Gottschalk is canceling the moderation of the “Golden Ochsensepp” and does not want to appear publicly before autumn 2026.
Thomas Gottschalk made his cancer diagnosis public in November 2025 and withdrew from the public eye. Since then, speculation and concerns about the health of the former “Wetten, dass…?” host have been making the rounds again and again. A recent moderation rejection reinforces this once again.
Canceled awards ceremony
On May 9, 2026, Thomas Gottschalk was scheduled to moderate the “Golden Ochsensepp” award ceremony in Munich. The aim was to remember the late resistance fighter and CSU co-founder Josef Müller. The former Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz should also be honored. Now the showmaster canceled the job.
At the request of “Spiegel”, the long-time TV host shared the following statement: “I will not appear on stage publicly before autumn, neither for Kurz nor for anyone else. After that, we’ll see what my health does.”
The event is still planned with Thomas Gottschalk
The cancellation probably came at very short notice, so plans were still being made with the 75-year-old until the evening of April 29, 2026. Replacing the moderator is not up for debate. Instead, the event has been postponed to September 5, 2026. The organizer said: “With his unmistakable charm, he will lead through an evening that builds a bridge between tradition and modernity.”
Holm Dressler, creative director of the awards, also agreed and told “Spiegel”: “We have postponed the event until September and are continuing to plan with Thomas, as long as his health allows it.”
