The Government of India has announced the prestigious Padma Awards for 2026, recognizing 131 extraordinary individuals for their contributions to society. This year’s honors include 5 Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan, and 113 Padma Shri awards.
The list features a mix of cinematic legends, sporting icons, and grassroots “unsung heroes,” with 19 women and 16 posthumous awardees being recognized by President Droupadi Murmu.
Padma Vibhushan: The Highest Honors
The second-highest civilian award was conferred upon five distinguished personalities, including Bollywood’s beloved “He-Man” Dharmendra and former Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan.
| Name | Field | State/Country |
| Shri Dharmendra Singh Deol (Posthumous) | Art | Maharashtra |
| Shri V.S. Achuthanandan (Posthumous) | Public Affairs | Kerala |
| Shri K.T. Thomas | Public Affairs | Kerala |
| Ms. N. Rajam | Art | Uttar Pradesh |
| Shri P. Narayanan | Literature and Education | Kerala |
Padma Bhushan: Distinguished Service
The Padma Bhushan was awarded to 13 recipients, highlighting excellence in arts, public service, and sports. Notable names include legendary actor Mammootty, playback singer Alka Yagnik, and tennis great Vijay Amritraj.
- Shibu Soren (Posthumous) – Public Affairs (Jharkhand)
- Alka Yagnik – Art (Maharashtra)
- Mammootty – Art (Kerala)
- Vijay Amritraj – Sports (USA/NRI)
- Uday Kotak – Trade and Industry (Maharashtra)
- Bhagat Singh Koshyari – Public Affairs (Uttarakhand)
- Piyush Pandey (Posthumous) – Art (Maharashtra)
Padma Shri: Recognizing Excellence and Unsung Heroes
The Padma Shri list for 2026 is a celebration of diverse talent, including modern sporting icons and individuals working for social change.
- Sports: Indian men’s cricket captain Rohit Sharma, women’s captain Harmanpreet Kaur, and hockey star Savita Punia.
- Arts: Veteran actor Satish Shah (Posthumous) and actors R. Madhavan and Prosenjit Chatterjee.
- Social Work & Science: Acid attack survivor Mangala Kapoor and renowned academic Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar.
- Unsung Heroes: Anke Gowda (for creating a massive free library) and Dr. Padma Gurmet (for preserving traditional Himalayan medicine).