40. TEDDY AWARD – The queer Film Award of the Berlin International Film Festival.
2026 will be a truly special year: the TEDDY AWARD celebrates its 40th anniversary. As part of the International Film Festival Berlin, the TEDDY will showcase from February 12 to 22, 2026 just how diverse, bold, and relevant international queer cinema is – featuring current films, the TEDDY40 Retro, and an extensive discourse program.
Given the special occasion, our TEDDY artwork designer Marion Habringer created four versions of the TEDDY poster, on for each of the award’s decades, featuring past winners.
Alongside the @berlinale, the TEDDY will present talks, discussions, panels, and interviews on its platforms, focusing on current queer films as well as key questions and developments within the queer media industry. The program is complemented by the film market events Queer Industry Reception and Speedy Film Pitches.
All information on films and events will be published on February 3, 2026.
On February 20, 2026, the 40th TEDDY AWARD Ceremony will be presented at the Volksbühne Berlin. For four decades, the TEDDY has brought together people who create, present, support, and celebrate queer film culture. The award ceremony begins at 8:30 pm in the Grand Hall, honoring films and filmmakers who make queer perspectives visible and open up new cinematic approaches. . The evening stands for encounter, community, and culture – shaped by emotion, political commitment, humor, art, and a wide range of queer stories.
From 10:30 pm, the salons and foyers of the Volksbühne will open for the legendary TEDDY After Show Party – an integral part of the night and a place to reunite, meet new people, dance, and come together.
