The 76th Berlinale Is About To Kick-Off

Cinema fans, get ready: the 76th Berlin International Film Festival, better known as the Berlinale, is set to light up the German capital from February 12 to 22. Across ten days, Berlin will become a vibrant hub of global cinema, where world premieres, awards, and film lovers take center stage.

The festival officially opens on February 12 with a gala at the iconic Berlinale Palast, where the world premiere of No Good Men, a powerful drama by Afghan-German filmmaker Shahrbanoo Sadat, will inaugurate the programme. On opening night, celebrated actress Michelle Yeoh will be honored with the Honorary Golden Bear in recognition of her remarkable contribution to international cinema.

Berlinale’s main international Competition features 22 films competing for the prestigious Golden and Silver Bears, among them one first feature, one animation as well as one documentary. Productions from 28 countries are represented. 20 films are world premieres. Nine films were directed or co-directed by women. 14 filmmakers have been at the festival before, six even in Competition.

“We’ve found so much to fall in love with in this year’s bumper Competition line up. And we are so confident in the charms of these 22 films that we say defiantly, ‘if you don’t find something here to love, you don’t love cinema!!’ Satirical and formalist comedy, genre, a psychological thriller, a love story, a self-love story, anime, a western… these 22 films show off just how diverse great cinema is in 2026. Each one is beautifully crafted and delivers on its own artistic promise,” says Festival Director Tricia Tuttle.

See all films in Competition here.

In addition to its official screenings and Talents programme, Berlinale includes industry-focused platforms such as the European Film Market and the Co-Production Market, which take place early in the festival and attract film professionals from around the world.

After a week of exciting premieres and cultural events, the festival builds toward its grand awards ceremony on February 21, when the winners of the Golden and Silver Bears will be announced by an esteemed international jury led by acclaimed filmmaker Wim Wenders.