Screens in the City brings free films to Cambridge

Screens in the City will return to Cambridge from Thursday 13 August to Sunday 16 August 2026, with free open-air cinema screenings split across Station Road and the University of Cambridge’s Downing Site.

The event begins at 1pm each day, with evening screenings listed at 6.30pm. It is free to attend, but advance booking is required because demand is expected to be high. The programme is aimed at the general public and families, with children’s films in the afternoon and familiar crowd-pleasers later in the day.

Cambridge BID is delivering the event as part of its summer events programme. Visitors are encouraged to bring picnic blankets or deck chairs, with seating available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Two outdoor cinema sites in the city

The first two days of Screens in the City will take place next to the Clayton Hotel on Station Road, CB1 2FB, bringing the big screen back to the train station area at CB1.

For the first time, the event will also use the University of Cambridge’s Downing Site. Screenings there will be held on the lawn outside the Courtyard Building, CB2 3ER, adding an enclosed city-centre setting for the weekend programme.

Both locations are being turned into open-air cinemas with giant screens and a summer atmosphere. The format is simple: book ahead, arrive with something comfortable to sit on if you wish, pick up food or drink from nearby city centre cafes, restaurants or retailers, and settle in for the film.

Full Screens in the City film schedule

The spread of films gives families several early-afternoon options, with titles such as Zog, Dog Man, Encanto and Matilda sitting alongside later screenings including Back to the Future, Grease and School of Rock.

Sunday’s final slot is an audience choice screening, with the title still to be announced.

Booking, cost and what to bring

All screenings are free, but entry is not simply walk-up. Advance booking is required, and ticket release announcements will be shared through @lovecambridge_ on social media.

The source listing says seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, so arrival time may matter for anyone hoping to sit in a preferred spot. Visitors can bring picnic blankets and deck chairs, and are encouraged to buy snacks, treats or takeaway food and drink from local city centre businesses before the screenings.

The confirmed venues are next to the Clayton Hotel, Station Road, CB1 2FB, for Thursday and Friday, and the University of Cambridge Downing Site, lawn outside the Courtyard Building, CB2 3ER, for Saturday and Sunday.

Source: Visit Cambridge Events

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This preview was built from the published Visit Cambridge event details for Screens in the City.

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• Matched the event dates and daily start time against the source listing.
• Checked both venue names, locations and postcodes from the event information.
• Confirmed that screenings are free and that advance booking is required.
• Separated the film schedule by date and location as listed by the organiser.

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Visit Cambridge Events

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Cambridge

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2026-06-22 12:07

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#Cambridge BID#Clayton Hotel Cambridge#family film screenings#open-air cinema#Screens in the City#Station Road Cambridge#University of Cambridge Downing Site

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