Tatort's Longest Summer Break Ends September 13 with New Episodes

What Happened

The German crime series 'Tatort' is concluding its longest summer break in the show's history. New episodes will resume on Sunday, September 13, 2026, after a 19-week hiatus. The last premiere aired on May 3, 2026.

Background

Since early May, ARD has been broadcasting reruns of 'Tatort' during its usual Sunday evening slot at 8:15 PM. The summer break is the longest in the show's history, with new episodes not airing for 19 weeks.

Key Facts

• The ARD crime series 'Tatort' will resume broadcasting new episodes on Sunday, September 13, 2026.
• This marks the longest summer break in the history of the series.
• The season premiere will feature Commissioner Charlotte Lindholm, played by Maria Furtwängler, in an episode titled "Königin in Gelb," set in a dementia village in Kleinhude, Lower Saxony.
• Following the premiere, the Cologne-based detectives Max Ballauf (Klaus J. Behrendt) and Freddy Schenk (Dietmar Bär) will return for their 96th case, "Die letzten Menschen aus Köln," which is set during the recovery of a World War II bomb.
• Prior to the new season, ARD will air reruns including episodes from Kiel, Mainz, Franconia, Ludwigshafen, and Saarbrücken.
• Maria Furtwängler will celebrate her 60th birthday on September 13, the same day her new "Tatort" episode airs.