Observed Signal · Jun 25, 2026 · Event Update · Source: DWDL · Impact: 1/5 · Sentiment: Neutral
Barbara Schöneberger to Host German TV Awards Again
Barbara Schöneberger will once again host the Deutscher Fernsehpreis, an announcement she made at the Screenforce Festival and which RTL later confirmed by press release. RTL (Cologne) holds editorial lead this year and will air the TV gala on 9 September in prime time; the Night of the Creatives will take place on 8 September and is to be hosted by Jan Köppen. The jury chair has changed: Stephan Lamby succeeds longtime chair Wolf Bauer. The award ceremony is moving from the MMC studios in the Coloneum to the Confex-Center at the Cologne Messe. Riverside Entertainment will produce both the Night of the Creatives and the TV gala; overall coordination and jury support are handled by the Permanent Secretariat under Petra Müller. Eligible productions were released between 1 July 2025 and 30 June 2026.
A routine programming and production announcement for a national TV awards show; relevant to broadcasters, producers and advertisers planning sponsorships or scheduling but not industry‑shifting.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Barbara Schöneberger announced she will host the Deutscher Fernsehpreis again; RTL confirmed the appointment.
- RTL (Cologne) will broadcast the TV gala on 9 September in prime time and leads the production this year.
- The Night of the Creatives is scheduled for 8 September and will be hosted by Jan Köppen.
- Stephan Lamby has taken over the jury chair from Wolf Bauer.
- The TV‑gala venue moves from MMC‑Studios in the Coloneum to the Confex‑Center at the Cologne Messe; Riverside Entertainment produces both shows.
- Eligible productions must have been released between 2025-07-01 and 2026-06-30.
Connected Companies & Entities
2 Entities mapped“The aftershow party at the MMC‑Studios had been significantly upgraded the prior year under the leadership of Deutsche Telekom....”
“RTL confirmed the appointment by press release and will hold editorial lead this year, broadcasting the TV gala on 9 September in prime time...”
Related Market Signals & Shifts
Recent verified developments and strategic activity across this market segment.
German TV Award Moves Venue for Fresh Presentations
The German Television Award (Deutscher Fernsehpreis) will move its annual ceremony from the MMC studios in Cologne-Ossendorf to the newly opened Confex conference center in Cologne-Deutz. Jan Peter Lacher, RTL representative and chairman of the Fernsehpreis advisory board, cited the award's growth in categories and partners as a reason for the change. Production company Riverside Entertainment will produce the show, aiming to visually connect it with the city of Cologne for TV audiences. The venue offers a central location, a longer red carpet, and space for side events. A new 'Golden Hour' reception with the NRW prime minister and Cologne's mayor will precede the awards. The dress code remains 'Black Tie'.
German TV Awards 2026: Creative Night Winners Announced
On September 8, 2026, the German Television Award (Deutscher Fernsehpreis) presented its first awards during the 'Night of the Creatives' in Cologne. Eleven categories were honored, with the ARD leading with seven wins. Notable winners included 'Die Nichte des Polizisten' for Best Book and Editing, 'Naked' for Best Direction, and 'Silvester-Schlagerbooom 2026 live' for Best Direction Entertainment. The evening was hosted by Jan Köppen, with RTL's CCO Inga Leschek opening the event. The main ceremony is scheduled for the following day.
Gudrun Engel to Host Bremen TV & Digital Awards
ARD correspondent Gudrun Engel will for the first time moderate the Bremer Fernseh- und Digitalpreis after Frank Plasberg's departure, ARD announced. Hans Helmich, who is responsible for programme management at Deutsche Welle, has taken over as chairman of the award jury; Engel will also join the jury in addition to hosting. Public broadcasters, private German and German-language foreign broadcasters and providers are invited to submit entries across six categories, including Best Current Video, Best On-Camera Performance, Best Investigative Performance, plus the audience prize "Nah dran." Winners will be announced in Bremen on 13 November 2026, and a workshop in cooperation with the ARD‑ZDF‑Medienakademie is scheduled for the afternoon before the gala.
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