National Cinema Weekend is back this September, giving film fans across the UK the chance to see some of the biggest current releases for as little as £3 or £4. More than 530 cinemas are taking part across Saturday, 5 September and Sunday, 6 September, including major chains such as ODEON, Cineworld, Vue, Showcase and Picturehouse alongside independent venues.

Films available across the weekend include Spider-Man: Brand New Day, The Odyssey, Toy Story 5, Coyote vs. Acme and The Dog Stars, although individual listings will vary by cinema. With most participating venues reducing tickets to £4 and some going even cheaper, it could be a very good weekend to finally catch anything still sitting on your cinema watchlist.

When Is National Cinema Weekend 2026?

National Cinema Weekend takes place on Saturday, 5 September and Sunday, 6 September 2026, with discounted tickets available throughout both days at participating cinemas across the UK.

The event brings together major multiplex chains and independent cinemas, with a recommended ticket price of £4 covering films and screenings across the weekend. Prices can vary at a small number of venues, which is also why some cinemagoers will be able to find tickets for just £3.

National Cinema Weekend was first introduced in 2022 as National Cinema Day, attracting 1.46 million admissions during its first year before 1.56 million people took part in 2023. This year’s event has expanded across the full weekend, giving audiences two days to make use of the discounted prices.

Which Cinemas Have £3 and £4 Tickets?

ODEON is offering £4 tickets across all films and screens throughout the weekend, including its premium formats such as IMAX, iSense, Dolby and XL.

Cineworld tickets will also cost £4 across 2D, 3D, 4DX, ScreenX, Superscreen and recliner screenings. IMAX carries a £2 uplift, bringing those tickets to £6. Cineworld Unlimited members will have no uplift on included formats, with the same £2 charge applying for IMAX.

Vue is offering £4 tickets across all films and seats, including its Lux and UltraLux recliners, while Showcase is advertising every film, showtime and screen for £4 across the weekend.

Picturehouse cinemas are also taking part with £4 tickets, while The Light is going even cheaper at participating locations, offering all films throughout Saturday and Sunday for £3. Some premium seating and formats at The Light carry an additional charge, depending on the cinema.

Participating locations can vary, it is worth checking your local cinema before booking. The official National Cinema Weekend website also has a cinema finder showing participating venues and available screenings.

What Films Can You Watch During National Cinema Weekend?

There is plenty to choose from across the weekend, including some of the summer’s biggest cinema releases. Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, Toy Story 5, Coyote vs. Acme and The Dog Stars are among the films being promoted by participating cinemas.

Other screenings include The Death of Robin Hood, Insidious: Out of the Further, Leviticus and Spa Weekend, alongside family films and returning favourites. Some cinemas are also using the weekend for special screenings and marathons, with Showcase bringing The Lord of the Rings Extended Edition trilogy and The Hunger Games films back to the big screen.

Exactly what is available will depend on your local cinema, so checking Saturday and Sunday listings separately could uncover additional screenings.

How Do You Get National Cinema Weekend Tickets?

There is no separate voucher or discount code required. Tickets can be booked directly through participating cinema websites and apps in the usual way, with the National Cinema Weekend price applied to eligible screenings on 5 and 6 September.

With more than 530 cinemas involved, the offer is not limited to the largest chains either. Independent and regional cinemas are taking part across the UK, so it is worth checking the official participating-cinema list even if your nearest venue is not an ODEON, Cineworld or Vue.

At CultureCues, we will always take an excuse for another cinema trip, and £3 or £4 tickets is a particularly good one. Cinema prices can add up quickly, especially if there are a few films you have been meaning to see, so an entire weekend of cheaper screenings is very welcome. We already have several films we would happily head back to the big screen for, and at these prices, a double bill is looking dangerously tempting… And really, cheaper tickets just mean more money left for popcorn, Pick & Mix and an unnecessarily large drink.

National Cinema Weekend takes place across the UK on Saturday, 5 September and Sunday, 6 September, with tickets available from £3 and £4 at participating cinemas.