"The Masked Singer" returns to ProSieben in fall 2026 with a completely revamped 13th season. The celebrity mask show is significantly overhauling its format and breaking one of its own records in the process. The network announced this in a press release.
A total of 16 masked celebrities will attempt to conceal their identities for as long as possible this time - the show has never had this many mystery figures before. However, fans will retain one familiar constant: host Matthias Opdenhövel (55) will once again guide viewers through the show.
Faster duels, more unmaskings
ProSieben is particularly speeding up the pace of the format. In the first four shows, four masks will compete against each other in direct duels. Each evening, two celebrities will have to remove their costumes, while the two remaining masks secure their tickets to the semifinals.
Hannes Hiller, EVP Show, Own IP & ProSieben, expects more thrills from this: "Our viewers love the suspense, the surprises, the puzzles. With this new format, 'The Masked Singer' will be even more surprising and intense", he is quoted as saying in the press release.
The biggest change: no more live show
The most striking break with tradition concerns the production itself. Instead of airing live as before, the 13th season will be recorded in Cologne starting in late August and broadcast on ProSieben and Joyn only several weeks later.
Hiller justifies the move by looking beyond national borders: "We're doing exactly what has long been standard worldwide - whether in the USA or Great Britain, other countries have always recorded the show." The advantage is obvious: "This step makes it possible to sign prominent candidates whose schedules have simply made a six-week live presence impossible until now." In other words: bigger names could compete in the new season.
The audience will also be involved early on. According to ProSieben, fans can submit name suggestions for the first mask via the Joyn app starting now and help decide what it should be called. Tickets for the studio recordings are also available starting now. According to the ticketing website, the recording for the finale is scheduled for September 11.
Who triumphed most recently
The previous twelfth season was won by comedian and actress Meltem Kaptan (45), who sang her way through the finale as the cow "Muuhnika". She thus joins a prominent lineup. It all began with Max Mutzke, who won the first season as the astronaut. He was followed by Tom Beck as the sloth, Sarah Lombardi as the skeleton, Sasha as the dinosaur, and Alexander Klaws as "Mülli Müller". After that, Ella Endlich triumphed as the zebra, Daniel Donskoy as the mole, Luca Hänni as the shoebill, and Jennifer Weist as the ice princess. Subsequently, Mirja Boes as the flea in season ten and singer Loi as the panda in season eleven topped the competition.
