Highlights from the 2026 Deutscher Fernsehpreis: Laura Wontorra, Stefan Raab, and Barbara Schöneberger Shine

The 2026 Deutscher Fernsehpreis awards ceremony took place for the first time at Cologne's Confex-Center, celebrating outstanding achievements in German television and streaming across multiple categories. Laura Wontorra earned the prestigious award for Best Moderation/Individual Achievement in Entertainment for her work on "Deutschland sucht den Superstar." She used her acceptance speech to inspire young women, urging them to embrace their individuality with her words: "You are not too loud, not too quiet, not too small, not too big, not too fat, not too thin. Believe in yourselves, stand your ground, and just do your thing."

The award was presented by SPD politician Karl Lauterbach and actress Annette Frier, who added a humorous touch by donning robes reminiscent of the RTL show "Die Verräter." Meanwhile, the duo Stefan Raab and Barbara Schöneberger took home the award for Best Entertainment Show for "Wer weiß wie wann was war?" Raab praised Schöneberger's contribution to their success.

Other significant winners included Tom Schilling, who received Best Actor amidst celebrations of his mother's birthday on stage, and the television film "Olivia," recognized for its focus on queer visibility. The event also honoured Markus Lanz and Ibrahim Naber for their excellence in information and reporting, and veteran journalist Peter Kloeppel received a special honorary award for his longstanding contributions.

The gala was marked by vibrant performances, including a duet by Barbara Schöneberger and Bulgarian Eurovision winner Dara, and was widely applauded by attendees for the new venue and its lively atmosphere. The Deutscher Fernsehpreis, held annually since 1999, is supported by major German broadcasters and streaming platforms such as ARD, RTL, ZDF, Deutsche Telekom, Disney+, Netflix, and Prime Video, emphasizing excellence in television and streaming content.