BookMyShow Cancellation Charges and Refund Policy (2026)
You booked seats, the plan fell through, and now you want to know one thing: how much of your money comes back. This page answers that first, then covers whether your cinema allows cancellation at all, how to do it, and when the refund lands.
Everything below is from BookMyShow's own support centre, checked in September 2026. Cancellation terms are set by each cinema, so always confirm the details on your own booking before relying on a general guide — including this one.
BookMyShow cancellation charges: what you actually get back
When a cancellation goes through, you do not get the full ticket price back. BookMyShow states that you remain eligible for 75%, 70% or 50% of the ticket amount, and which of the three applies depends on the cancellation policy of that particular cinema.
So the deduction is 25%, 30% or 50% of the ticket amount depending on where you booked. There is no single flat rate across the platform, which is why your friend's refund and yours can differ for the same film on the same night at two different screens.
The percentage applies to the ticket amount. Your booking total may also include charges added at checkout, so the figure that returns to your account can be smaller than the percentage of the total you paid.
First, check whether your ticket can be cancelled at all
Cancellation is not a platform-wide guarantee. BookMyShow offers it with many leading cinemas, but not every screen participates, and several conditions can block it even when the cinema does.
- The cinema must offer it. While booking, tap the cinema name: if Cancellation Available appears under its facilities, you are covered. Your confirmation email also states whether cancellation is available and what the cut-off is.
- You must be inside the cut-off window. Cinemas allow cancellation between 20 minutes and 4 hours before showtime, and the exact figure differs from cinema to cinema.
- There is a monthly limit. BookMyShow caps cancellations at three per month. Once you have used them, the option stops appearing.
- Loyalty points and split payments disqualify a booking. If you applied payback or loyalty points, or split the transaction with someone else, the booking is deemed ineligible for cancellation.
- Live entertainment cannot be cancelled. The cancellation feature covers cinema tickets. There is no ticket cancellation for live entertainment — concerts, plays, sports and similar events.
If the cancel option is missing from a booking you think qualifies, check first that you are signed in with the same email address or phone number you booked with. Tickets are tied to that account, and a different login simply will not show them.
How to cancel a BookMyShow ticket
- Sign in to the BookMyShow app or website with the email address or mobile number used for the booking.
- Open Your Orders (older versions call this Purchase History) and find the booking.
- Select Cancel Booking. If the option is not there, that cinema does not support cancellation, the cut-off has passed, or one of the conditions above applies.
- Choose where the money goes: Refund to Original Payment Mode or Refund to BMS Cash.
- Confirm. The refund amount shown at this step is what you will actually receive, after the cinema's deduction.
When the refund arrives
The two refund routes move at very different speeds, and the choice is yours at the moment of cancelling:
- BMS Cash — processed within about 2 hours, and the credits stay valid for 2 years. Fastest option, but the money stays inside BookMyShow.
- Original payment mode — BookMyShow processes it immediately at their end, and it should reach your account within 5 to 7 working days.
If you paid with a gift voucher, the amount goes back to that same voucher and becomes redeemable again after 24 hours.
One related case worth knowing: if money left your account but the booking never confirmed, that is not a cancellation. BookMyShow refunds those automatically, within a maximum of 5 to 7 working days, and you can track it under Profile > Purchase History.
Frequently asked questions
What are BookMyShow's cancellation charges?
You get back 75%, 70% or 50% of the ticket amount, set by the cinema you booked with — so the charge is 25%, 30% or 50%. The exact figure for your booking is shown before you confirm the cancellation.
Are BookMyShow tickets refundable?
Cinema tickets are refundable at many cinemas, partially and within a cut-off window. Live entertainment tickets are not cancellable at all.
How long does a BookMyShow refund take?
About 2 hours to BMS Cash, or 5 to 7 working days back to your original payment method.
How many times can I cancel in a month?
Three. After that the cancellation option is unavailable until the next month.
Why is there no cancel option on my booking?
The most common reasons are that the cinema does not offer cancellation, the cut-off has passed, you have used your three cancellations this month, loyalty points were applied, the payment was split, or you are signed in with a different account than the one used to book.
Can I cancel just some of the seats?
The cancellation flow operates on the booking. If you need to change only part of a group booking, contact BookMyShow support through the app rather than cancelling the whole order.
Policies change. This page was checked against BookMyShow's support centre in September 2026; the terms shown on your own booking always take precedence.