Padma Vibhushan 2026: the five honoured for a lifetime of service
Dharmendra, K T Thomas, N Rajam, P Narayanan and V S Achuthanandhan are among the five names recognised with the Padma Vibhushan 2026.
The Padma Vibhushan 2026, the second highest civilian honour in the country after the Bharat Ratna, has been conferred on five individuals whose work has spanned cinema, the judiciary, classical music, education and public life. Reserved for exceptional and distinguished service, it is the rarest of the three Padma tiers, and this year's list mixes household names with figures revered within their own fields. Two of the five have been honoured posthumously.
The list reflects the range the Padma Vibhushan is meant to capture, from the popular to the institutional.
The five honourees
Dharmendra Singh Deol, one of the most beloved actors in the history of Hindi cinema, has been honoured in the field of art, posthumously. His recognition closes a chapter on a screen career that spanned decades and made him a figure of enduring popular affection.
K T Thomas, a former judge of the Supreme Court of India, has been recognised in public affairs for a distinguished career on the bench. N Rajam, the celebrated Hindustani classical violinist from Uttar Pradesh, has been honoured in the field of art for a lifetime devoted to the instrument and to teaching. P Narayanan of Kerala has been recognised in literature and education. And V S Achuthanandhan, the veteran left leader and former Chief Minister of Kerala, has been honoured posthumously in public affairs, marking a long life in the state's politics.
What sets the Padma Vibhushan apart
For readers wondering how this tier differs from the others, the distinction lies in degree. The Padma Shri recognises distinguished service in any field, the Padma Bhushan distinguished service of a high order, and the Padma Vibhushan exceptional and distinguished service.
In practice that means the Padma Vibhushan tends to go to figures at the very summit of their domains, often late in life or after death, as a summation of an entire career. With only five awarded this year, it remains the most selective of the Padma honours.
Together, the 2026 Padma Vibhushan recipients map a generation of public life, the screen, the courtroom, the concert hall and the assembly. Their recognition is a reminder that the highest civilian honours often reward not a single achievement but a lifetime of it.