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CinemaCon 2026 Closes With Theater-First Push, Star Turns and Firm Dates

The Las Vegas trade show signaled a coordinated return to theater-first releases.

Overview

  • The convention wrapped Thursday in Las Vegas with Disney closing the show and screening exclusive Avengers: Doomsday footage featuring onstage appearances by Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans.
  • Studios set firm release dates, including The Mandalorian and Grogu on May 22, Toy Story 5 on June 19, and Avengers: Doomsday on December 18.
  • Executives pressed for longer exclusive theatrical windows, with Universal’s 45-day benchmark praised and Steven Spielberg urging a return to 60 to 120 days.
  • Presentations highlighted premium large-format pushes such as Disney’s new Infinity Vision certification to court audiences seeking bigger-screen experiences.
  • Exhibitors left with a packed slate across studios, including fresh footage for Dune: Part Three, The Odyssey and Disclosure Day, which observers framed as a coordinated bet on a box office rebound.