Screens in the City brings free films to Cambridge: what residents need to know

Screens in the City will return to Cambridge from Thursday 13 August to Sunday 16 August, with free open-air cinema screenings across two city locations.

The summer event, delivered by Cambridge BID, will run from 1pm each day, with evening screenings listed at 6.30pm. Films will be shown next to the Clayton Hotel on Station Road, CB1 2FB, and at the University of Cambridge Downing Site, Lawn Outside Courtyard Building, CB2 3ER.

Entry is free, but advance booking is required because demand is expected to be high. Ticket release announcements and event updates will be shared through @lovecambridge_ on social media.

Four days of films across two Cambridge sites

The big screen will be back near the train station at CB1, Station Road, beside the Clayton Hotel, before the programme moves to the University of Cambridge Downing Site for the weekend.

Both locations will be set up as open-air cinemas, with giant screens and outdoor seating available on a first-come, first-served basis. Visitors are encouraged to bring picnic blankets and deck chairs, then pick up snacks, treats or takeaway food and drink from city centre cafes, restaurants and retailers before the screenings.

The event is aimed at the general public and families, with afternoon films for younger viewers and later screenings likely to draw mixed-age audiences. The Sunday evening slot will be an audience choice screening, with the title still to be announced.

Full Screens in the City schedule

Booking, seating and what to bring

All screenings are free to attend, but booking ahead is part of the plan for this year’s event. Cambridge BID says advance booking is required due to anticipated demand, so anyone hoping to attend should watch for ticket release announcements before making firm plans.

Seating will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis at both venues. The source information encourages visitors to bring their own picnic blankets and deck chairs, which makes the event more like a relaxed summer cinema trip than a formal indoor screening.

Food and drink will not be tied to a specific event stall list in the published details. Instead, visitors are being pointed toward Cambridge city centre retailers, cafes and restaurants for snacks, treats and takeaway options before settling in for the films.

A free summer cinema stop in the city centre

Screens in the City forms part of Cambridge BID’s summer events programme, which is designed to create free opportunities for people to gather in the city during the warmer months.

For families, the shape of the programme is practical: daytime screenings, familiar animated titles and a clear split between the Station Road site on Thursday and Friday and the Downing Site location on Saturday and Sunday.

The key planning detail is that free does not mean turn-up-only. Advance booking is required, and the next confirmed step is to follow @lovecambridge_ for ticket release announcements and event updates.

Source: Visit Cambridge Events

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This preview is based on the published Visit Cambridge event details and the verified event brief.

Checks

• Confirmed the event dates as 13 to 16 August 2026.
• Checked both listed venues: Station Road, CB1 2FB, and Downing Site, CB2 3ER.
• Matched the free entry status with the advance booking requirement.
• Cross-checked the published film schedule by day and location.

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Visit Cambridge Events

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Cambridge

Updated

2026-06-22 12:14

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#Cambridge#Cambridge BID#Clayton Hotel Station Road#Free Family Events#Open-air cinema#Screens in the City#University of Cambridge Downing Site

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