German Television Awards: Josef Hader and series ‘Hundertdreizehn’ among nominees

The organizers of the German Television Awards (Deutscher Fernsehpreis) published the official list of nominations on 26 August 2026. The nominations are posted on the award’s official website and enumerate the productions, performers and creative teams proposed across the various categories (Deutscher Fernsehpreis, nominations page, 26 August 2026).

One of the headline names among the nominees is Josef Hader. The Austrian actor is nominated in the category Best Actor (Bester Schauspieler) for his performance in the two‑part television film Sturm kommt auf, a co‑production of ZDF and ORF. The Best Actor shortlist also includes Edin Hasanović (Tatort: Dunkelheit), Johannes Hegemann (Olivia), Johannes Kienast (Chabos) and Tom Schilling (Achtsam Morden).

The announcement comes two weeks before the awards are presented across two evenings in Cologne: the ‘Nacht der Kreativen’ on 8 September and the televised gala on 9 September 2026. RTL will broadcast the main gala at 20:15 CET on 9 September, with Barbara Schöneberger confirmed as the gala host and Jan Köppen hosting the ‘Nacht der Kreativen’ (Deutscher Fernsehpreis, press release).

The series Hundertdreizehn — an ARD/Degeto/ORF/WDR production made by Windlight Pictures and Satel Film — was named in four categories on the official nominations list. The show is up for Best Drama Series, and its creative team is recognized in Best Direction Fiction (Rick Ostermann), Best Writing Fiction (Arndt Stüwe) and Best Editing Fiction (Christoph Cepok, Benjamin Kaubisch).

Those multiple nominations suggest that Hundertdreizehn has been acknowledged both for its overarching production values and for specific creative contributions. Recognition in direction, writing and editing indicates a perception of quality across narrative construction, visual staging and the technical rhythm of the series.

Industry outlets such as DWDL and statements from film funding bodies corroborate the official list and highlight Hundertdreizehn alongside Chabos as among the most nominated series this year, reflecting a broader industry focus on serialized storytelling and ambitious dramatic formats in recent seasons.

Josef Hader’s inclusion in the Best Actor category reiterates his cross‑media profile: known in the German‑language space as a comedian, writer and actor, Hader has increasingly appeared in film and television projects that attract critical attention. His nomination for Sturm kommt auf is an acknowledgment from the awards’ nominating body of his work in that specific production.

Nomination does not equate to winning, and the final decisions will be made at the ceremonies in September. Nonetheless, such a nomination elevates a performer’s visibility and can have downstream effects on casting considerations and co‑production interest, especially for actors who operate across national markets in the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland).

For broadcasters — in this case ZDF and ORF — a named actor’s nomination serves as a marketing and prestige asset that may inform distribution, festival submissions and future commissioning choices.

The German Television Awards are organized over two evenings. The first night, the ‘Nacht der Kreativen’, focuses on technical and craft categories as well as specialist prizes, while the televised gala the following evening highlights high‑profile categories and personalities. This bifurcated model aims to give visibility to both craft and celebrity elements of television production.

The official schedule confirms the dates (8 and 9 September 2026) and the broadcast arrangement: RTL will air the gala on the evening of 9 September, starting at 20:15 CET. Barbara Schöneberger is listed as the gala presenter — a recurring role for her — while Jan Köppen will present the creative night.

How the awards are staged and who hosts them are elements that influence public perception: a prime‑time broadcast can amplify the visibility of nominees and winners, while the naming of familiar presenters ties the ceremony into broader entertainment programming and audience expectations.

Nominations perform multiple functions in television ecosystems: they serve as a marker of quality, increase attention for the listed projects and can help producers and creators in negotiations with funders, distributors and broadcasters. A show like Hundertdreizehn receiving multiple nominations strengthens the profile of its production companies and the creative talent attached to it.

Nevertheless, significant questions remain unanswered until the awards are actually handed out. The winners will only be revealed during the ceremonies; the precise impact of nominations on future commissioning and on the commercial fate of the referenced productions (for instance, sales to international platforms or additional domestic repeats) will only be measurable in the months afterwards.

While the nominations give viewers a curated list of noteworthy productions from the past season, they also underscore ongoing debates about what types of television content receive institutional recognition — whether the emphasis favors prestige drama, star vehicles, or innovative genre work. Observers and industry professionals will be watching the outcome in September to gauge any shifts in the selection patterns and to draw conclusions for programming strategy.