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| Nine New Song Zuer Dramas Coming in 2026 — From Historical Romance to Big-Budget Sci-Fi (Photo: Weibo/SongZuer) |
From historical romance and literary slice-of-life to fantasy classics, mystery cases and big-budget sci-fi, her slate for 2026 is stacked with projects that highlight a more mature, confident, and textured acting profile.
Drama fans have waited for her full comeback, and it looks like 2026 might finally be that year.
Song Zuer’s 9 Upcoming Dramas for 2026
Below is a complete guide to all the confirmed and rumoured titles, what they’re about, and what viewers should expect once they hit screens.
1. Wish You All The Best (表妹万福) – Tencent Video
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| Photo: Tencent Studio |
Genre: Historical romance
Status: Completed filming
This drama sits on the sweeter, slower end of Song Zuer’s historical works. Set in Changle County during China’s maritime ban era, the story blends coastal trade, pirate-driven conflict, and gentle, understated romance.
Song Zuer plays Zhen Jiafu, a merchant’s daughter whose life is upended when her family’s ship is caught in a violent encounter with Japanese pirates.
Enter Pei You’an, a vice commander tasked with patrolling the sea — and the man who ends up entering a marriage contract to protect her from an unwanted union.
What to expect:
Warm chemistry, a “quiet but strong” emotional build, soft aesthetics, and a love story rooted in loyalty rather than sparks. This will likely be her most tender role of 2026.
2. Reading Class (阅读课) – Modern Romance / Healing
.webp "Top 9 Song Zuer Dramas Confirmed for 2026 Release") |
| Photo: Xiaohongshu |
Status: Filming completed
A light but emotionally layered modern romance where Song Zuer stars as Wu Jiashu, a clever, resilient young woman who ends up entering a private study contract with rising actor Lu Xingchen. He must keep up his “model student” image, while she needs financial support to save her late father’s bookshop.
Their partnership grows into a mutual healing journey involving literature, personal struggles, and quiet companionship.
What to expect:
Character-driven warmth, heartfelt conversations, and more of Song Zuer’s “grounded and gentle” modern acting style. Expect strong word-of-mouth from female viewers.
3. Liao Zhai (聊斋) – Tencent Video / WeTV
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| Photo: WeTV |
Genre: Fantasy anthology
Status: Filming completed
A classic fantasy revival inspired by Strange Tales — and visually, this could become one of the loveliest period fantasy dramas of 2026. Song Zuer appears in one of the main supernatural arcs, featuring mysterious spirits, illusions, cursed objects and beautiful but dangerous entities.
What to expect:
Atmospheric visuals, haunting morality tales, and Zuer showcasing a more enigmatic, elegant side. If the production quality holds, this may be her most striking costume performance next year.
4. Da Tang Pi Zhu Ji (大唐辟珠记) – Tencent Video
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| Photo: Weibo |
Genre: Historical adventure, martial arts, mystery, romance
Cast: Song Zuer, Li Yunrui
Director: Fei Zhenxiang (Love Like the Galaxy)
Adapted from the popular web novel, this drama follows a grave robber who discovers that the supposedly deceased princess (Song Zuer) inside the tomb is actually alive. What follows is a road-trip-style adventure full of cases, conspiracies, and slow-burn attraction between two people who never should’ve crossed paths.
What to expect:
A high-energy dynamic between Song Zuer and Li Yunrui, strong martial arts action, and a layered central mystery. This could be one of her most exciting roles of 2026.
5. Why Not Cross by Boat (何不同舟渡) – Rumoured Cast
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| Photo: iQIYI |
Genre: Historical romance
Possible Male Lead: Tan Jianci or Yang Yang
Status: Pre-production
The drama has already drawn attention because of its shifting male-lead rumours and its creative team, including director Yang Huan (Lost You Forever).
What to expect:
Elegant visuals, restrained emotional conflict, and a role that requires Zuer to balance vulnerability with sharp intelligence. If Yang Yang or Tan Jianci confirms, the CP dynamic will set the tone for the entire drama.
6. A Zhi, A Zhi (阿吱阿吱) – Tencent Video
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| Photo: Weibo |
Genre: Fantasy romance across three timelines
Rumoured Cast: Dylan Wang + Song Zuer
This project is getting early hype because of the novel’s reputation — described by readers as three dramas in one, spanning:
• a tragic Republican-era romance
• a near-modern plot
• a contemporary arc with supernatural elements
What to expect:
A challenging role that asks Zuer to switch between eras, emotions, and possibly identities. If the adaptation stays faithful, this could be her most “award-friendly” performance of the year.
7. The Palace Stewardess (司宫令) – Tencent Video
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| Photo: Tencent |
Genre: Palace intrigue, power struggle, political romance
Male Lead Candidates: Xu Kai or Zhang Wanyi
Status: Early prep, major budget
Tencent is reportedly positioning this as Song Zuer’s big flagship comeback costume drama, tailored specifically to her strengths. Adapted from the novel about a palace stewardess navigating rivalries and secrets, the plot centres on intelligence, power, and emotional restraint rather than standard romance.
What to expect:
Sharp dialogue, detailed palace world-building, and a performance that leans on maturity and strategic subtleties. Casting the male lead will heavily alter the CP energy:
• Xu Kai = soft, elegant, easy chemistry
• Zhang Wanyi = serious, dramatic, more intense political tone
Either way, this is expected to be one of Tencent’s centrepiece dramas for 2026.
8. Enter the Game (入局) – iQIYI
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| Photo: Weibo |
Genre: Modern power intrigue, corporate strategy
Cast: Guo Qilin, Song Zuer, Wang Herun
Director: Yi Zheng
A contemporary, intelligent thriller centred on power dynamics and tactical “moves” in business and politics. Song Zuer will play a modern female lead positioned within a world of negotiations, alliances and quiet rivalries.
What to expect:
A sharp, mature modern role for Zuer — the sort of strategic, emotionally controlled performance that signals she’s officially transitioned out of “youth roles.”
9. Yaque Wuzong (鸦雀无踪) – iQIYI Sci-Fi Thriller
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| Photo: Weibo |
Genre: Sci-fi, parallel universe, emotional mystery
Cast: Zhang Yi, Song Zuer
Director: Wen Muye (critically acclaimed filmmaker)
Release Window: Late 2026
This will likely be her most ambitious project of the year. The story follows a father searching for his daughter who has slipped into a parallel universe — with the truth connected to a devastating fire from years ago.
Song Zuer plays a key character linked to the mystery as the investigation spirals into emotional territory about family, loss, hope, and second chances.
What to expect:
High-grade cinematography, mature emotional tension, and a deeply human story beneath the sci-fi elements. A serious, prestige-drama role for Song Zuer.
Final Thoughts — Which One Will Lead the Charts?
With nine diverse projects lined up, Song Zuer is absolutely pushing into her most versatile career era. Fans are already buzzing about the heavy hitters like The Palace Stewardess, Da Tang Pi Zhu Ji, and Yaque Wuzong, while romance fans are eyeing Wish You All the Best and Reading Class.
So — which one are you excited for the most?
Personally, the sci-fi thriller and the political palace drama look like the two that could dominate 2026’s charts.