What is the Berlinale 2026?
The Berlinale 2026 is one of the most important film festivals in the world – alongside Cannes and Venice. In 2026, the 76th edition celebrates eleven consecutive days of cinema, premieres with stars, debates on cinematic art, and plenty of discoveries off the Red Carpet.
Learn everything you need to know about the Berlinale 2026 here:
When and where Does the Festival Take Place?
The festival is officially scheduled for February 12 to 22, 2026 throughout Berlin. Potsdamer Platz remains the heart of the festival, with the Berlinale Palast and cinemas in its immediate vicinity. Looking ahead, since 2025, the festival has been revitalizing its home with additional venues around the Palast – short distances, great cinema. At the same time, the city is buzzing: premieres, talks, and public screenings are taking place from Mitte to Kreuzberg, from Charlottenburg to Prenzlauer Berg.
What’s on besides Red Carpets?
The Berlinale features the strongest industry setup of the spring: The European Film Market (EFM) brings the industry together, complemented by Berlinale Talents for emerging creatives and the Co-Production Market as a driver for new projects. The dates are already set: EFM February 11–18, 2026, Talents February 13–18, 2026, Co-Production Market February 14–17, 2026. Anyone who loves films or works with them professionally will find a dense mix of screenings, panels, and meetings here.
Who Leads the Festival?
Since April 2024, Tricia Tuttle – formerly head of the BFI London Film Festival – has been leading the Berlinale with artistic and organizational responsibility. Under her aegis, the program directorate model was renewed: Jacqueline Lyanga and Michael Stütz act as Co-Directors of Film Programming and lead the selection committee; Tuttle is responsible for the overall direction. The new team aims to sharpen the profile, open up access, and keep the paths at Potsdamer Platz compact.
How is the Program Structured?
The Berlinale is a mosaic of strong sections. Competition and Berlinale Special deliver the big premieres in the hunt for the Golden Bear, Panorama and Forum stand for signature and daring, Generation puts young audiences at the center, Perspectives is the new competition for feature film debuts and creates visibility for emerging directors. The fact that the festival dramaturgy is solid was already demonstrated in 2025 by a widely discussed competition – a hint of what can be expected in 2026: world premieres, artistic diversity, and international discourse.
How Do I get Tickets?
Ticket sales officially run through the Berlinale website and linked partners. There are quotas for individual screenings, often with advance sales a few days before the respective screening. If you are flexible, keep an eye on several cinemas and use last-minute ticket windows on the day of the screening. Separate accreditations apply to industry guests; market and convention access are linked to EFM or trade passes. Conveniently: The festival website centrally bundles ticket information, schedules, and venue overviews.
How Do I Plan My Berlinale 2026 Visit?
It’s best to combine a fixed “must-see” block with spontaneous discoveries. Screenings in the morning, talks or Talents events in the afternoon, gala or section in the evening – this way you experience the mix of glamour and substantive depth. Potsdamer Platz is perfectly connected, many EFM locations are within walking distance; public transport saves time when the city is in Berlinale mode.
Accommodation
If you are still looking for charming accommodation options, then check out the little BIG hotels. Of our six hotels in Berlin, three are a good distance from Potsdamer Platz. The elegant Boutique Hotel the YARD is only about 7 minutes away by taxi/Uber. The Fjord Hotel is very close to Potsdamer Platz. On foot, you’ll be at the venue in 10 minutes – or in 4 minutes by taxi/Uber.
You also benefit from excellent transport links from Lindemann´s in Berlin Schöneberg. Taxi or Uber will take you to Potsdamer Platz in just 7 minutes, and with bus M48 or M85, it only takes 14 minutes. All hotels also offer comfortable rooms and modern furnishings. And we also offer you a discounted stay at these three hotels. With the discount code LBBerlinale, you save 5% on overnight stays. The discount is valid for overnight stays from 2026-02-11 to 2026-02-23. We also offer group bookings for 5 rooms or more.
Why is the Berlinale 2026 Especially Worth it?
Because 2026 falls into a phase of renewal and focus: new artistic direction, clearly structured paths on site, strong industry clusters, and the chance to experience cinema live as a societal debate. Berlin plays to its strengths – cosmopolitan, curious, opinionated – making the Berlinale a meeting point for audience proximity and world-class standards at the same time. The fact that the dates are fixed early helps everyone: plan your trip, check accreditation, clear your cinema calendar.
The combination of Competition, EFM, Talents, and Co-Production Market is a productive synergy: Ideas meet partners, projects find funding, talents network. With Lyanga and Stütz at the program interface and Tuttle as overall head, the Berlinale focuses on curatorial diversity with a clear signature – a signal in times when festivals need to show their profile.
Conclusion
The Berlinale 2026 is the cinema event of the winter: February 12–22 in Berlin, compact at Potsdamer Platz and with a strong industry backbone. Anyone who loves film will see world premieres here, discover new voices, and feel the energy of a city that takes cinema seriously – and celebrates it. Mark your calendar now, plan your trip, and secure tickets in time.