UNIC has published its 2026 Annual Report at CineEurope in Barcelona, offering a snapshot of a European cinema sector that remains stable but uneven, with box office performance shaped by release schedules, local production strength and the continued importance of theatrical exclusivity.
The International Union of Cinemas, which represents cinema operators and national associations across 39 European territories, released the report during CineEurope 2026, the official convention of UNIC and one of the key annual gatherings for the European exhibition industry.
European Box Office Holds Steady
The headline figure from the report is one of cautious stability. European cinema box office reached close to €6.9 billion in 2025, down 1.2% year-on-year. Admissions fell more sharply, dropping 4.4% to 873.2 million.
The figures suggest that European cinemas continued to generate significant revenue, even as audience levels remained under pressure. UNIC points to an uneven slate of US studio releases, partly connected to supply constraints following the 2023 Hollywood strikes, as one of the factors behind the mixed results across territories.
Several markets still recorded year-on-year box office growth, including Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Norway, Poland, Romania, the UK and Ukraine.
Local Films Remain Crucial
One of the strongest messages of the report is the importance of local and European films in sustaining audience engagement. In Germany, local films accounted for 27.4% of total admissions, eight percentage points higher than the previous year. Denmark also stood out, with Danish films reaching a record 37% national market share, supported by six local titles in the yearly Top 10.
Italy also posted a notable result for domestic cinema, with locally made films reaching 32.7% market share by box office, the highest level since 2016. Across the EU, European films reached a 31.4% market share in 2025, while 42 local or European films ranked among the Top 5 films of the year in their respective markets.
This confirms a key point for the sector: Hollywood titles remain essential, but local films continue to play a decisive role in building national momentum and keeping cinema-going culturally relevant.
A Stronger End to 2025 and Early Momentum in 2026
The report also highlights a positive shift at the end of the year. December 2025 delivered the highest-grossing global December since 2019, with worldwide box office reaching $3.5 billion.
That momentum continued into the first quarter of 2026, with more than 15 European countries recording double-digit growth, and in some cases triple-digit growth. UNIC also notes that Gower Street Analytics slightly raised its 2026 global box office projection to $34.55 billion, with the international market excluding China projected at $18.45 billion, driven mainly by EMEA.
Theatrical Exclusivity Remains a Central Issue
Beyond the figures, the report makes a clear industry argument. For UNIC, the long-term health of cinemas depends on a consistent and diverse pipeline of films, including Hollywood blockbusters, local productions and international titles.
Just as importantly, the report underlines the need for meaningful theatrical exclusivity. In a market where audiences are increasingly used to multiple viewing options, cinemas continue to rely on strong, clearly positioned theatrical windows to make releases feel like events.
UNIC CEO Laura Houlgatte framed the sector as “as relevant, dynamic and valued as ever,” while also stressing the cultural, social and economic role cinemas continue to play across Europe.
The message is therefore not one of simple recovery, but of adaptation. European cinemas remain resilient, but their future depends on the right mix of films, investment, audience experience, local production strength and a theatrical model that continues to give the big screen a clear place in the audiovisual ecosystem.
