Sankranti 2026 Lineup: 6 Movies, Big Box-Office Stakes And All You Need To Know
With six films set for Sankranthi date in Telugu and Tamil cinema, the 2026 festival season is shaping up to be one of the most crowded and competitive box-office battles in recent years.
Sankranti is not just another festival season in South India. For Telugu and Tamil cinema, it is a festival of cinemas. It’s that time of the year when families who rarely step into theaters make it a tradition to watch at least one movie together. Viewership increases, repeat viewings increase, and films that might have struggled during the regular window often perform stronger because of the festival momentum.
This is why Sankranti remains the most crowded and competitive release period every year in the southern film industries. And 2026 is going to be no different. With at least six films already lined up in Telugu and Tamil cinema, the upcoming festive season is set to witness a great mix of star power, comedy, family entertainment and genre experimentation.
Raja Saab – 9 January
start of the season, Raja SaabThe Prabhas starrer is one of the most anticipated Sankranthi releases of 2026. Directed by Maruthi, the film is a blend of horror, fantasy and comedy, a genre space that has recently gained strong acceptance across India.
The project went through several delays and postponements, which had previously raised concerns. However, the final trailer has revived the discussion to a great extent. Prabhas’s pan-India reach, coupled with the current appetite for horror-comedies, makes it a potentially strong festival opener. If the style clicks, the numbers may surprise. Reports suggest a paid premiere on January 8, with Sankranti celebrations starting a day earlier.
Here is the trailer:
Jan Naygan – January 9
Releasing on this day Jan NayganStarring Vijay. The film is widely seen as Vijay’s last theatrical release before his full-time political entry, which alone gives it historical significance.
Reports suggest thematic similarities Bhagwant KesariAlthough nothing has been officially confirmed. Nonetheless, Vijay has a strong following in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, overseas markets and even Telugu states. Even with average word of mouth, the film is expected to register strong box-office figures during the festival.
Manshankar Varaprasad Garu – 12 January
Directed by Anil Ravipudi, it is planned as a full-fledged festival entertainer starring Chiranjeevi and Nayanthara. Anil Ravipudi has built a reputation for delivering family blockbusters during the festive season with 2025 sankrantiki vasthunam Strengthening that image. For Chiranjeevi, it marks a return to a family entertainer after a relatively short stint. If Chiranjeevi Mark combines comedy and family sentiments, it could emerge as a major festival winner.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MD6eDG2gIdk
Anaganaga Oka Raju – 14 January
Starring Naveen Polishetty, Anaganaga Oka Raju A comedy entertainer directed by debutant Mari and based on the Godavari backdrop. Naveen’s comic timing and subsequent strong recall among youth and family audiences Jathi Ratnalu And Miss Shetty Mr. Polishetty Have created concrete expectations.
Despite tough competition from big star films, Sankranti has historically given small and medium budget films a chance to flourish, provided their content is good. The industry has seen this with films like Shatmanam Bhavati. If the humor works, this film may make its way into the festival.
Bharatha Mahasayulu Vignapati 13 January
Bharta Mahaseyalaku Vignapti It stars Ravi Teja, Dimple Hayathi and Aashika Rangant and is directed by Kishore Tirumala. It is pitched as a family comedy-drama, aimed squarely at the Sankranti audience.
Ravi Teja is attempting to get back to family-oriented entertainment after several ensemble films. The teaser received a lackluster response, but if the film uses the old Ravi Teja humor and emotional beats, it might benefit from the festive mood.
Nari Nari Naduma Murari – 15 January
Starring Sharwanand, this long-delayed project is directed by Ram Abbaraju social gathering fame. Although it is scheduled for the Sankranti period, trade circles suggest that it may find it difficult to garner enough screens due to the huge rush of big releases.
He said, Sharwanand has seen the success of Sankranti before also. Shatmanam Bhavati emerged as a major festival hit not long ago, proving that content-driven films can still achieve success even in the crowded season. If the content connects, the film may once again find its audience despite the competition.
big picture
With cinema now firmly established in the pan-Indian sphere, Sankranti is no longer just about star power. Big films are guaranteed to attract attention, but smaller and medium-scale films still have a chance to thrive if the content connects. The 2026 festival slate offers a wide mix of mass entertainment, family comedy and even horror-fantasy, giving audiences plenty of options.
Conflicts, screen-sharing issues and release-date pressure are inevitable. But as always during Sankranti, the final verdict will come down to only one factor, the material. Powerful word of mouth can still turn even an underprivileged person into a festive success.