlog and gave many deserving artists their due.