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The 12th edition of Seriencamp Festival and Conference closed in Cologne with record attendance, sold-out screenings, major industry participation and a strong sense of optimism about the future of European and international TV series. Held from June 9 to 11, 2026, the event confirmed its role as Germany’s leading series festival and one of the most relevant industry gatherings for scripted content in Europe.

This year, nearly 1,000 accredited industry professionals from around the world attended the Seriencamp Conference, while the public-facing Seriencamp Festival welcomed around 4,000 visitors. Across three packed days, the festival celebrated numerous sold-out screenings, extended standing ovations, red carpet appearances and around 20 series premieres, reinforcing Cologne’s position as Germany’s series capital.

At the industry conference, producers, commissioners, writers and international decision-makers gathered to discuss the future of series production, with a particular focus on artificial intelligence, new development models, co-production opportunities and the changing dynamics of the European scripted market. During the day, projects were pitched to top decision-makers, early-stage concepts were presented, and potential production partnerships were explored. In the evenings, audiences filled the auditoriums of Cologne’s Cinenova venue to discover new German and international series.

Among the most warmly received titles were the German productions All Heroes Are Bastards from ARD Degeto and The Flaws from ZDF/Das kleine Fernsehspiel, both celebrated with long standing ovations. International discoveries such as Happiness, Trespasses, Annie and Fadia also attracted strong attention, with several titles celebrating their German or world premieres in Cologne.

The festival’s red carpet brought together numerous actors, creators and industry guests. Among those attending were Golden Globe nominee Helena Zengel for Westend Girl, Merlin Sandmeyer for Sheep, Aylin Tezel for Serial Cleaner, Kebir Sefer Sargin, also known as Sero El Mero, for All Heroes Are Bastards, as well as Collien Fernandes, Tim Sander and Detlef Soost for Back for More. Other guests included Max von der Groeben, member of the Short Form Competition jury, Jannik Schümann, member of the Official Competition jury, and Veronica Ferres.

One of the major highlights of the closing awards was the announcement of the Seriencamp Audience Choice Award 2026, which went to the French ARTE production Happiness. The series, centered on an Iranian student in Paris, received a five-minute standing ovation and clearly resonated with the Cologne audience. Second place went to The Flaws, while Club der Roten Bänder – Die Neue Generation from VOX/RTL+ ranked third.

The Critics’ Choice Award was presented to the British Northern Irish drama Trespasses. The jury, composed of Arabella Wintermayr, Dominik Porschen and Patrick Heidmann, honored the series for its dramatic strength and critical impact.

Further awards were also presented during the week. The Flaws, Arne Feldhusen’s bizarre slapstick comedy, received recognition from the official jury, while the Short Form Competition Award resulted in a joint win. Unable to select a single winner, the jury awarded both the dark Australian killer comedy Buried and the German-Austrian “Animal Farm” variation Sheep.

Another key moment was the presentation of the Deadline German TV Disruptor Award 2026 to Anke Greifeneder, Warner Bros. Discovery / HBO Max VP of Local Original Production for Germany, Switzerland, Austria and France, recognizing her contribution to the evolution of the German and European television landscape.

“We are thrilled to see awards go to series like The Flaws, which take stylistic risks, or Happiness, which is incredibly attuned to current events,” said Malko Solf, Co-Managing Director of Seriencamp. “Of course, we also want to thank the Cologne audience, who turned out in large numbers over the three days of the festival, filled the theaters, and showed so much enthusiasm. That’s why we’re looking forward all the more to next year with the promise of making the Seriencamp Festival 2027 even bigger and better.”

The conference also served as an important platform for new projects in development. The European Series Development Award, presented by the Council of Europe and carrying a total prize of €50,000, went to the German political thriller Radio Free Europe. The Icelandic band biography GusGus received the Co-Productions Pitch Award, while the Writers Vision Pitch Award, dedicated to projects in their early creative stages, was awarded to the Czech horror-comedy concept Paralegal.

For Seriencamp’s Artistic Director and Co-founder Gerhard Maier, the success of the 2026 edition confirmed the importance of creating not only a strong professional platform, but also an open and welcoming space for the industry. “We’re always thrilled to see the results of months of preparation and planning,” he said. “This applies both to the selection of topics and speakers and to the selection of projects. Above all, however, we’re thrilled that our visitors discover what’s particularly close to our hearts—creating a warm atmosphere and a pleasant environment where the industry enjoys meeting, networking, and showcasing its work.”

The continued growth of Seriencamp also strengthens the visibility of North Rhine-Westphalia as a production hub. Since 2023, the main sponsors of the Festival and Conference have been the State of North Rhine-Westphalia and the Film- und Medienstiftung NRW, both of which continue to support the event’s expansion and international profile.

Founded as Germany’s first and largest festival dedicated to TV series, Seriencamp has steadily grown into a key meeting point for audiences and professionals. The 2026 edition marked the fourth time the event was held in Cologne’s Ehrenfeld district, with free public screenings and an industry conference hosted at the Cinenova cinema and the adjacent Herbrand’s.

After a record-breaking edition, Seriencamp is already preparing its next chapter. The 13th edition of Seriencamp Festival and Conference will return to Cologne from June 8 to 10, 2027.

Photo: Malko Solf and Gerhard Maier