Overview

• The live gala from Leipzig delivered audience and jury prizes, with Barbara Schöneberger, Michael Patrick Kelly, Franziska Preuß and Nora Tschirner among the public winners.
• Jury honors included Sarah Connor for music, Till Reiners for comedy, Katrin Sass for lifetime achievement and a €25,000 charity award to Kinderklinikkonzerte e. V.
• Unheilig frontman Der Graf marked a tearful stage return during the broadcast, drawing one of the night’s most emotional reactions.
• On stage, Florian Silbereisen joked about Helene Fischer’s newborn in a light wordplay exchange with Kai Pflaume that drew laughs.
• Nora Tschirner missed the ceremony due to illness as hosts sent well‑wishes, and Kai Pflaume later shared a clip helping a spectator find her seat.