Cine Gear Expo LA 2026 Returns to Universal Studios Lot for 30th Anniversary

Cine Gear 2026

by Nino LeitnerMay 4^th, 2026

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Cine Gear Expo LA is heading back to the Universal Studios Lot for its 30th anniversary edition on June 5 and 6, 2026, after the venue’s debut last year drew the kind of turnout that made a return visit a near-certainty. Doors open Friday from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm and Saturday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, registration is already live, and early-bird pricing runs through May 30.

The Universal Studios Lot at 100 Universal City Plaza, tucked between Hollywood and Burbank, will once again host hundreds of booths, seminars, and screenings across the studio’s working stages, theaters, and outdoor spaces. After the 2025 edition marked the show’s first run at Universal following years at Paramount and a 2021 detour to the Los Angeles Convention Center, organizers are framing the 2026 return as a direct response to attendee demand.

A second year on the Universal Studios Lot

For most of its history, Cine Gear has been synonymous with a working backlot rather than a convention hall, and the move to Universal City in 2025 preserved that character. Attendees walked between exhibitor booths under open sky, ducked into soundstages for product demos, and ran into ASC cinematographers in the same alleys where countless productions have rolled cameras. That outdoor, on-set atmosphere has long been the show’s differentiator from larger trade events, and it is the main reason Cine Gear’s audience has historically prioritized this stop on the calendar.

The 2021 shift to the LACC, prompted by the Paramount lot becoming unavailable, was widely regarded as a pandemic-era compromise rather than a permanent direction. Universal’s stages, theaters, and exteriors restore the format that the show’s regulars expect, and a second consecutive year at the same venue gives exhibitors the kind of continuity that makes booth investment easier to justify.

Three decades of Cine Gear

The 2026 edition marks Cine Gear’s 30th anniversary, a milestone organizers say will be reflected across the program. Specific plans, including any expanded seminar tracks, screenings, or anniversary-themed events, are still being detailed and will appear on the official site closer to showtime. For now, the headline takeaways are the venue confirmation and the dates: June 5 and 6, with the broader build-out to follow.

Cine Gear has historically served as a hands-on counterpoint to the larger trade-show calendar. Where NAB skews toward broadcast infrastructure and IBC toward the European market, Cine Gear is built around production cinematography in the Hollywood ecosystem: cameras, lenses, lighting, grip, support, and the post-production tools tying those workflows together. Last year’s show is where we sat down with cinematographer Markus Förderer, ASC for our Focus Check podcast, and where CineD presented its first-ever Best-of-Show Awards at Cine Gear. Building on that involvement, CineD is also stepping into a new role for 2026 as an official media partner of Cine Gear for the first time. Our team will of course be on the ground at Universal City across both days, covering announcements, running interviews, and assessing the gear that surfaces during the show.

Hours, location, and registration

The expo runs Friday, June 5 from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm and Saturday, June 6 from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. The Universal Studios Lot sits at 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, CA 91608, easily reachable from both Hollywood and Burbank, and within striking distance of LAX for international attendees. One scheduling note worth flagging early: the FIFA World Cup 2026 opens on June 11 at SoFi Stadium near LAX, just five days after Cine Gear closes, so flights and hotels across the Los Angeles area are likely to fill up faster than usual. Booking ahead is sensible, especially for travelers coming in from outside the US.

Registration is open via the official Cine Gear Expo LA page, with several pass tiers including the standard Expo Pass, a VIP Party Pass, and a Film Series Pass. Early-bird pricing and the student discount run through May 30, after which standard rates apply. Students qualify with a valid .edu email address at registration and physical student ID at the door. Children under 16 do not need to register and are admitted with a complimentary general badge, but must be accompanied by a parent or guardian throughout the show. Full event details, the exhibitor list, and the seminar schedule as it builds out are at cinegearexpo.com.

Will you be at Cine Gear LA for the 30th anniversary? Which booths, seminars, or screenings are already on your list? Don’t hesitate to let us know in the comments below!