Willkommen 20xx
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Johannes B. Kerner (2016-)
| Willkommen 20xx | |
|---|---|
| Genre | New Year programming |
| Presented by | Andrea Kiewel (2013-) Johannes B. Kerner (2016-) |
| Country of origin | Germany |
| No. of episodes | 15 |
| Original release | |
| Network | ZDF |
| Release | 31 December 2010 – present |
Willkommen 20xx (English: Welcome 20xx) is the name given to the New Year's Eve show broadcast on German broadcaster ZDF since 2010/11. It is currently presented by Andrea Kiewel and Johannes B. Kerner.
From 2010/11 until 2024/25 it broadcast the party at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. Since 2025/26, it has been hosted at the HafenCity in Hamburg, after Berlin'sty mayor Kai Wegner refused to fund the eveannual nt.[1]
The show broadcast the live New Year's party from the Brandenburg Gate to the Victory Column along the Straße des 17. Juni. Many domestic artists have performed on the show, including ; as well as international artists including the Gipsy Kings with Bamboléo in 2019/20; Johnny Logan and Nemo in 2024/25.
Due to the energy crisis affecting Germany, the 2022/23 edition was moved from the Brandenburg Gate to a smaller stage at the Pariser Platz, where, for security reasons, only a few thousand could stand in front of the stage.[2] The next year's edition returned to the Brandenburg Gate.
After the city's authorities refused to fund the event at the Brandenburg Gate for 2025/26, producers moved the event to a floating stage in the HafenCity in Hamburg.[1]
In the minute before midnight, producers have usually played Europe's The Final Countdown since 2016/17 while Kiewel and Kerner chat to fill time. Thirty seconds before midnight, the clock in the top-right screen will disappear and an announcer says Deutschland, macht sich bereit. ("Germany, get ready.") before a ten-second countdown. After midnight, producers either play Ode to Joy, a cover of it; or have performers sing Auld Lang Syne.
The show's usual slogan was Celebrate at the Gate.[3]