Overview
- Hubert Burda Media confirmed it will not hold the Bambi awards in 2026, saying the current economic conditions and the large organizational and financial effort required make this year’s ceremony infeasible.
- The company said it plans to continue the Bambi brand and intends a return in 2027 under a new concept rather than a permanent end to the prize.
- Observers and industry reporting describe the pause as one of the first visible savings moves under CEO Eli Varn, who took the role in early July after the departure of Jan Wachtel.
- Reports that Burda is reviewing wider cost cuts, including speculation about roughly 300 job reductions, suggest the decision fits a broader effort to reduce spending on large televised events.
- Bambi has paused before after broadcast partner shifts and the pandemic, and the 2026 halt follows a recent run of editions on Sat.1 and Prime Video that illustrates changing broadcast and financing models for the long‑running German award.