The starting shot: first the men, then the women

Season 21 breaks with tradition right from the start. On February 11, 2026, the show started on ProSieben with the men’s casting. One day later, on February 12, the women followed. Both episodes showed the open casting in Cologne, with Jean Paul Gaultier sitting next to Heidi in the jury chair.

Men on Wednesdays, women on Thursdays. GNTM 2026 airs twice a week at 8:15 pm on ProSieben and Joyn.

The title song “Red Eye”, produced by DJ Diplo and sung by Heidi Klum herself, sets the tone for a season that focuses on speed and surprises right from the start.

The final takes place in Los Angeles

Probably the biggest innovation: for the first time in 21 seasons, the final will not take place in Germany. Instead, the finalists will travel to Los Angeles, Heidi’s adopted home. What’s more, the final will not be broadcast live, but pre-recorded. A novelty that is already causing discussion in the GNTM community.

The candidates: 27 women between 18 and 54

The age range alone tells a story. From 18-year-old Sophie from Cologne to 54-year-old Ursula from Ascona in Switzerland, who wants to prove that fashion has no expiry date. In between: 25 other women from Germany, Austria and Switzerland who all have one thing in common, the dream of a big breakthrough.

The candidates at a glance

• Alisa (27) from Unterhaching
• Angie (26) from Cologne
• Anika (27) from Paderborn
• Anna (22) from Frasdorf
• Antonia (19) from Cologne
• Aurélie (21) from Pulheim, convinces with humor and self-confidence
• Bianca (47) from Lucerne, Switzerland
• Cléo (19) from Munich
• Daphne (25) from Pulheim
• Dilara (23) from Hanover
• Eileen (19) from the Alb-Donau district
• Janet (24) from Dortmund
• Julia (25) from the Wesermarsch
• Juliet (24) from Dortmund
• Juna (23) from Munich
• Kim (24) from Berlin doesn’t just want to represent her community, she wants to win the title
• Lara (19) from Bad Salzdetfurth, classic tall model
• Lola (19) from Berlin
• Marie (23) from Aachen
• Marlene (20) from Erftstadt
• Merret (20) from Berlin
• Nana (24) from Frechen
• Sina (23) from the Merzig-Wadern district
• Sophie (18) from Cologne
• Stella (21) from Bonn
• Ursula (54) from Ascona, Switzerland
• Vanessa (19) from Göttingen

Already eliminated (episode 1): Melli, Jill, Adelina, Kathi

The candidates: Men from 19 to 57

If you thought the women’s squad was diverse, then you haven’t seen the men yet. Gerhard (57) from Bad Aibling is the oldest contestant GNTM has ever had, a graphic designer who proves that the catwalk knows no age. At the other end of the spectrum: Benji (20), chef and GNTM dreamer. And then there’s Tony (31), Fashion Sales Advisor from Berlin, who is deaf and sees his hearing loss as a strength.

The male candidates

• Adrian (21) from Gladbeck, business administration student with shooting experience
• Benji (20), chef with dreams of big fashion brands
• Boureima (21) from Wangen im Allgäu, goal: international modeling career
• Carsten (49), property manager with a distinctive beard
• Cenk (24) from Austria, trained mechanical engineer
• Christian (21) from Dötlingen, self-employed since 18
• Gerhard (57) from Bad Aibling, graphic designer and oldest GNTM contestant
• Godfrey (34) from Vienna, known from “Too Hot to Handle” (Netflix)
• Ibo (21) from Münster, social media creator and amateur boxer
• Jayden (22), buyer and dance teacher
• Lukas (21), administrative consultant with a distinctive face
• Martin (36) from Munich, engineer with Kurt Cobain vibes
• Matthew (26) from Düsseldorf, edgy look
• Tony (31) from Berlin, deaf and Fashion Sales Advisor

The guest jury: from Gaultier to Leni Klum

In addition to Jean Paul Gaultier at the casting, other prominent guests have already been confirmed:

• Leni Klum, Heidi’s daughter and successful model herself
• Bill Kaulitz, brother-in-law and TV personality
• Rankin, the legendary British fashion photographer
• Kilian Kerner, German fashion designer
• Michele Morrone, actor
• Demi Lovato, singer
• Elevator Boys, at the Public Walk in Berlin

GNTM Bingo 2026: Are you playing?

Our GNTM Bingo is back in season 21! Mark the typical top model terms on your card and challenge your friends. Perfect for every Thursday evening in front of the TV.

All GNTM seasons

You can find the complete history of Germany’s Next Topmodel on our GNTM overview page.

• Season 20 (2025) – Daniela & Moritz (anniversary season)
• Season 19 (2024) – Lea & Jermaine (First season with men!)
• Season 18 (2023) – Vivien Blotzki
• Season 17 (2022) – Lou-Anne

This article will be updated as soon as new episodes are broadcast.