The Berlin International Film Festival will award the 2026 Honorary Golden Bear to Academy Award–winning actress Michelle Yeoh in recognition of her outstanding achievements in film and cinema. The award will be presented at the Opening Ceremony at the Berlinale Palast on February 12th, 2026.
Michelle Yeoh is considered one of the most versatile and influential actresses of her generation. With a career spanning four decades and multiple continents, she has made a lasting impact on international cinema.
Michelle Yeoh served as a member of the Berlinale International Jury in 1999. Since then, she has captivated audiences at the Berlinale and around the world time and again with work such as “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” and, more recently, the phenomenon that was “Everything Everywhere All at Once.”
Reflecting on her connection to the festival, Yeoh shares: “Berlin has always held a special place in my heart. It was one of the first festivals to embrace my work with such warmth and generosity. Returning after all these years, in recognition of my journey in cinema, feels truly meaningful.”
“Michelle Yeoh is a visionary artist and performer whose work defies boundaries ‒ whether geographic, linguistic, or cinematic,” says Festival Director Tricia Tuttle. “Her commanding presence, fearless artistic choices, and unmistakable style have left a lasting impression on generations of filmmakers and fans at the Berlinale and across the globe.”
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Michelle Yeoh rose to prominence with films such as “Yes, Madam”, “Royal Warriors”, “Police Story III”, and “Wing Chun”, becoming one of the leading female icons of Asian action and martial arts cinema. Her remarkable physicality, charisma, and on-screen presence made her a favourite with audiences far beyond Hong Kong.
She achieved an international breakthrough in 1997 with her role as Chinese secret agent Wai Lin in the James Bond film “Tomorrow Never Dies.” Her iconic performances in “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” (directed by Ang Lee) and “Everything Everywhere All at Once” (directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert) exemplify Yeoh’s commitment to artistic excellence, cultural bridge-building, and female empowerment on screen.
For “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” Michelle Yeoh was awarded the Academy Award for Best Actress in 2023 ‒ becoming the first actress of Asian descent to win in this category. This historic moment marked a significant milestone for the representation of Asian artists in global cinema.
Michelle Yeoh is currently bringing her acclaimed presence to the role of Madame Morrible in “Wicked: For Good” (directed by Jon M. Chu). The highly anticipated musical film is set to premiere in cinemas in just a few days. Earlier this year, she returned to Chinese cinema in “Ms. Rubik’s Cube” (working title, directed by Bai Xue and executive produced by Wen Muye). Later in 2026, Yeoh will lead a new chapter in the television series “Blade Runner 2099” (executive produced by Ridley Scott for Amazon Prime Video). She will also appear in the upcoming action thriller “The Surgeon” (directed by Roshan Sethi).
With the Honorary Golden Bear, the Berlinale pays tribute to individuals who have made a lasting contribution to the art of film. Previous recipients include Helen Mirren, Martin Scorsese, Meryl Streep, Steven Spielberg, and Tilda Swinton.
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