Telangana Gaddar Film Awards 2026

The Telangana Gaddar Film Awards 2026, the second edition of this prestigious state-sponsored event, took place on March 19, 2026, at the HITEX Convention Centre in Hyderabad. Coinciding with Ugadi, the festival brought together Tollywood stars, technicians, and government officials to celebrate excellence in Telugu cinema, theatre, and television.

Named after the legendary folk singer and revolutionary Gaddar, the awards—officially Telangana Gaddar Film Awards (TGFA)—were instituted by the Government of Telangana in 2025 to honor regional storytelling and fill the gap left since the state's formation. The ceremony, held under Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy's leadership, featured prominent attendees including Chiranjeevi, Kamal Haasan, Akkineni Nagarjuna, Naga Chaitanya, Rashmika Mandanna, Vijay Deverakonda's family, and others. Highlights included emotional speeches, live performances (notably by Shreya Ghoshal), and light-hearted moments that lit up social media.

Winners were selected by a jury led by filmmaker Tammareddy Bharadwaja. Key honors from the 2025 cycle (announced earlier but presented in 2026) included the NTR National Award to Chiranjeevi, Paidi Jairaj Award to Kamal Haasan, Best Actor to Naga Chaitanya for Thandel, and Best Actress to Rashmika Mandanna for The Girlfriend. Best Film went to Raju Weds Rambai.

The event underscored Telangana's commitment to promoting Telugu talent, blending glamour with cultural tribute in a memorable celebration of cinematic achievement.