The Berlinale 2026 – the Berlin International Film Festival – brings red carpets, industry deals and packed cinemas back to the German capital from 12th–22nd February. For UK visitors, whether film-industry professionals or committed cinephiles, a practical approach will include making day-to-day life in Berlin easy. And that includes having some Euros to hand just when you need them.
What is Berlinale, and why does it matter?
Berlinale is now one of the world’s major film festivals, alongside Cannes, Venice, Toronto, and Sundance. Founded in 1951 in a divided post-war city, it combines a large public festival with a significant industry marketplace. In recent editions the Berlinale has recorded hundreds of thousands of ticketed attendances. In 2025 there were 947 public film screenings, and 455,742 cinema visits. Screenings cluster around Potsdamer Platz, City West and Alexanderplatz, but many visitors also squeeze in time at the Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag dome or the East Side Gallery.
The event is important in several ways. It’s a huge networking opportunity for the film industry, has a tradition of providing a stage for political issues such as human rights, free speech, and global conflicts. Films range from mainstream movies to experimental and niche productions. There are lectures, workshops and a matchmaking facility known as the co-production market. Most significant industry organisations, like the World Cinema Fund, are present.
The mix is one of the appeals of Berlinale 2026
Most visitors from the UK will be film industry insiders, with plenty of journalists, plus a number of dedicated film buffs. You’ll find producers, distributors, agents and critics. However, there are also film students and enthusiasts who come for the public screenings, the discovery of obscure material, and lectures with Q&As. And there are plenty of city-break visitors who use the festival as an excuse to visit Berlin and then add in a handful of screenings around the tourist programme.
In every case, the pattern of small costs is similar: regular coffees between films, street food or simple restaurants for lunch, public transport across the city and drinks in bars after late screenings.
Cards work well – but not everywhere
Germany has long been regarded as a cash-preference society, but card and mobile-wallet usage has risen sharply since the pandemic. In Berlin, many shops, BVG (public transport) ticket machines and restaurant chains now accept contactless payments without fuss.
Even so, cash still matters. Visitors to Berlinale 2026 are likely to find that
- some independent cafés and bars remain cash-only or set minimum card spends
- street-food markets, festival pop-ups and late-night kiosks often lean towards notes and coins
- club cloakrooms and door charges may be quicker or cheaper in cash
For UK travellers used to tapping a phone for almost everything, this can be a mild adjustment rather than a shock – but it still justifies carrying a reasonable cash float.
Everyday costs in Berlin during Berlinale 2026
The good news is that Berlin remains fair value compared with London. Cost-of-living guides suggest that a light meal – kebab, currywurst or a basic restaurant – can be anything from €7.00 to €15 or €20 per person, while a sit-down dinner in a mid-range restaurant can start at around €35 for two without a drink. A cappuccino in a café usually costs about €4, though some budget chains have been advertising hot drinks closer to €2.50. Beer in a bar is often about €4.50 for 0.5l, clearly below the £6.50, or more, that many UK residents now pay for a pint in city centres.
Public transport is integrated and sensibly priced. A 24-hour U-Bahn (underground) or S-Bahn (overground rail) ticket for central AB zones is currently about €10.60; an ABC zone ticket covering the airport is €12.30. For a taxi one way from Schönefeld Airport, expect to pay about €80.
The broad picture is that transport costs are similar to many UK cities, but food and drink in Berlin is slightly cheaper.
A realistic daily budget – and where cash fits in
A sensible Berlinale 2026 daily budget for most UK visitors sits at roughly €60 – €80 per person. That is usually enough for:
- Breakfast from a bakery or café
- A cheap or mid-range lunch
- Coffee and snacks between screenings
- A simple dinner and a couple of drinks
- A 24-hour public-transport ticket
Industry visitors eating in smarter restaurants or attending receptions may spend more, but that is often on expenses and usually goes on cards.
Not all of this needs to be in cash. Cards work well for BVG tickets, larger meals and supermarket runs if you are self-catering. However, cash is useful for street-food stalls, späti (late night) kiosks, cloakrooms, small bars, short taxi rides, and tips. For a long Berlinale weekend of three days, planning on €250 in cash per person should be enough. For longer stays take more, and look for a currency provider at home – see below – that provides a buy-back service for unused notes.
Buying Euros before you go
Buying foreign currency is easier before you set off. It avoids a last minute panic and the probability of poor exchange rates or additional card transaction fees once you arrive. Euros are easily obtained in the UK and having the currency with you when you get there means less inconvenience and stress.
Using a service like Money4Travel before you go allows you to compare participating providers close to home. Money4Travel specialises in finding the best deals at a very local level, and you can book the currency online and collect locally too. You can decide how much of your Berlinale budget you want in cash, and choose a useful mix of smaller notes for day-to-day spending. Most transactions earn Pips loyalty points and you can also make use of a buy-back option if you return with surplus euros.
For UK travellers whose everyday lives are now mostly contactless, planning a reliable Euro cash pot this way makes a Berlinale 2026 trip simpler. Cash stops being an afterthought and becomes a tool for enjoying Berlin’s cheaper snacks, bars and late-night transport – without wondering whether the next kiosk will take your card.
By Declan Morton, writer and editor at Money4Travel – the online service for foreign currency sales in the UK. More about the author.
For reference: Berlinale – official home page; Berlin International Film Festival – official festival profile; Civitas Berlin – Berlin Prices; Civitas Berlin – Transport Tickets and Fares; Numbeo – Cost of Living on Berlin
Every effort has been made to quote accurate prices. Those mentioned are correct at the time of publication. Exchange rates and prices may change without notice
