National Teachers Award 2026 Ceremony: Date, Venue and Key Details
The National Teachers Awards 2026 ceremony will be held on Saturday, September 5, 2026, coinciding with Teachers’ Day in India. President Droupadi Murmu will confer the awards on outstanding educators at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
National Teachers Award 2026 – Key Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Event | National Teachers Awards 2026 |
| Date | September 5, 2026 |
| Day | Saturday |
| Venue | Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi |
| Chief Guest | President Droupadi Murmu |
| School Teacher Awardees | 48 teachers |
| Higher Education & Polytechnic Awardees | 21 teachers/faculty members |
| Organised by | Ministry of Education, Government of India |
| Occasion | Teachers’ Day |
| Rehearsal | September 4, 2026 |
48 School Teachers to Receive National Awards
A total of 48 school teachers have been selected for the 2026 National Teachers Awards. They represent 27 States, 7 Union Territories and 6 Central Government organisations. The selection was conducted through a multi-stage process involving district/regional, state/organisation and national-level scrutiny.
Among the 48 school teachers, 26 are male and 22 are female. The awards recognise educators who have demonstrated exceptional commitment, innovation and impact in school education.
21 Awards for Higher Education and Polytechnics
In a separate but related ceremony, 21 teachers and faculty members from Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and polytechnics will also receive National Awards to Teachers on September 5 at Vigyan Bhawan.
The 21 awardees include:
- 12 teachers/faculty from Central Higher Education Institutions
- 5 from State Universities, including government and private institutions
- 4 from Polytechnics, including government and private institutions
What Happens at the Ceremony?
The National Teachers Awards ceremony is organised annually by the Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education. The programme celebrates educators who have made a significant contribution to improving education and enriching students’ lives.
As part of the 2026 ceremony, short documentaries highlighting the exemplary work of each school-teacher awardee will also be showcased.
Selection Process
The National Teachers Awards follow a structured selection process designed to identify teachers who have demonstrated measurable excellence and innovation.
For school teachers, the 2026 process included:
- Online self-nominations
- District/Regional-level shortlisting
- State/Organisation-level selection
- Interaction with the Independent National Jury
- Final recommendations by the Jury
- Approval by the Union Education Minister
- Award ceremony at Vigyan Bhawan
The official schedule placed the rehearsal and award ceremony on September 4 and 5, 2026.
Live Telecast
The National Teachers Awards ceremony is also scheduled to be available through Doordarshan and the Ministry of Education’s SWAYAM PRABHA channels, allowing people across India to follow the national celebration.
Why September 5?
India observes Teachers’ Day on September 5, the birth anniversary of former President and renowned philosopher-educator Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. The National Teachers Awards are traditionally presented on this day to recognise teachers whose work has made a meaningful difference to education.
Official Information
The official National Teachers’ Awards portal provides information about the awards, guidelines, awardees and previous ceremonies. National Teachers’ Awards official portal
In short: The National Teachers Awards 2026 will take place on September 5 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, with President Droupadi Murmu presenting awards to 48 school teachers, alongside 21 teachers/faculty members from higher education institutions and polytechnics.