National Cinema Weekend delivers 1.54 million cinema admissions

National Cinema Day returned this September as the expanded National Cinema Weekend, drawing 1.54 million admissions across more than 550 participating venues across the UK.

Organised by Cinema First under the campaign message "Who Will You Take?", the nationwide initiative aimed to champion the shared cinema experience by offering discounted £4 tickets across participating auditoriums over the two-day event.

Audience data collected during the event indicated that eight in ten attendees agreed the celebration reminded them of the unique experience of watching films on the big screen. The £4 price point proved particularly effective for families, with 74 percent stating the offer played an important role in their decision to attend.

The initiative also succeeded in attracting younger audiences, with one in four attendees aged between 16 and 24.

Furthermore, audience research revealed that 40 percent of attendees would not have visited a cinema over that weekend had the National Cinema Weekend event not taken place, highlighting its impact on driving incremental box office traffic.

Participating venues nationwide reported full auditoriums across the weekend, with the campaign projected to generate ongoing engagement. According to post-event surveys, 29 percent of attendees expect to increase their planned frequency of cinema visits throughout the remainder of the year.

"We are delighted that 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," said Iain Jacob, Chair of Cinema First.

The positive attendance figures follow a strong year for UK cinema admissions, reinforcing the sector's momentum heading into the autumn and winter release schedules.