62nd Grimme Award Ceremony

Germany's most important television award

The Grimme Award has been the most recognized award for German-language television since its inception in 1964. Awarded by the Grimme Institute in Marl, it honors quality, innovation, and social relevance in TV — and clearly distinguishes itself from commercial industry awards for ratings or broadcast. The 62nd Grimme Award Ceremony will take place on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Theater der Stadt Marl.

The Award Structure 2026

The 62nd edition will present:

• 16 Grimme Awards in the categories Information & Culture, Fiction, Entertainment, Children & Youth
• 3 Special Awards
• A total of 19 productions and achievements honored

Moderation and Music

The ceremony will be hosted by Linda Zervakis, former Tagesschau anchor and ProSieben talk show host. Musical accompaniment will be provided by Helmut Zerlett & Band, as has been the case for many Grimme Awards. 3sat will broadcast the ceremony with a time delay starting at 10:25 PM.

Award-Winning Productions 2026 — A Selection

• Information & Culture: "Hass.Hetze.Hoffnung" (RTL2) — the first Grimme Award for the private broadcaster RTL2. Documentary filmmaker Carl Gierstorfer receives an award again (Sudan documentary, co-creators).
• Special Award: Frank Elstner will be honored by the German Adult Education Association for his life's work as a television creator and socially engaged individual.
• Fiction: "Tatort – Dunkelheit", ZDF series "Die Affäre Cum-Ex", and several other formats.

Institute Director Çiğdem Uzunoğlu emphasized regarding the 2026 selection that it showcases the diversity of contemporary narrative forms but also reveals striking gaps: "The wars in Europe and the Middle East are missing, as is the climate crisis."

The Grimme Institute and its Hometown Marl

The Grimme Institute is an independent subsidiary of the German Adult Education Association and has been located in the northern Ruhr area — in Marl — since its founding. This anchoring is more than symbolic: it underscores the award's connection to adult education and the aspiration to reflect television quality in society.

Marl — A City in the Northern Ruhr Area

Marl is a city in the district of Recklinghausen in North Rhine-Westphalia, in the northern Ruhr area. With nearly 90,000 inhabitants and distinctive Bauhaus city architecture, Marl is a special place: the Marl Sculpture Museum Glaskasten, the Theater Marl, and the Grimme Institute make the city an important cultural hub in North Rhine-Westphalia.

Theater Marl

The Theater Marl was built in 1953/54 and has since been not only the city's stage but also a regular venue for the Grimme Award ceremony. The building's architecture, acoustics, and central location make the hall a suitable setting for the TV broadcast.