Overview
- WDR has confirmed a belated anniversary night on 13 September 2026 featuring a live 20:15 edition of Kölner Treff hosted by Susan Link and Micky Beisenherz with guests including Carolin Kebekus, Guido Maria Kretschmer, Jörg Pilawa, Motsi Mabuse, Tommi Schmitt and Senta Berger.
- The special evening pairs the live show with a 22:30 documentary titled '50 Jahre Kölner Treff - die Doku', a 23:15 special 'Echt ketzt Kölner Treff?!' that revisits controversial moments, and a 0:15 Best‑Of block with highlights from past guests.
- Regular late‑Friday broadcasts of Kölner Treff will continue through August, with a new episode scheduled for 7 August at 22:00 featuring guests such as Gabriel Kelly, Sabine Rückert and Friederike Kempter.
- The anniversary is described as belated because the show first aired in January 1976 and has run in a revived form on WDR since 2006, making the September program both a celebration and a curated historical look back.
- By moving the show into an earlier live slot and adding documentaries, WDR aims to reach a broader audience, prompt public reflection on changing language and roles on TV, and extend the conversation via the WDR Mediathek for on‑demand viewing.