With “Willkommen 2026”, the ZDF New Year’s Eve show moved from Berlin to the Port of Hamburg for the first time. Against the backdrop of the Elbphilharmonie and the harbour, a live production was staged that celebrated the turn of the year nationwide with striking images of Hamburg. The client was the Fairplay Towage Group, with whom the POOLgroup has also been collaborating on the Hamburg Harbour Anniversary since 2024.

After many years in Berlin, the show was to be moved to a new venue that would represent Germany just as distinctively. The Port of Hamburg offered a unique setting for this: maritime, international and visually striking. The aim was to create a production suitable for television that would appeal equally to the live audience and viewers at home, and which would mark the turn of the year in a unique atmosphere.

The production combined a floating stage with onshore technical equipment. At the same time, port operations, stringent safety requirements, strong tidal movements and wintry weather conditions had to be taken into account. Freezing temperatures, rain and snowfall placed additional demands on the technical equipment, materials and crew.

Rehearsals also took place under special conditions: due to ongoing shipping traffic and fluctuating water levels, individual sequences could only be tested within limited time slots. The live broadcast, lasting around 4.5 hours, was therefore not rehearsed in its entirety in one go. Individual parts of the show had to be prepared separately and precisely synchronised for the live broadcast.

The POOLcrew was responsible for the technical planning and execution of the production. This included lighting, sound, rigging, kinetic elements, media technology and IT, as well as the technical and logistical link between the floating stage and the production areas on land.

In addition, the team handled set and sound design, technical production management and support for the end-of-year fireworks display. A high-performance network infrastructure linked the various production areas and formed the basis for stable signal paths and reliable live production control.

All technical systems were adapted to the specific conditions of the harbour. Rehearsals, set changes and technical procedures had to respond flexibly to the tides, shipping traffic and weather conditions without compromising the precision of the broadcast.

The floating stage, the Port of Hamburg and the Elbphilharmonie provided a backdrop that gave the New Year’s celebrations a whole new feel. Lighting, sound, performers and fireworks all came together to create a harmonious whole. The result was a New Year’s Eve show that combined a maritime atmosphere with the dynamism of a major live production.

With ‘Willkommen 2026’, the ZDF New Year’s Eve show was given a new, striking setting. Despite challenging weather, harbour and production conditions, the result was a technically sound live broadcast featuring striking images from Hamburg.

The project also marked a continuation of the partnership with the Fairplay Towage Group, which has been in place since 2024. The joint experience gained from the Hamburg Harbour Birthday celebrations provided a solid foundation for the planning and execution of this special New Year’s Eve production.