• CEC Entertainment LLC published an inaugural “State of the Birthday Party Report” on Sept. 9, 2026, based on more than 10,000 responses across 29 countries.
• The report found that one in three parents selects a birthday venue requested by their child, pointing to rising child-led decision-making in the birthday entertainment market.
• More than 75% of US parents said the full birthday experience should center on the birthday child, rising to more than 90% among parents of 6- and 7-year-olds.
• Nearly 60% of children start anticipating their birthday at least a month in advance, suggesting earlier demand signals for party planning.
• Parents ranked activities over themes or decorations, with only 23% citing themes or décor as the key improvement for the next party.

Disclaimer: This news brief was created by Public Technologies (PUBT) using generative artificial intelligence. While PUBT strives to provide accurate and timely information, this AI-generated content is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as financial, investment, or legal advice. CEC Entertainment LLC published the original content used to generate this news brief on September 09, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained therein.