National Cinema Weekend: £4 tickets on 5-6 September

National Cinema Weekend will run across the UK on 5 and 6 September, offering £4 tickets at hundreds of participating venues. Cinema First has expanded the one-day promotion into a full weekend, with the discounted price applying to any film in any format, although some IMAX exceptions apply.

How does National Cinema Weekend work?

The promotion was announced on 30 August and represents an expansion of National Cinema Day into a two-day event. According to the UK Cinema Association and Screen Daily, tickets will cost £4 across hundreds of UK cinemas on 5 and 6 September, covering films in any format subject to some IMAX exceptions.

That broad format makes the offer straightforward for cinema-goers: the central price is £4, the promotion runs for the full weekend, and it is being supported across a large number of venues. Because participation and screening choices vary by location, customers will need to check their chosen cinema for local availability and any format-specific exception.

The move from a single National Cinema Day to National Cinema Weekend gives the industry two days to promote cinema-going at a heavily reduced headline price. Screen Daily and the UK Cinema Association report that chains and fans have been promoting the event strongly in the run-up to the weekend.

The offer also lands after a strong summer at the UK box office. Screen Daily and the UK Cinema Association frame the weekend as a practical boost for cinemas, giving venues another nationwide promotional moment as the summer season moves into early September.

Key facts

• National Cinema Weekend takes place on 5 and 6 September 2026.
• Tickets are priced at £4 across hundreds of participating UK venues.
• The offer covers any film in any format, with some IMAX exceptions.
• Cinema First expanded the previous National Cinema Day concept into a full weekend.
• The promotion was announced on 30 August.
• Screen Daily and the UK Cinema Association reported details of the event.

What films are leading the UK box office?

The timing gives National Cinema Weekend a strong commercial backdrop. According to Screen Daily and the UK Cinema Association, the UK box office is currently led by Spider-Man: Brand New Day and The Odyssey. Those titles are setting the pace as cinemas enter the promotion weekend.

Not every recent release has performed at the same level. Ridley Scott’s The Dog Stars, starring Jacob Elordi, Margaret Qualley and Josh Brolin, opened softly in about 630 UK cinemas and underperformed expectations. That contrast helps explain why a broad ticket promotion can matter even during a strong summer: overall momentum can be healthy while individual releases still face a difficult market.

The £4 cinema tickets are not tied to one specific title, genre or standard screen. The promotion is framed around access to any film in any format, apart from some IMAX exceptions. That gives audiences flexibility while allowing cinemas to promote both major box-office leaders and a wider programme.

What else is coming to UK cinemas in September?

The National Cinema Weekend arrives just as the early-September release calendar begins to turn over. The wider UK cinema slate between 4 and 11 September includes Pressure, re-releases of Terminator 2 and Raiders of the Lost Ark, and the Oasis documentary Don’t Look Back In Anger, which is due on 9 September.

Availability for individual films will depend on local schedules at participating cinemas. The important point for audiences is that the promotion covers a broad cinema programme rather than a single promotional release, while the wider early-September calendar is bringing a mix of new titles and re-releases to UK screens.

For exhibitors, National Cinema Weekend provides a simple national message at a point when summer box-office strength is still fresh but the next release cycle is beginning. For viewers, the practical appeal is just as clear: two days of reduced-price tickets at hundreds of UK venues, with wide format coverage and only limited exceptions noted for IMAX.

Anyone planning a visit should check the timetable and ticket conditions at their preferred cinema, particularly if they want an IMAX screening. Beyond that, the headline National Cinema Weekend offer is uncomplicated: £4 tickets across participating venues on 5 and 6 September, giving UK audiences a full weekend rather than a single day to take part.

Frequently asked questions

When is National Cinema Weekend 2026?

National Cinema Weekend takes place on 5 and 6 September 2026. Cinema First has expanded the previous one-day National Cinema Day promotion into a full weekend.

How much are National Cinema Weekend tickets?

Tickets cost £4 across hundreds of participating UK venues. The offer applies to any film in any format, although some IMAX exceptions apply.

Which cinemas are taking part in National Cinema Weekend?

Hundreds of UK venues are participating in the promotion, according to Screen Daily and the UK Cinema Association. Cinema-goers should check their chosen venue for local availability and any IMAX exception.