In 2023, TFA introduced the Digital Art Award, instituted in memory of one of India’s foremost abstract artists, Mehlli Gobhai, to recognise young practitioners in this growing field. Young artists between the ages of 18 and 29 can submit digitally drawn or created still images. One winner is selected every year by an independent jury to receive this Toto Award.
The Toto Awards – Class of 2026
14/02/2026
Another incredible season with close to a thousand entries across our six categories and some truly fearless expressions pushing the envelope of creativity and taking things to a new level.
We’re just blown away and full of excitement about what these amazing artists have in store for the world.
It was a great opportunity to have all the shortlisters in the same room to celebrate each other and catch a glimpse of the shortlisted work at the 2026 awards ceremony last evening at BIC, Bengaluru. It is always heartening to see artists, writers, photographers, filmmakers sharing space, sharing energies and jamming ideas and thoughts. More than anything else, having a good time!
To the 10 winners who took the awards – congratulations, enjoy and savour this moment! To those who didn’t, and to the extended longlist, we hope to see you applying with more work next year. These are just the beginnings and you are all on your way to some groundbreaking things! Let’s all stay in touch and collaborate on your next big idea.
A big thank you to the TFA trustees and team for getting things together through the season and for the awards evening.
The Toto Awards are supported by Badri Vishal (Music), Nabonita Majumdar and Sarita Vellani (Creative Writing English), Rohan Kothari (Photography), Bhoomija Trust (Kannada), and The Aroon Raman Family (Short Film).
Presenting, the Toto Awards Class of 2026 !
Amoli Birewar (Short Film)
Shubham Negi (Short Film)
Kaafi Aalsi (Music)
Inshallah Babes (Music )
Agraj Nagarkoti (Photography)
Shashwat Das (Photography)
Akshita Sinha (Digital Art)
Nabha Okkunda (Creative Writing – Kannada)
Ifaam Bashir (Creative Writing – English)
Bhumika Sanjeev (Creative Writing – English)
See you next year, Call for applications will open in July 2026 for the 2027 Awards.
This award is supported by the Estate of the late Mehlli Gobhai, one of India’s finest abstract artists.