CinemaCon Unveils 2026 Poster Competition Winners

When Johanna Greif was thinking about entering CinemaCon’s annual poster competition, she started by jotting down a list of things she associates with going to the movies. She thought about the smell of fresh popcorn, the way the marquee glows at night and the feeling of anticipation as the opening credits roll.

“It’s about connecting with people and sharing an emotional experience,” says Greif, who works as a graphic designer at the North Bend Theatre in North Bend, Washington. “Movie theaters are the one public place where you can openly cry and laugh and scream. There’s something about sitting in the dark and doing that with strangers.”

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Greif channeled all of that into a poster that celebrates what makes the big screen so unique, and also pays homage to the 85-year-old theater where she works. The art deco movie palace at the center of her design bears a distinct resemblance to the North Bend’s dramatic exterior. It’s also filled with celluloid iconography, including the ruby slippers from “The Wizard of Oz,” the blood-red balloon from “It” and 007’s signature martini (shaken, not stirred). Judges awarded Greif first prize, which includes a round-trip flight to Las Vegas for CinemaCon. Greif’s poster will also be printed on a T-shirt that will be distributed to the conference’s attendees.

Now in its fifth year, the contest is open to employees of movie theaters around the world. Second and third place went to Richard Dahms of the Galaxy Theatres chain and Patrick Stickney of Classic Cinemas. There were 46 submissions all told.

For her part, Greif is excited to draw attention to the North Bend Theatre, which is run by her fiancé, Sam Burrows, and his parents, Kevin and Beth. Located 45 minutes outside Seattle, the cinema is a locus of activity for the mountain town. The area is best known for being the setting of David Lynch’s “Twin Peaks.” “

We’re right across the street from the diner where Kyle MacLachlan got his coffee and pie,” says Greif. “There are all these tall trees around. It’s moody and atmospheric.”

Or dare we say, cinematic?

Here’s a closer look at the big winner: