India's national academy for music, dance and drama announced its Akademi Puraskar awardees on 10 June 2026, combining both 2024 and 2025 in a single list.

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These awards are among India's highest national honours in the performing arts.

108 artists. Across disciplines. Across the country.

Karnataka's presence is small. And worth noting.

Notably, forms like Yakshagana and the rare Rudra Veena find a place in this year's recognitions.
 

Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards 2024

T S Nagabharana — Direction (Theatre)
Keremane Shivananda Hegde — Yakshagana (Dance & Dance Theatre)
Veena Murthy Vijay — Kuchipudi
K Hariprasad — Music for Dance (Bharatanatyam)
T S Sathyavathi — Overall Contribution (Music)
S C Sharma — Folk Music (Karnataka)
Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards 2025

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Anoor R. Anantha Krishna Sharma — Carnatic Instrumental (Mridangam)
Jyoti Hegde — Hindustani Instrumental (Rudra Veena)

Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar 2024

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Shilpa Nanjappa — Bharatanatyam
B Suchithra — Harikatha​

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Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar 2025

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Ranjani Vasuki — Carnatic Vocal
Sivasri Skandaprasad — Sugama Sangeetha
B S Prashanth — Carnatic Instrumental (Mridangam)
 

Thirteen artists. Across theatre, classical dance, music, and folk traditions.
 

Not dominant. But foundational to the cultural fabric.
 

The investiture ceremony is yet to be announced.
 

Full list: sangeetnatak.gov.in