Spain Extends €2 Cinema Tickets for Seniors Until 2027. Spanish authorities have decided to maintain €2 cinema tickets for people over 65 until summer 2027. The Cine Sénior program will cover all participating cinemas and receive new funding. The measure aims to support the industry and encourage audiences to return after the pandemic.
Movie tickets for Spaniards over 65 will remain available for 2 euros at least until June 2027. This decision was made by the Council of Ministers, which approved the extension of the Cine Sénior program and allocated 11.5 million euros for it. This initiative, launched by the Ministry of Culture, allows pensioners to visit cinemas at a reduced price on Tuesdays—traditionally the day with the lowest attendance.
The program is valid only in cinemas that have joined the project. The main goal is to bring older viewers back to cinemas after the sharp drop in interest during the pandemic. According to authorities, this audience in particular stopped going to the movies regularly more than any other, and now the government is focusing on getting them to return.
Rise in interest and support for cinemas
Since its launch in July 2023, the Cine Sénior program has seen a marked increase in popularity. During the second phase of the project, which lasted 35 weeks, nearly 1.7 million pensioners visited cinemas—83% more than the year before. In the current season, which for the first time will run for a full year, there have already been over 1.5 million visits in 28 weeks, and if the trend continues, the final numbers will surpass those of last year.
State support is distributed among cinemas to compensate for the difference between the discounted and actual ticket prices. In the third stage of the program, which began in June 2025, the budget was set at 8.5 million euros but was later increased to 11.5 million. By comparison: 12 million was allocated for the second round and 10 million for the first.
Spanish cinema among the favorites
According to organizers, Spanish films consistently attract strong interest from pensioners. This benefits both audiences and the national film industry, especially in small and medium-sized cities where audience support is critical for cinemas to survive.
Minister of Culture Ernest Urtasun noted that the Cine Sénior program helps revitalize film distribution and enables cinemas to remain in demand even during periods of low attendance.
Context and significance of the decision
The extension of the program until 2027 is not only a social measure, but also a tool to support the entire sector. As audience habits change and competition from online platforms intensifies, such initiatives help cinemas retain their audiences and develop the local film market.
According to data from Spanish authorities, the Cine Sénior program has become one of the most successful cultural initiatives in recent years. Its extension confirms that the government is ready to invest in bringing audiences back and preserving the tradition of collective film viewing.
