This month’s National Cinema Weekend saw 1.54 million admissions nationwide as UK audiences came together to celebrate the big screen experience.
Involving over 550 cinemas nationwide, National Cinema Weekend continued to champion the power of the cinema industry and the excitement and value in bringing audiences together, whilst introducing new audiences to the magic of a shared cinema experience and the excitement that comes from asking “Who Will You Take?”
Designed to encourage people out of their homes and back into cinemas, eight in ten attendees agreed that the two-day cinema celebration reminded them of what is special about going to the cinema, demonstrating how National Cinema Weekend worked to promote the value and joy in the shared cinematic experience, whilst contributing to the continued box office momentum in 2026.
Cinemas welcomed a diverse audience, from regular to first-time cinemagoers, with one in four attendees aged 16-24. The offer was particularly popular amongst families, with 74 per cent saying the offer was important in their decision to attend.
Audience research across the two days, highlighted that 40 per cent of attendees would not have visited the cinema that weekend had the National Cinema Weekend event not been taking place, demonstrating its ability to drive additional cinema attendance and re-engage audiences with its £4 tickets.
Venues across the UK reported busy screenings and full auditoriums throughout the weekend, proving the nationwide initiative’s success. National Cinema Weekend is set to deliver long-term value with 29 per cent of attendees expecting to increase their planned visits to the cinema.
Welcoming the success of the event, Cinema First Chair Iain Jacob commented:
“National Cinema Weekend brought audiences back to experience the unique joy of cinema, and we look forward to welcoming them again with an exciting slate of new releases through 2026.”