PVR INOX to Add 100 Screens in FY26, Eyes Tier-III Expansion with Budget Ticketing

PVR INOX, India’s largest multiplex operator, plans to add 100 new screens in FY26, even as it prepares to shut 10–15 underperforming screens, Executive Director Sanjeev Kumar Bijli has said. The company has already launched around 60 screens this fiscal and expects to open the remaining 40 by March 2026.

While 60% of new additions will come from top metros, PVR INOX is shifting focus to smaller tier-II and tier-III cities, where it sees strong demand for affordable big-screen entertainment.

“We are on track to open 100 screens by the end of the financial year… and we’re planning entry into smaller towns where there are no cinemas at all,” Bijli told PTI.

In the last week, PVR INOX made its debut in Siliguri (West Bengal) and Gangtok (Sikkim) — the latter being one of the first modern cinema properties in the state. The chain has also expanded in Raipur and Jabalpur this year, and plans to open its first property in Leh, Ladakh soon.

The exhibitor currently operates 1,767 screens across 355 properties in 111 cities in India and Sri Lanka.

To penetrate deeper into Bharat, PVR INOX is exploring a low-cost model for tier-II and tier-III markets. Ticket prices in these cities could be as low as ₹150–₹200, significantly cheaper than its metros where the average ticket price (ATP) stands at ₹260 (April–Sept FY26).

Lower real estate and operating costs in smaller towns make such pricing feasible, and the company expects this strategy to unlock significant new audiences.

Despite aggressive expansion, PVR INOX will continue to streamline its footprint. The exhibitor shut 55–60 loss-making screens in the previous fiscal due to low-performing malls and inefficiencies, a process which Bijli expects to continue for the next three years.

Bijli expressed optimism about upcoming film releases through March, highlighting titles such as Tere Ishk Mein, Gustaakh Ishq, Avatar Dhurandhar, Kiss, and Mastiii 4.

He noted that the industry’s diversity remains a buffer. “Even if some Hindi movies don’t do well, regional films or English films step up. That is the beauty of our business in India.”

Despite this, he anticipates a “bit muted” performance in the second half of FY26 compared with the 17% revenue growth seen in the first half, where PVR INOX recorded ₹3,292 crore in consolidated revenue.

PVR INOX also unveiled a six-screen luxury multiplex in Pitampura, New Delhi, featuring two Luxe auditoriums, a P[XL] screen, and three uniquely designed halls — underscoring the chain’s strategy of balancing mass-market expansion with premium experiences.