2026 is turning into a year of delays and postponements for Telugu cinema.
The summer holiday season, usually packed with big-ticket releases, will pass without a single film from senior stars like Chiranjeevi, Nandamuri Balakrishna, Venkatesh Daggubati, or Akkineni Nagarjuna.
Even top stars such as Prabhas, Ram Charan, Allu Arjun, and NTR are absent from the release calendar this season.
More surprisingly, some high-profile projects are being pushed far ahead. Dragon, which was initially slated for a June 2026 release, has now reportedly been postponed to 2027.
Several other big films — Vishwambhara, Peddi, The Paradise, and Fauji — are also facing repeated delays.
Vishwambhara, starring Chiranjeevi, has been stuck in post-production for a long time. Originally planned for a January 2026 release, it was postponed indefinitely.
Although there were brief plans to target July, it now appears unlikely to meet that timeline, with no clear release date in sight.
Peddi, featuring Ram Charan, has once again been delayed. According to overseas distribution sources, the team is considering June 4 or June 25 as possible release dates.
However, June 4 depends on the postponement of Toxic; otherwise, June 25 seems more feasible. Even then, another delay cannot be ruled out.
The Paradise, starring Nani, was initially scheduled for a March 27 release. Due to production delays, it was pushed to August.
However, there is now strong buzz that director Srikanth Odela, known for his uncompromising approach to quality, is planning the film as a major pan-Indian spectacle and may shift it further to December.
Meanwhile, Fauji, starring Prabhas and directed by Hanu Raghavapudi, has also revised its release plans. Initially aimed for a Dasara release, the period action drama is now likely targeting early December 2026, riding on growing hype and expectations.