Overview
- The final run of the long‑running Sunday music show launched live from Europa‑Park in Rust on Sunday, May 31, as the first of 13 planned summer episodes aired.
- Host Stefan Mross opened the season with a thankful, conciliatory on‑air address while also showing emotion about the decision that he has called deeply painful.
- SWR says the programme is being discontinued to save money and free resources for new digital formats aimed at younger viewers, and it plans to reinvest part of the savings.
- The farewell season will feature more than 130 artists, include the returning Sommerhitparade with Televoting, and will close with a big Final‑Show on September 6 and a Best‑of on September 13.
- Live dynamics shaped the opener: loyal audiences gave standing ovations, a fan briefly stormed the stage during the first show, and Mross has announced a separate 2027 tour called ‘Immer wieder Stefan’ with about 60 dates planned.