The 9th edition of Big Cine Expo 2026, Asia and India’s dedicated convention and trade show for the cinema exhibition and theatrical distribution industry, officially began on 18 August 2026 at Chennai Trade Centre, Chennai. The two-day event brings together cinema exhibitors, distributors, technology providers, equipment manufacturers, studios, consultants and key stakeholders from across India and international markets.

The expo serves as a platform for discovery, collaboration and networking within the cinema exhibition industry. It features product displays, live demonstrations, product presentations, studio showcases, seminars, panel discussions, awards programmes, film screenings and B2B meetings, creating opportunities for businesses across the cinema and entertainment ecosystem.

The inaugural ceremony was attended by Shri Devang Sampat, Managing Director, Cinépolis India; Shri Sandeep Mittal, Founder, TheatreWorld; Shri Raghavendra T (Raghav), Director, Big Cine Expo and Editor-Publisher, TheatreWorld; and Shri Yusuf Galabhaiwala, Partner, GTC Industries, as Guests of Honour.

The latest edition of the expo showcases a wide range of cinema technologies, products and solutions while offering opportunities for knowledge sharing, business discussions and networking among industry professionals.

Speaking about the event, Raghav, Director, Big Cine Expo, said, “Remarkable progress has been made by Asian countries, taking the cinema industry by storm. India, in particular, shows their passion through increasing numbers of screens and movie releases every year. There are businesses that are enthusiastic about the technical aspects of the cinematic world, and I am thrilled to say that Big Cine Expo 2026 will be an event that has the ability to bridge the knowledge gap, especially at a time when the industry is in desperate need of a boost. Packed with live discussions and demonstrations from various brands, the two-day event will cover humongous networking opportunities for the cinema exhibition industry. A tradeshow and convention that has a lot in store for everybody, including innovations which overtake the competition to feature every cinema in the world, from a multiplex to a single-screen, moulding it into a premium, affordable and sustainable cinema! You just can’t miss it!”

The first day of the expo featured a strong conference programme focusing on the changing needs and future growth of cinema exhibition. The panel “Reclaiming the Masses: Making Cinema Affordable in the Current Era” discussed ways to improve accessibility through smarter pricing, data-based scheduling, targeted promotions and subscription models while maintaining business sustainability.

Another session, “Beyond the Screen: Leveraging Tech to Elevate F&B and the Cinema Experience,” highlighted how technology can help transform cinema food and beverage offerings into a stronger source of revenue and customer engagement.

The panel “Tech vs. Texture: Does Premium Technology Deliver a Premium Experience?” explored the impact of advanced projection, immersive sound, HDR, LED and next-generation presentation technologies. The discussion also focused on how comfort, design, hospitality and social spaces contribute towards creating a complete premium cinema experience.

Meanwhile, ICTA’s session “Cinema 2030: Operating Model of the Future” focused on the growing importance of artificial intelligence, automation and data-driven analytics in building efficient and future-ready cinema operations.

The first day also featured the Qube Cinema Partner Felicitation and the IMAX Big Cine Awards 2026, recognising achievements and contributions from across the cinema exhibition industry.

The exhibition area at Big Cine Expo 2026 featured leading cinema technology, equipment, services and solutions from Indian and international exhibitors. Visitors explored the latest advancements in projection, display technologies, cinema automation, F&B solutions and other innovations through live demonstrations and interactive experiences.

The second day of Big Cine Expo 2026, scheduled on 19 August, will continue discussions around technology, innovation and audience engagement with Barco’s “Limitless Possibilities, Unlimited Experiences” and the panel “Cracking Audience Engagement: Micro-Targeting India’s Diverse Demographics.”

The sessions will focus on emerging technologies and understanding India’s diverse audience base to create stronger engagement strategies and sustainable cinema businesses.

With its expanded scale, industry participation and focus on the evolving cinema landscape, Big Cine Expo 2026 continues to remain an important platform for collaboration, innovation and the future growth of cinema exhibition in India and Asia.