Global Cinema Converges in Berlin: Berlinale 76 Unveils Its Most Star-Studded Line-Up Yet

courtesy of Berlinale-Pressemitteilung

The 76th Berlinale arrives this February with a powerful statement: cinema remains a global meeting point for artistry, risk and cultural dialogue. With newly announced programmes across Berlinale Special, Panorama, Generation and Classics, the festival brings an exceptional constellation of renowned filmmakers and international stars to Berlin, reinforcing its reputation as one of the world’s most influential film festivals.

Berlinale Special once again positions itself as a vibrant meeting place for audiences, blending red carpet glamour with cinematic depth. This year’s selection features 19 works from 15 countries, including six documentaries and an ambitious series programme. World premieres by Charlotte Regan, Maite Alberdi, Ruth Beckermann, Sam Pollard and Ulrike Ottinger sit alongside Gore Verbinski’s epic science-fiction comedy and Teodora Ana Mihai’s powerful Heysel 85, revisiting the tragic Heysel Stadium disaster. Music, literature and genre storytelling also take center stage with The Ballad of Judas Priest, the Chilean adaptation La casa de los espíritus, and the daring German horror-mystery series House of Yang.

The Panorama section, fully unveiled under the theme “Desire Lines,” continues Berlinale’s tradition of bold, politically and emotionally resonant cinema. Opening with Only Rebels Win by Danielle Arbid, starring Hiam Abbass, Panorama showcases 37 films from 36 countries. New works by Hong Sangsoo, André Novais Oliveira, Mahnaz Mohammadi and Aidan Zamiri reflect a programme that is both globally diverse and artistically uncompromising, while on-screen talent such as Charli xcx, Alexander Skarsgård, Sophie Okonedo and Valerie Pachner add contemporary cultural energy.

Berlinale Generation 2026 turns its focus decisively toward young perspectives, positioning itself “Against the Times.” The Generation 14plus competition opens with Sunny Dancer, a vibrant comedy by George Jaques starring Bella Ramsey and Neil Patrick Harris. Meanwhile, the Kplus programme begins with Eliza Capai’s Brazilian documentary A Fabulosa Máquina do Tempo. Across 18 feature films and 23 shorts, Generation offers stories that are at once urgent, playful and timeless, reflecting the realities and imaginations of younger audiences worldwide.

The Berlinale Classics programme reaches a new milestone this year, presenting its most extensive selection to date with ten films from nine countries. Highlights include Assarab (Mirage), marking the first Moroccan film shown in the section, and the early Ukrainian sound film Kryshtalevyi Palats (Crystal Palace). In a notable expansion of scope, the anime genre makes its Berlinale Classics debut with the iconic Jubei Ninpucho (Ninja Scroll), signaling the festival’s evolving understanding of film heritage.

Across all sections, Berlinale 76 celebrates cinema as a living, evolving art form—one that bridges generations, geographies and genres. From established masters to emerging voices, and from historical rediscoveries to daring new experiments, this year’s programme reaffirms Berlin’s place at the heart of global film culture.