The award ceremony for the 76th Berlin International Film Festival, the Berlinale, has kicked off in Berlin.
This 2026 competition jury, headed by legendary German director Wim Wenders, will announce the winners of this year’s Gold and Silver Bears.
You can watch the livestream of the awards ceremony on the Berlinale’s YouTube channel.
The selection for this year’s Berlinale is broadly considered to have been one of the best in years, with several competition titles getting critical raves and few out-and-out pans. But there are no clear frontrunners going into tonight’s event.
Despite the festival’s attempt to keep the focus on the movies, politics and social media outrage have often been the story of the 2026 Berlinale, with directors and talent fielding questions about Gaza, Donald Trump and the rise of the far-right.
Jury president Wenders came under attack online after making the comment that filmmakers “have to stay out of politics.” The comment was broadly interpreted as a call for political neutrality, although even the briefest look at Wenders’ life and filmography makes clear he has also been a politically-engaged artist and citizen.
Wenders has been quiet since those comments, but his and his jury’s decisions tonight are certain to send a message.
Winners of the 2026 Berlinale:
GOLDEN BEAR FOR BEST FILM
SILVER BEAR GRAND JURY PRIZE
SILVER BEAR JURY PRIZE
SILVER BEAR FOR BEST DIRECTOR
SILVER BEAR FOR BEST LEADING PERFORMANCE
SILVER BEAR FOR BEST SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE
SILVER BEAR FOR BEST SCREENPLAY
SILVER BEAR FOR OUTSTANDING ARTISTIC CONTRIBUTION
