German television networks announce 2026 holiday programming

German broadcasters have released their schedules for the 2026 Christmas and New Year period, featuring a mix of Schlager music shows, family classics, and quiz formats.

ZDF will broadcast several major musical events, including the return of Helene Fischer on December 25, a Christmas show by Giovanni Zarrella on December 3, and traditional family programming such as Astrid Lindgren classics and the series ‘Das Traumschiff’. The network also plans to air ‘Bares für Rares’ on Christmas Eve.

Other scheduled highlights include Florian Silbereisen’s ‘Adventsfest der 100.000 Lichter’ on November 28 and his participation in Kai Pflaume’s annual ARD quiz between the holidays. Additionally, Andy Borg will host a special edition of ‘Schlager-Spaß’ on SWR in November to support the ‘Herzenssache’ children’s charity.

Amidst these announcements, musician Norbert Rier of the Kastelruther Spatzen has criticized the production style and repetitive guest lists of large-scale Schlager shows hosted by Silbereisen and Zarrella, suggesting the heavy use of lighting and effects can be overwhelming.