Number of cinema halls in Turkey decreased by 427 in 2026
According to data from the Presidency of Strategy and Budget, the number of cinema halls in Turkey decreased by 427 in the first ten months of 2026, falling to 1,909. The contraction in the sector is notable alongside the decline in cinema audience numbers.
The 2027 Annual Program, prepared by the Presidency of Strategy and Budget, has revealed the serious contraction experienced by the cinema sector in Turkey. In the sector, which closed 2025 with 2,336 halls, the number of active halls as of October 2026 has decreased by 427, falling to the level of 1,909.
The published data reveals that the cinema sector has fallen even behind the conditions of the Covid-19 period. Parallel to the decrease in the number of halls, the number of cinema audiences also fell to 18 million 891 thousand as of September 2026.
Assessment: According to the information in the report, it is argued that the root causes of this decline in the sector lie in the effects of the economic crisis and current cultural and artistic policies.
Sources
- birgun.net · Link