26th Berlin International Film Festival

The 26th annual Berlin International Film Festival was held from 25 June to 6 July 1976. The Golden Bear was awarded to Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson directed by Robert Altman.

The Japanese film In the Realm of the Senses by Nagisa Oshima was confiscated during the Berlinale premiere of the film and banned after a court hearing. Charlie Chaplin's 1957 film A King in New York was also screened at the festival.

Juries
The following people were announced as being on the jury for the festival:

Main Competition

 * Jerzy Kawalerowicz Polish filmmaker and politician - Jury President
 * Hannes Schmidt, West-German production designer
 * Marjorie Bilbow, British writer
 * Michel Ciment, French writer, journalist and film critic
 * Guido Cinotti, Italian historian and essayist
 * Georgiy Daneliya, Soviet filmmaker
 * Wolf Hart, West-German director of photography
 * Bernard R. Kantor, British publisher and academic
 * Fernando Macotela, Mexican writer and film critic
 * Márta Mészáros, Hungarian filmmaker
 * Shūji Terayama, Japanese director, poet and playwright

Main Competition
The following films were in competition for the Golden Bear award:

Out of competition

 * All the President's Men, directed by Alan J. Pakula (United States)

Official Awards
The following prizes were awarded by the Jury:
 * Golden Bear: Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson by Robert Altman
 * Silver Bear – Special Jury Prize: Canoa: A Shameful Memory by Felipe Cazals
 * Silver Bear for Best Director: Mario Monicelli for Caro Michele
 * Silver Bear for Best Actress: Jadwiga Barańska for Nights and Days
 * Silver Bear for Best Actor: Gerhard Olschewski for A Lost Life
 * Silver Bear for an outstanding single achievement: László Lugossy for Man Without a Name
 * Silver Bear: The Garden of Stones by Parviz Kimiavi

FIPRESCI Award

 * Letter from My Village by Safi Faye
 * Long Vacations of 36 by Jaime Camino
 * The Divine Plan by Nina Shivdasani