New Delhi — Twenty artists. Thousands of entries. One of India’s most closely watched national platforms for contemporary visual art.
The Lalit Kala Akademi Awards 2026 have been announced at the 65th National Exhibition of Art in New Delhi, with 20 artists receiving recognition for works spanning painting, sculpture, drawing, printmaking and other visual-art practices. The exhibition received 6,175 artworks from 2,495 artists representing 27 States and Union Territories, underlining the scale of participation behind this year’s selection.
The announcement, made on September 27, puts the spotlight not only on the 20 winners but also on the wide range of artistic practices represented at the annual National Exhibition of Art.
Lalit Kala Akademi Awards 2026: How 20 Artists Were Selected
The selection process unfolded in two stages.
A First-Tier Jury examined the submissions and selected 270 artworks for display at the 65th National Exhibition of Art. A Second-Tier Jury then selected 20 works by 20 artists for the Lalit Kala Akademi Awards.
That means the award list represents the final stage of a much larger national selection process — one that began with thousands of artworks submitted by artists across the country.
The exhibition itself is being held at the Lalit Kala Art Galleries, Rabindra Bhavan, New Delhi. The Akademi’s official website lists the 65th National Exhibition of Art as an ongoing and extended event.
Who Are the 20 Lalit Kala Akademi Award Winners?
The 2026 award list covers several disciplines and materials, reflecting the breadth of contemporary Indian visual art.
Among the recognised works are:
- Chandra Shekhar Sain — My Entire World – I, sculpture
- Gopal Chandra Naskar — The Tune of The Srimad Bhagavad Gita, painting
- Kishor Kumar Narkhadiwala — Paryavaran, painting
- Mrinal Dey — Hopeless Settlement, painting
- Nidhi Chopra — Tangible Dreams, sculpture
- Nimai Singh Sarungbam — Mudra – I, sculpture
- Pankaj Kumar Sharma — Haloed Traveler – II, drawing
- Pooja Rajpoot — Prakriti Shoshan, sculpture
- Praveen Kumar — Where the Walls Remember, painting
- Pritam Madhukar Deuskar — Of Time and The City, printmaking
- Rajendra Prasad — Sujata With Buddha, painting
- Ramesh Vithal Thorat — Untitled – II, painting
- Raviram Ramakrishnan — Fisherwoman, sculpture
- Sanjay Kumar — When Memories Come Back – 7, painting
- Sanjay Kumar Sahani — Youth, painting
- Sanjib Kumar Gogoi — Aakar Nirankar – II, painting
- Santa Deb — Attraction of Simplicity, sculpture
- Siddharth Shahjirao Shingade — Trees, painting
- Usharanjan Mandal — Wheel of A Crowded City, mixed/other medium
- Vijendra Sharma — Life 2025, painting.
The range is notable: terracotta, ceramic, teak wood, marble, etching, copper, acrylic, oil, watercolour, mixed media and other techniques all appear across the winning works.
What Makes the 65th National Exhibition Significant?
The National Exhibition of Art is not a new addition to India’s cultural calendar.
According to the Lalit Kala Akademi, the exhibition began in 1955 and has evolved over the decades as a platform for representing developments in visual art. The Akademi describes it as its most prestigious annual exhibition.
Its importance lies partly in the breadth of participation. Rather than focusing on a single artistic medium, the exhibition brings together different approaches to painting, sculpture, drawing, printmaking and other visual practices.
The 2026 numbers show that reach clearly: 2,495 artists from 27 States and Union Territories submitted 6,175 artworks before the juries narrowed the field to 270 exhibited works and ultimately 20 award-winning works.
Lalit Kala Akademi: India’s National Academy of Art
Established in 1954, the Lalit Kala Akademi functions as India’s national academy for visual arts and operates under the Ministry of Culture.
Over the years, its National Exhibition of Art has become a platform where established practices and newer forms of visual expression meet.
The institution’s own history notes that the exhibition has travelled to major Indian art centres over the decades. It also began allowing the sale of exhibits under Akademi supervision in 1958, linking the exhibition not only to recognition but also to the wider ecosystem around artists and art collections.
From 6,175 Entries to 20 Awards
The numbers tell the story better than a long list of names.
6,175 artworks entered the 65th National Exhibition of Art.
2,495 artists submitted those works.
They represented 27 States and Union Territories.
The First-Tier Jury selected 270 artworks for exhibition.
The Second-Tier Jury selected 20 works by 20 artists for the Lalit Kala Akademi Awards.
That narrowing process gives this year’s award announcement a significance beyond a conventional honours list. The 20 winners emerged from a national field that included thousands of works and a wide variety of artistic approaches.
Exhibition Extended Until September 30
For art students, artists, researchers and visitors in Delhi, there is still an opportunity to see the exhibition.
The 65th National Exhibition of Art 2026 has been extended until September 30, with selected award-winning works also made available for sale as part of an initiative connected with artist support and access to art. The Lalit Kala Akademi’s official website also currently lists the 65th National Exhibition of Art among its ongoing events.
