Next year’s Berlin Film Festival will be held from February 10th to 21st, opening one day earlier on Wednesday than in previous years. The awards ceremony will be held on the second Friday of the month, February 19th.
The change in start date provides additional space to introduce two first-ever Audience Days to be held on February 20th and 21st.
The European Film Market officially opens on Wednesday, February 10th, with an opening reception on the evening of Tuesday, February 9th, and will run until Tuesday, February 16th.
The dates of Berlinale Talent (February 12-17) and Berlinale Co-Production Market (February 13-16) will follow the pattern set in 2026.
Festival Director Tricia Tuttle said: “The Berlinale’s not-so-secret weapon is our great audience. These changes will allow us to better serve them, while also meeting the growing demand from participants in the highly successful European Film Market. We are already planning with great excitement for the 77th Berlinale.”
This year’s Berlinale saw record attendance and an increase in industry participation.
The program, which featured 278 films from 80 countries, sold 343,200 tickets, with 340,000 tickets sold in 2025.
Approximately 19,500 industry professionals from 135 countries attended the festival, including 2,288 accredited media representatives.
Tuttle’s leadership came under threat after the 2026 film festival was overshadowed by political debate, with several filmmakers using their acceptance speeches at the ceremony to make pro-Palestinian statements and comments about Gaza, sparking a backlash from politicians and some German media. However, after a week of confusion and talks with the German government, it was announced on March 4 that Tuttle would remain at the festival.
