Los Angeles On-Location Production Declines Again Even As California’s Tax Incentive Heavily Backs Remaining Projects

On-location production in Los Angeles fell 4.8% year on year in the third quarter of 2026, continuing a longer decline despite California’s expanded tax incentive. The programme supported a growing share of the scripted work that remained, but the figures suggest it has not yet reversed the overall trend.

FilmLA recorded 4,171 on-location shoot days from July to September, with incentivised projects accounting for 40.3% of scripted production, nearly twice their share a year earlier. They made up 62% of TV comedy and 49.4% of TV drama shoot days; films logged 533 days, up 2.1%, while commercials fell 15.9% to 562 days. The state raised the programme’s annual cap to $750 million and broadened eligibility last year, but soundstage work is not included in the figures.