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37m ago

Hamburg Hosts ZDF’s New Year’s Show on Floating Harbor Stage as Mayor Urges Optimism

The mayor used the relocated ZDF New Year's show to call for realistic optimism, signaling Hamburg's bid to host it in the future.

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Overview

  • ZDF's "Willkommen 2026" broadcast moved from Berlin's Brandenburg Gate to a floating stage by the Westfield center in HafenCity for the first time.
  • Hosts Andrea Kiewel and Johannes B. Kerner greeted thousands in rainy, 4°C conditions, with about 10,000 spectators expected at Chicagokai.
  • Mayor Peter Tschentscher described "stormy times" and urged planning, goal-setting, and holding course and speed using maritime imagery.
  • He welcomed the possibility of ZDF returning to Hamburg, promoted a Hanseatic, realistic optimism, and wished everyone health and resilience for the new year.
  • The show includes live links across the city and a planned tugboat-launched fireworks display, while Berlin holds a separate DJ event after public funding cuts ended its traditional show.