Kinepolis: Attendance Up 49.1% in Third Quarter 2026
The attendance increase published on October 22, 2026 by Kinepolis rests on two drivers that the group explicitly cites: the expansion of its cinema portfolio in the United States and growth on a comparable basis, driven by summer programming. The multiplex operator also reports an increase in EBITDAL and net income, both for the quarter and since the start of the year. This activity update follows a first half that the group qualifies as record-breaking. Foreign exchange effects, already cited among the risks during the interim publication of August 20, 2026, continued to weigh on the quarter. According to the group, they did not prevent the gap with 2025 from widening, both in attendance and financial performance.
Attendance Up 49.1%, Acquisitions and Summer Successes
In the third quarter of 2026, the number of spectators welcomed by Kinepolis increased by 49.1%. The group attributes this increase to two factors: summer programming that attracted audiences to cinemas and the expansion of its presence in the United States. Growth did not stem solely from acquisitions. The press release indicates that the successes of "The Odyssey" and "Spider-Man: Brand New Day", among others, led to an increase in attendance and revenue on a comparable basis. This progress was achieved despite unfavorable foreign exchange effects, linked to the evolution of the Canadian dollar and the US dollar against the euro. This factor was already among the risks mentioned by the issuer in its first-half results, published on August 20, 2026.
Premium Formats and Increase in Spending Per Spectator
Beyond volume, revenue per visitor increased again. The group cites two levers: the increase in sales realized in-theater per spectator (food and confectionery in particular) and the success of premium formats such as IMAX and ScreenX. These formats, priced higher than standard screenings, improve unit revenue without depending on an increase in attendance. Several achievements during the quarter illustrate this orientation. Kinepolis opened an IMAX 70mm theater in Brussels, where "The Odyssey" screenings are sold out through the beginning of November. The group organized ScreenX projections dedicated to Spider-Man in seven establishments in Europe and North America, and installed reclining seats in its cinemas in Breda and Leidschendam, in the Netherlands. According to the press release, the continued control of costs, combined with these investments in premium offerings, enabled the group to take advantage of favorable market dynamics. This resulted in an increase in EBITDAL and net income in the third quarter as well as over the first nine months of the year.
American Acquisitions and Prospects for a Record Year
On the strategic front, the acquisition of Showcase cinemas in the United States is among the quarter's achievements. During the interim publication of August 20, 2026, the group had announced the completion of the Emagine Entertainment acquisition and an agreement for the takeover of Showcase Cinemas. Chief Executive Officer Eddy Duquenne now indicates that the integration of both entities "is progressing successfully". The executive believes the group is "firmly on track for a record year". He relies on an end-of-year he deems promising, with the release of highly anticipated films such as "Avengers: Doomsday" and "Dune: Part Three". In August, the issuer had already cited a solid film calendar for the second half among its opportunities, while mentioning a film supply issue the sector had faced. Eddy Duquenne clarifies that the group remains disciplined in executing its annual improvement exercise and continues to invest and seek growth opportunities. The most structuring element of the publication remains the 49.1% increase in attendance in the third quarter, achieved both through the expansion of the North American portfolio and growth on a comparable basis.
