Teddy Award Berlin
About This Event
The Teddy Award isn't a festival on its own - it's the queer film prize of the Berlin International Film Festival, the Berlinale. Founded in 1987 by Manfred Salzgeber and Wieland Speck, it started as a small ceremony at Prinz Eisenherz, a Berlin gay bookshop. They named it as a nod to the Berlinale's Golden and Silver Bears. It became an official Berlinale award in 1992, and since 1997, the non-profit TEDDY e.V. has been behind the gala and fundraising.
You won't find a separate Teddy programme to buy into. Instead, LGBTQ+ films are selected from across the Berlinale's sections, and a jury hands out awards for Best Feature Film, Best Documentary or Essay Film, Best Short Film, and a Jury Award, plus an honorary Special Teddy for a career. For the 40th edition in 2026, 45 films from over 30 countries were in the running.
To catch the films, you'll need to buy ordinary Berlinale tickets for individual screenings - popular titles sell out quickly, so keep an eye on the Berlinale ticket calendar. The award night itself is a gala with an after-show party; check teddyaward.tv for ticket details. February in Berlin is cold and dark, and hotels near Potsdamer Platz fill up fast during the festival.
The 40th Teddy gala took place on 20 February 2026 at the Volksbühne, during a Berlinale that ran from 12 to 22 February. Brydie O'Connor's Barbara Forever won Best Documentary/Essay Film, and director Céline Sciamma received the Special Teddy. For 2027, the Berlinale is set to run from 10 to 21 February, opening a day earlier than usual, with the main awards on Friday 19 February and two new public audience days at the end. The 2027 Teddy gala date hadn't been announced when we checked.
Where to stay during Teddy Award Berlin
via Stay22Schedule & Sub-Events
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Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale)
The Berlinale, Berlin's International Film Festival, is a premier global event celebrating diverse international cinema. Running for over a week, i...
Practical Tips
The Teddy ceremony ticket is separate from the main Berlinale pass — join the Teddy Club to guarantee entry.
Videos
Acampamento Miasma: Adolescência, Sexo e Morte - Trailer Oficial - 13 de agosto no Kinoplex
