33 events for cinema owners, programmers and technicians in United States: exhibitor meetings, trade shows, film markets, festivals with industry programmes and training — with dates where the organiser has published them.
33 events shown
23 June 2026 – 23 October 2026 · Denver, New York, Chicago, Toronto, Vancouver, United States
Day-long in-person user sessions for organisations on the Spektrix ticketing and CRM system, including independent cinemas; remaining 2026 dates are New York (Oct 21) and Chicago (Oct 23).
Technical and projectionSpektrixOfficial site
28 September 2026 – 1 October 2026 · Beverly Hills, United States
Cinema United's autumn members' meeting and annual summit, covering policy, industry data and exhibitor-distributor relations. Aimed at circuit executives and independent owners who are members.
Exhibitor associationsCinema UnitedOfficial siteFull guide
28 October 2026 – 29 October 2026 · Milford, MA, United States
Regional conference of the New England theatre owners' association with studio presentations, vendor exhibits and operator sessions. Useful for independents and small circuits across the six New England states.
Exhibitor associationsTheatre Owners of New EnglandOfficial site
10 November 2026 – 15 November 2026 · Los Angeles, United States
Major independent film sales market with screenings and the AFM Summit conference strand. Useful for buyers, programmers and exhibitors exploring direct acquisition or event cinema titles.
Film marketsAmerican Film Market / IFTAOfficial siteFull guide
16 November 2026 – 19 November 2026 · Pasadena, CA, United States
SMPTE's annual technical conference on media standards and technology, closing with the SMPTE Awards Gala. Mostly broadcast and production, but relevant to cinema engineers following digital cinema and imaging standards.
Technical and projectionSMPTEOfficial site
December 2026 (exact dates to be announced) · United States · Online
Quarterly hour-long webinar where independent distributors present upcoming releases and booking information to AHC member cinemas. Next sessions December 2026 and March 2027.
Online and webinarsArt House ConvergenceOfficial siteFull guide
11 January 2027 – 13 January 2027 · Universal City, CA, United States
Two days of seminar sessions and off-site visits on the technologies behind the cinema experience, from projection and audio to seating and automation. Key event for exhibitor tech leads.
Technical and projectionInternational Cinema Technology Association (ICTA)Official siteFull guide
21 January 2027 – 31 January 2027 · Boulder, CO, United States
First Boulder edition of the leading US independent film festival; most premieres and industry events fall in the first six days. Art-house programmers and bookers attend to scout the year's independent releases.
Festivals with industry programmesSundance InstituteOfficial site
4 March 2027 · Nationwide (participating cinemas), United States
Annual celebration day on which independent cinemas across North America screen a shared slate of special programming. A ready-made marketing hook and programming package for art-house venues.
Independent and art houseArt House ConvergenceOfficial siteFull guide
15 March 2027 – 21 March 2027 · Austin, TX, United States
Film and TV festival with a large conference programme alongside premieres. Programmers use it to scout genre and crowd-pleaser titles; the conference covers distribution and audience trends.
Festivals with industry programmesSXSWOfficial site
12 April 2027 – 15 April 2027 · Las Vegas, United States
Next edition of the Cinema United convention: studio product reels, exhibitor seminars and a large equipment and concessions trade show. Essential for booking relationships and vendor comparisons.
Trade shows and conventionsCinema UnitedOfficial siteFull guide
10 May 2027 – 12 May 2027 · Bloomington, MN, United States
The 2027 edition of the Upper Midwest regional exhibitor convention, moving to the Twin Cities. A trade show and networking event for independent and regional circuit operators.
Exhibitor associationsNorth Central States Cinema UnitedOfficial site
12 July 2027 – 16 July 2027 · Chicago, United States
Five-day gathering of North American art-house and independent cinemas with plenaries, educational sessions, distributor presentations, vendor trade show and screenings.
Independent and art houseArt House ConvergenceOfficial siteFull guide
Next dates not announced · United States · Online
Online session in which independent films without traditional distribution were presented directly to art-house programmers for booking.
Online and webinarsArt House ConvergenceOfficial site
Next dates not announced · usually Monthly (e.g. Programmers: first Tuesday, 4pm ET; Leadership: second Wednesday, 2pm ET) · United States · Online
Recurring online peer groups for AHC members by role (leadership, programmers, marketing, development, single-screen operators, academic exhibitors) plus a Cinema Startup group for people opening a cinema.
Online and webinarsArt House ConvergenceOfficial siteFull guide
Next dates not announced · usually Monthly; October–December 2026 topics to be announced · United States · Online
Monthly educational webinars for AHC member cinemas on programming, marketing, data and operations (2026 topics included Letterboxd, alternative content and audience surveys).
Online and webinarsArt House ConvergenceOfficial siteFull guide
Next dates not announced · usually September, annually · last held 21 September 2026 · Coral Gables, FL, United States
The successor to ShowEast, relaunched as a convention for Latin American and US Hispanic-market exhibition, with studio slates, a trade show and seminars. Relevant to operators serving Latin American audiences.
Trade shows and conventionsFilm Expo GroupOfficial siteFull guide
Next dates not announced · usually April, final night of CinemaCon · last held 16 April 2026 · Las Vegas, United States
Closing-night CinemaCon awards through which the exhibition industry honours talent behind theatrical releases. A networking evening for delegates rather than an exhibitor award.
Awards, training and educationCinema United / CinemaConOfficial siteFull guide
Next dates not announced · usually Late August, annually · last held 24 August 2026 · Allen, TX, United States
The Cinema United of Mid-America conference and vendor marketplace for exhibitors from Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Mississippi. Combines studio screenings, education and a trade show floor.
Exhibitor associationsCinema United of Mid-AmericaOfficial site
Next dates not announced · usually Early February, annually in Austin; DICS9 announced for the Domain area of Austin in 2027 · last held 2 February 2026 · Austin, TX, United States
Specialist summit for dine-in cinema and family entertainment centre operators on kitchen operations, food and beverage, service models and technology.
Trade shows and conventionsDine In Cinema SummitOfficial site
Next dates not announced · last held 3 February 2025 · Austin, TX, United States
2025 edition of the specialist summit for dine-in cinema operators on F&B operations, service and technology.
Trade shows and conventionsDine In Cinema SummitOfficial site
Next dates not announced · usually September, annually · last held 22 September 2026 · Concord, NC, United States
Concessions and hospitality trade show and education event for entertainment venues, with a strong cinema contingent. Useful for concession managers looking at menus, suppliers and F&B margins.
Trade shows and conventionsNational Association of Concessionaires (NAC)Official site
Next dates not announced · usually Self-paced, enrolment open year-round · United States · Online
Self-paced online version of the association's flagship concession manager certification, covering recreational foodservice fundamentals. Relevant to cinema F&B managers.
Awards, training and educationEntertainment Food & Beverage Association (EF&B) with CineTRAINOfficial site
Next dates not announced · usually Several per year (e.g. January and August 2026) · United States · Online
Occasional webinars from the concessions association on topics such as CinemaCon F&B activities and the annual Expo. Useful briefings for cinema concession managers.
Online and webinarsEntertainment Food & Beverage Association (EF&B, formerly NAC)Official site
Next dates not announced · usually May, annually · last held 20 May 2026 · Los Angeles, United States
Annual conference of the giant-screen cinema community (IMAX-format and museum theatres) with film previews, a trade show, innovation sessions and the GSCA Achievement Awards.
Exhibitor associationsGiant Screen Cinema Association (GSCA)Official siteFull guide
Next dates not announced · usually January, during the ICTA LA Seminar Series · last held 13 January 2026 · Universal City, CA, United States
Awards for Best New Build, Best Refurbishment and Best Use of Technology among North American cinemas, presented at a dinner during the ICTA LA Seminar Series.
Awards, training and educationInternational Cinema Technology Association (ICTA)Official site
Next dates not announced · usually June of even-numbered years; AHC Convening in odd years · last held 22 June 2026 · Chicago, United States
Joint conference for independent cinemas and film festivals with workshops, keynotes, distributor and vendor trade shows and screenings. Focused on sustainability and audience-building for mission-driven exhibitors.
Independent and art houseArt House Convergence and Film Festival AllianceOfficial siteFull guide
Next dates not announced · usually July, annually · last held 12 July 2026 · Indianapolis, IN, United States
National conference and expo for operators of historic theatres, many of which run film programmes, covering restoration, operations, fundraising and technology.
Independent and art houseLeague of Historic American TheatresOfficial site
Next dates not announced · usually Late March to April, annually (Memphis) · last held 30 March 2026 · Memphis, TN, United States
Regional exhibitor convention for theatre operators in the Mid-South, with vendor exhibits, studio presentations and operations sessions ahead of CinemaCon.
Exhibitor associationsMid-South theatre owners (listed by Cinema United)Official site
Next dates not announced · last held 11 May 2026 · La Vista, NE, United States
Annual convention for theatre owners in the Upper Midwest (Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, the Dakotas) with trade show, studio screenings and peer sessions. Strongly attended by small-town and family-run cinemas.
Exhibitor associationsNorth Central States NATOOfficial site
Next dates not announced · usually September, annually (Spokane) · last held 1 September 2026 · Spokane, WA, United States
Three-day regional convention for cinema operators from the Rocky Mountain states, Pacific Northwest and Western Canada, with education sessions, studio screenings and a vendor trade show.
Exhibitor associationsRocky Mountain NATO (RMNATO)Official site
Next dates not announced · usually August, annually · Fayetteville, GA, United States
Southeast regional theatre owners' convention for Georgia, Florida, Alabama and the Carolinas, with studio presentations, vendors and networking; held at Trilith Studios for the first time in 2026.
Exhibitor associationsSoutheast NATOOfficial site
Next dates not announced · usually Late January, annually (Kissimmee, FL in 2025 and 2026) · last held 26 January 2026 · Kissimmee, FL, United States
The annual convention and trade show of the drive-in theatre owners' association, covering drive-in projection, FM sound, concessions and seasonal operations.
Exhibitor associationsUnited Drive-In Theatre Owners AssociationOfficial site