Yakshagana Academy Announces Awards for 2026; Ramesh Acharya to receive Parthi Subba Award

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, August 16, 2026: The Karnataka Yakshagana Academy has selected veteran Yakshagana artist M. K. Ramesh Acharya, 88, of Thirthahalli for the prestigious Parthi Subba Award for 2026.

Five artists have been chosen for the Academy’s Honorary Awards for 2026. They are Jeppu Dayananda Shetty of Dakshina Kannada, Siribagilu Ramakrishna Mayya of Kasaragod, Padmanabha Upadhyaya of Dakshina Kannada, Mahabala Devadiga of Udupi and Doddamalliah of Bengaluru Rural. Each recipient will receive ₹50,000, a citation, certificate, shawl and petha.

The Academy has also selected 10 artists for the Yaksha Siri Award. The recipients are Raghavendra Asranna, Poornima Yatish Rai, Durgaparameshwari Kukkila, Ujire Narayana Poojary, Lakshminarayana Upadhya, Heriya Naika Mogebettu, Rama Gouda Gunavanthe, Padre Kumara, Suresh Kuppepadavu and Shivaiah. The award includes ₹25,000, a citation, certificate and shawl.

The Karki Hiriya Paramashivaiah Hasyagara Award, instituted in memory of the late artist, will be presented to Bheemanna of Bagraguru in Sira taluk of Tumakuru district. 

The Parthi Subba Award award carries a cash prize of ₹1 lakh, and honorary award carries ₹25,000, along with a citation, certificate and shawl.

The Academy has chosen M. N. Venkatesh, professor and researcher from Kuppam in Andhra Pradesh, for the Talluru Shivarama Shetty Family Trust Award. He will receive ₹25,000, along with a citation, certificate and shawl.