Cologne, 29 August (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The Gladiators Free-TV start has been officially confirmed, with RTL scheduling the revived German competition series for Friday, 4 September 2026. The programme will begin at 8.15pm on RTL, bringing the format back to German free-to-air television more than three decades after its earlier run.
The new production is a collaboration between Prime Video and RTL Deutschland. Prime Video released the series first on 6 August, while RTL will now bring a condensed television version to a wider audience. RTL+ will also make episodes available ahead of their linear broadcasts.
Why is Gladiators returning to RTL?
The revival forms part of RTL’s entertainment schedule for the 2026/27 season and brings back a format German viewers first encountered during the 1990s.
RTL says 17 professional gladiators will compete under names including Beast, Giant, Fire and Comet. Challengers, known as Contenders, face the professional athletes in physical contests testing strength, speed, endurance and tactical ability. The competition ultimately leads to the Eliminator obstacle course, where contestants fight for progression.
The programme was recorded at Messe Düsseldorf and produced by RTL Studios. Laura Wontorra and Jan Köppen present the competition, with Frank “Buschi” Buschmann also part of the established presenting team familiar to audiences from Ninja Warrior Germany.
The Gladiators Free-TV start follows the programme’s streaming debut on Prime Video on 6 August. The arrangement reflects an unusual partnership in which a major streaming platform receives the programme first before its subsequent free-to-air release.
Christoph Schneider, Country Director Prime Video Germany, said the partnership was designed to bring a “cult brand” back to screens and demonstrate how streaming and traditional television can work together around established entertainment formats.
What will viewers see and what happens next?
RTL’s television version will consist of five broadcasts, beginning on 4 September at 8.15pm. Across the competition, eight preliminary rounds determine which contestants advance towards the semi-final and final, where the eventual Gladiators champions are decided.
The revival comes more than 30 years after American Gladiators was shown by RTL between 1992 and 1994. The modern production retains the central concept of ordinary challengers facing highly trained athletes while updating the arena presentation for contemporary television.
For viewers without a Prime Video subscription, the confirmed Gladiators Free-TV start therefore provides the first opportunity to follow the new German production through RTL’s traditional television service. Further episodes are scheduled to follow on Fridays after the opening weekend.
