NTR’s Dragon, which is among the most awaited Telugu movies, was first planned for Sankranthi 2026. The production company, Mythri Movie Makers, had declared January 9, 2026, as the release date. But because of unforeseen shoot delays, the team has now decided to push the film back, eliminating both Sankranthi 2026 and an early summer release.
The shoot of Dragon did not commence as scheduled. The producers had initially planned to shoot in October 2024, but the shoot commenced late. The unit could only initiate the first schedule in February 2025 in Hyderabad. NTR will be joining the sets in April 2025, and it will be impossible to achieve the targeted release date.
With this postponement, Dragon has formally withdrawn from the Sankranthi 2026 lineup, making way for other big-ticket releases.
Sankranthi 2026 Witness Intense Competition
With Dragon out of the Sankranthi contest, a string of big-budget Telugu and Tamil movies have confirmed their Sankranthi releases. The Sankranthi festival continues to be one of the finest box office windows, with assured heavy competition between movies.
The below-mentioned films have booked their Sankranthi 2026 release dates:
- Megastar Chiranjeevi – Anil Ravipudi’s film is one of the biggest attractions of the season.
- Ravi Teja’s upcoming film has also secured a festival release.
- Vijay’s Jana Nayagan will arrive from Kollywood, ensuring a pan-Indian battle.
- Sivakarthikeyan’s Parasakthi is another Pongal/Sankranthi release.
- Despite Dragon’s absence, Sankranthi 2026 remains crowded with major releases.
Early Summer No Longer an Option for Dragon
Following Sankranthi, early summer is another peak season for major releases. The team had initially thought of a March 2026 release, but even that idea has now changed.
The main reason for this move is the release of Ram Charan’s Peddi*. Mythri Movie Makers, the same production company supporting Dragon, has planned Peddi for March 26, 2026. As Peddi is a pan-Indian movie, the producers do not wish to have a box-office battle between two of their largest projects.
Additionally, Nani’s The Paradise* is also arriving on March 26, 2026, adding further competition. The production house does not want to release two back-to-back big-budget films in a short period.
Considering these factors, Dragon has now dropped out of the early summer lineup as well.
When Will Dragon Finally Release?
With Sankranthi 2026 and early summer out of the question, the fans are waiting with bated breath for the final release date of Dragon. The most likely options now are:
April-end 2026 – This would enable Dragon to release with sufficient gap after Peddi.
May 2026 – If the production goes on further, the makers can aim for a mid-May release to catch the summer holiday crowd.
The official word from Mythri Movie Makers is yet to come, but these two slots look the likely pick.
Why Dragon’s Delay Left Fans Disappointed
Fans have been disappointed with the delay in the release of Dragon because hopes for the film are high as ever.
A number of reasons are the cause of huge hype for Dragon:
- Prashanth Neel’s direction – Since the stupendous success of KGF and Salaar, fans have this perception that Neel is going to do it again.
- NTR’s collaboration with Neel – This is the first-ever film for the RRR star and the KGF director, making expectations even greater.
- Highest budget in NTR’s career – Dragon has reportedly been one of the most expensive films in NTR’s career, with elaborate action sequences and a huge scale.
With all these considerations, fans anticipated that the shooting process would be quick. But thanks to production holdups, the producers were not able to maintain the initial plan.
What’s Next for NTR and Prashanth Neel?
Meanwhile, as fans await Dragon’s new release date, both NTR and Prashanth Neel are keeping themselves occupied with other projects.
NTR is finishing Devara: NTR is finishing his part on Devara: Part 1, which is set to release in October 2025, before diverting his entire attention to Dragon.
Prashanth Neel is preparing KGF 3: While also directing Dragon, Neel is preparing for pre-production of KGF 3, so it is difficult to accelerate Dragon’s shoot.
Their tight schedules show that Dragon’s production will be longer than anticipated, but the fans are optimistic that the film will come in full force.
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Conclusion: Fans Have to Wait Longer for Dragon
NTR’s Dragon was initially planned as a Sankranthi 2026 biggie, but because of production delays, the movie has now missed both Sankranthi and early summer windows. With Ram Charan’s Peddi lined up for March 2026 release, Dragon will now probably hit theaters in late April or May 2026.
In spite of the delayed release, the fans feel Dragon will be well worth the wait. With the universal appeal of NTR and action-oriented direction of Prashanth Neel, the movie guarantees a thrilling cinematic experience. The announcement of the official release date is eagerly anticipated, but when Dragon does come out, finally, it should light up the box office.
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