National Cinema Day Returns As National Cinema Weekend This September!
Share the Force:
Carl Roberts 
Get yourselves ready to enjoy the cinema experience for £4 a ticket as National Cinema Day becomes National Cinema Weekend!
Enjoy the cinematic experience at a discounted price. On Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 September 2026, cinemas across the UK will come together for National Cinema Weekend. It will be a two-day celebration of cinema and the unique joy of the big-screen experience.
Cross-industry body Cinema First is excited to announce that, following the success of previous National Cinema Days, they will bring back the event in 2026 with a new name. It will have an expanded two-day format and a renewed focus on everything that makes visiting the cinema so special.
NATIONAL CINEMA DAY EVOLVES
Cinema First first launched National Cinema Day in 2022, and it proved an immediate success, achieving 1.46 million admissions in a single day. This grew to 1.56 million admissions in 2023, demonstrating the huge appetite among UK audiences for a shared celebration of cinemagoing.
This year, National Cinema Weekend will invite audiences across the country to come together and discover the joy of cinema: the big screen, immersive sound, shared emotions and the simple pleasure of experiencing a great story together.
PHIL CLAPP
Phil Clapp, Chief Executive of the UK Cinema Association and Director of Cinema First, looked forward to the weekend event with enthusiasm:
“Following the success of National Cinema Day, we’re excited to be extending the celebration to the entire weekend, giving cinemagoers greater flexibility to plan their visits, and the opportunity to watch the widest possible range of films, suiting all tastes. We’re delighted to see so many cinemas getting behind National Cinema Weekend and look forward to welcoming audiences across the country on the 5th and 6th September.”
CONFIRMED PARTICIPATION
Over 530 UK cinemas have already confirmed their participation, with many more expected to join in the coming days. Participating cinemas are ready to offer a broad and varied programme with something for everyone. From major releases and family favourites to independent films and much-loved classics, audiences will have even more reasons to come together. As a result, they can enjoy films as they were made to be seen.
What’s more, to address the changing customer behaviours in film and cinema discovery, Cinema First has partnered with marketing technology provider CineOS to develop an intuitive online hub cinemaweekender.com. This site helps cinema-goers explore the NCW offerings and find showtimes at local participating cinemas. In turn, this allows audiences to make the most of National Cinema Weekend.
A CELEBRATION
National Cinema Weekend celebrates the cinema experience itself: switching off from the outside world, settling into your seat, and sharing the laughs, the gasps, and the tears is a big part of it, so grab your tickets and your popcorn and start thinking about who you would take.
Further information on National Cinema Weekend, and details on those UK cinema sites participating, can be found at www:cinemaweekender.com
Introducing Carl! As the News Editor at Future of the Force, Carl has been an invaluable member of our team since early 2016. His expertise and dedication have made him an integral part of our editorial staff. Beyond his professional role, Carl is a fervent supporter of Liverpool F.C. and an avid follower of pop culture. He has a deep passion for Halloween, Friday the 13th, and the iconic movie franchises Star Wars and Star Trek.
He can be found either at his neighborhood cinema, enjoying the latest releases on the big screen, or at home streaming the newest blockbuster movies.
