Michelle Yeoh to Receive the 2026 Honorary Golden Bear at the Berlinale

The Berlin International Film Festival has announced that Michelle Yeoh will receive the 2026 Honorary Golden Bear, presented during the Opening Ceremony at the Berlinale Palast on February 12. The accolade recognises her sustained contribution to international cinema, shaped over forty years of work across Asia, Europe and the United States.

Yeoh first joined the festival community as a member of the International Jury in 1999. In the years since, she has remained a familiar and respected presence at the Berlinale, with key screenings including Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) and, more recently, Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022), the latter becoming a global cultural moment.

Michelle Yeoh and the Berlinale

Reflecting on her return to Berlin, Yeoh notes the festival’s early support for her work. “Berlin has always held a special place in my heart,” she says. “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.”

Festival Director Tricia Tuttle emphasises the breadth of Yeoh’s impact. “Michelle Yeoh is a visionary artist and performer whose work defies boundaries ‒ whether geographic, linguistic, or cinematic. 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.”

Four Decades of Reinvention

Michelle Yeoh’s career began in the late 1980s, when she emerged as a leading force of Hong Kong action cinema. Titles such as Yes, Madam (1985), Royal Warriors (1986), Police Story III (1992), and Wing Chun (1994) established her as a central figure in the evolution of female-led action filmmaking. Her performances, defined by physical precision and a distinctive cinematic charisma, soon extended her following well beyond the region.

Her international breakthrough came in 1997 with the James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies, in which she played Chinese agent Wai Lin. The role marked one of the franchise’s most notable collaborations with Asian cinema and positioned Michelle Yeoh as a truly global performer.

Ang Lee’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon further consolidated her status, combining emotional depth with the discipline of wuxia choreography. Two decades later, Everything Everywhere All at Once—directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert—showcased Yeoh’s full range: dramatic nuance, comedic agility and multiverse-spanning physicality.

A Historic Academy Award

In 2023, Michelle Yeoh won the Academy Award for Best Actress for Everything Everywhere All at Once, becoming the first performer of Asian descent to receive the honour. The win was celebrated as a landmark for visibility and representation, reinforcing her longstanding role as a cultural bridge between Asian and Western cinema.

Current and Upcoming Work

Michelle Yeoh’s present slate reflects a continued commitment to both mainstream and independent storytelling. She appears as Madame Morrible in Wicked: For Good, directed by Jon M. Chu and arriving in cinemas within days. Earlier this year, she returned to Chinese cinema with Ms. Rubik’s Cube (working title), directed by Bai Xue and executive produced by Wen Muye.

In late 2026, she will headline Blade Runner 2099, the next chapter of the iconic franchise, executive produced by Ridley Scott for Amazon Prime Video. She is also set to appear in the upcoming action thriller The Surgeon, directed by Roshan Sethi.

The Legacy of the Honorary Golden Bear

The Honorary Golden Bear is awarded to artists whose body of work has shaped the art of film. Yeoh now joins an esteemed list of recipients, including Helen Mirren, Martin Scorsese, Meryl Streep, Steven Spielberg and Tilda Swinton. Her selection signals both a recognition of past achievements and an affirmation of her evolving role in contemporary screen culture.