Sankranti 2026 is turning into one of the most intense festival clashes in recent Telugu cinema. What began as a relatively manageable three-film showdown with Chiranjeevi and Anil Ravipudi’s untitled project, Ravi Teja’s Anarkali, and Naveen Polishetty’s Anaganaga Oka Raju, has now grown into a packed race that spans languages and superstars.
Had it just been those three films, the box office might have comfortably accommodated them. But the competition has sharply escalated with more big-budget entries joining the lineup. The latest addition under consideration is Prabhas’ Raja Saab. Initially planned for a December 5, 2025 release, the makers are now looking at the Sankranti weekend to ensure a wider reach and stronger performance across India.
Adding to the buzz, Pawan Kalyan’s Ustaad Bhagat Singh is also expected to aim for Sankranti. If reports are to be believed, the shoot should wrap up by September, with post-production wrapping up soon after, making it a likely January release.
Nandamuri Balakrishna’s Akhanda 2 is officially slated for September 25, 2025. But any delay in post-production could push it into the Sankranti window as well. That would bring the Telugu-language count to six high-profile releases competing during the same holiday weekend.
As if that weren’t enough, the competition expands further with the inclusion of two Tamil heavyweights. Vijay’s Jana Nayagan and Parasakthi, starring Sivakarthikeyan, are reportedly eyeing the same festival slot. This pushes the total number of major festival releases across South India to eight.
If all of these films stick to their current release plans, Sankranti 2026 could easily become the most competitive and high-stakes season in years. For now, the entire industry is watching closely to see which films will stay the course and which ones might shift dates to sidestep the box office clash.
