Ramadan 2026 Drama Season in Egypt Faces Major Setbacks as Stars Withdraw

With less than two months to go before the start of the Ramadan drama season 2026, the Egyptian entertainment industry is experiencing significant turmoil. A series of delays and obstacles have led several top stars to withdraw from the Ramadan lineup.

* Yousra Withdraws from Lead Role in "Haram Al-Safir"

Star Yousra was the first to announce her withdrawal from the anticipated series "Haram Al-Safir." The project faced multiple crises, starting with the cancellation of director Rami Imam, who was replaced by Abdel Aziz Al-Naggar. Further production issues ultimately resulted in the series being dropped from the Ramadan competition.

* Mohamed Henedy Delays "Qandeel" to 2027

Actor Mohamed Henedy was set to make a comeback with the series "Qandeel," collaborating with acclaimed writer Youssef Maati, known for the hit series "Monsieur Ramadan Mabrouk Abu Al-Alamein Hamouda." Despite initial preparations and the involvement of several stars, the production company announced that the series has been postponed to Ramadan 2027, meaning Henedy will not participate this season.

* Mai Ezz El-Din Halts "Qabl wa Baad" Production

Actress Mai Ezz El-Din was preparing to shoot "Qabl wa Baad" alongside Emad Ziyada, Hani Adel, Mahmoud Abdel-Moghny, and Reem El-Baroudy, with a script by Mohamed Suleiman Abdel-Malek and direction by Marcus Adel. However, she has announced that production will be delayed by a year to ensure a high-quality artistic output.

* Ahmed Adam Absent from "Al-Qarmouti Amel Qalaq"

Actor Ahmed Adam, who has been away from the drama scene for years, was supposed to participate in the 15-episode series "Al-Qarmouti Amel Qalaq," written by Mohamed Mahrez and directed by Ahmed Abdel-Aal. The project has now been completely shelved without any explanation.

* Khaled El-Nabawy and Yasmine Raees Exit the Competition

Actor Khaled El-Nabawy was preparing for the series "Tahir Al-Masri" with Ghada Adel, written by Amin Gamal and directed by Ahmed Khaled. However, the project faced challenges in meeting the specific skill requirements for the roles, preventing its continuation. Similarly, actress Yasmine Raees has also withdrawn from the Ramadan competition with the series "Is'al Rouhak," which has been postponed to 2027, with no clear reasons provided.

* Mohamed Sami's Acting Debut Delayed

Director Mohamed Sami had planned to make his acting debut in the series "8 Talqat," featuring 15 episodes alongside Fathy Abdel Wahab and other stars. However, the project has been completely canceled after initial preparations, with the reasons for the delay still unknown.

As the Ramadan season approaches, producers face significant challenges to salvage what remains of the year's most anticipated competition, with further surprises and changes expected in the coming days.