I collect everything officially known right here, updated as news comes in.
As of October 6, 2026, observed right here in Bayrischzell. I keep this page current: as soon as there is news about season 16, you will find it here.
Cameras have been rolling in Bayrischzell since late April. I live here and walk past the filming action almost every day: barriers in the village, equipment trucks along the road, the production office is staffed. What was still an observation back in April has long become certainty. Frühling is heading into its sixteenth season. By now the third and final filming block is underway.
Where production stands right now
Directed by Thomas Kronthaler, episodes 62 and 63. The opening block, filmed in and around Bayrischzell. Working titles: „Verliebt, verlobt, verschwunden“ and „Wenn aus Freunden Feinde werden“.
Directed by Michael Karen, episodes 64 and 65. Filmed in Bayrischzell and Fischbachau, the school scenes were shot in Wörgl, Austria. Working titles: „Kleine schmutzige Geheimnisse“ and „Du merkst nicht, wenn ich dich heimlich besuche!“.
Directed by Helmut Metzger, episodes 66 and 67. The third and final block. Working titles: „Die Kinder gehören mir!“ and „Du sollst nicht für immer tot sein!“. The upcoming filming days in Bayrischzell are listed further down this page.
Six new episodes on ZDF, the official air date is still to come.
What is confirmed and what is not
There is a lot of half-knowledge floating around about season 16, so let me draw a clean line.
Confirmed: Six new episodes of roughly 90 minutes each are being filmed, from late April into November. This time the shoot is split into three blocks instead of the usual two: Thomas Kronthaler directs episodes 62 and 63, Michael Karen episodes 64 and 65, and Helmut Metzger episodes 66 and 67, all based on screenplays by producer Natalie Scharf. Simone Thomalla is back as village helper Katja Baumann.
Still open: The air date. ZDF has not announced one. Going by the usual rhythm, a premiere in January 2027 is very likely, as the past seasons always launched early in the year in the Sunday night Herzkino slot. Plot details have not been released either. The working titles of the six episodes, however, are now known, you will find them in the timeline above next to each filming block. Working titles, mind you: ZDF sets the final episode titles only ahead of broadcast, and they may differ. As soon as there is news, you will read it here.
Upcoming filming days in Bayrischzell
The official filming dates are published by the tourist office, and I gather them here, always up to date:
Stand 2026-10-09 08:38 Uhr, automatisch aus dem Kalender der Gemeinde Bayrischzell. Alle Angaben ohne Gewähr, Drehtage können verschoben oder vorgezogen werden.
Trag deine E-Mail ein und wir sagen dir automatisch Bescheid, sobald neue Drehtermine für Frühling in Bayrischzell bekannt werden.
Du bekommst eine Bestätigungsmail. Abmelden jederzeit mit einem Klick. Keine Werbung.
Watching is allowed at the officially announced dates. Often, though not always, individual actors take a moment for a quick selfie. But please: keep your distance, follow the crew's instructions, and do not disturb the workflow. People are working here.
Want to see what's happening on location?
Many cast members post regularly on Instagram while filming. If you follow these accounts closely, you simply know a little more:
Simone Thomalla ↗
plays village helper Katja Baumann
Kristo Ferkic ↗
plays Adrian, posts regularly from the shoot
Catalina Navarro Kirner ↗
plays Heidrun Niedermayer
Katharina Weitzendorf ↗
plays Stella Lamprecht
Lilli Marie Schweiger ↗
plays Lotti Zerbe
Nina Schmieder ↗
plays Trixie
Michael Karen ↗
director of episodes 64 and 65
fruehling_zdf ↗
fan account dedicated to the series
Simone Thomalla Fanseite ↗
by fans, for fans
Where season 16 is filmed
Something many people don't know: Frühling uses practically no studio backdrops. Filming happens at real places, in real houses, right in the middle of everyday life. The rare exceptions are studio work at the Bavaria Studios, which is where the car driving scenes are shot, for instance, and last season the hospital scenes were filmed in the studio as well.
Beyond that, filming takes place at the familiar spots: the vicarage, Café Hagen, the village helper station, and again and again right in the village center between the town hall and the church. These days the crew also works in Fischbachau quite often. And sometimes the shooting schedule even crosses the border: the school scenes were recently filmed in Wörgl, Austria. Summer break had already started there, so no German school had to be shut down for the shoot.
Most filming locations in the village are just a few minutes' walk apart, and you can visit them even without a camera crew around.
All filming locations with map
The real locations from the series, with an interactive map, photos, and directions.
Where the story picks up
The season 15 finale raised more questions than it answered: Ava Gartner is in a coma after the accident. Arthur Moser has disappeared, leaving nothing but a puzzling farewell letter. And Friedel Gottwald drives off with the words "I know what you secretly did."
That is not an open ending, that is material for an entire new season.
When is Frühling next on TV?
Until the new episodes premiere, ZDF and Romance TV regularly air reruns in prime time. You can see the next broadcast here:
Stand 2026-10-09 06:00 Uhr, automatisch von fernsehserien.de, Sendungen zwischen 17:30 und 23:00 Uhr (ZDF und Romance TV). Alle Angaben ohne Gewähr, Sender können das Programm kurzfristig ändern.
Frequently asked questions about season 16
When does Frühling season 16 premiere on TV?
There is no official air date yet. In recent years the new episodes always launched early in the year, so a January 2027 premiere is very likely. As soon as ZDF announces the date, you will find it here.
How many new episodes does season 16 have?
Six new episodes of roughly 90 minutes each. Filming runs from late April into November 2026, in three blocks with three directors.
Where is season 16 filmed? Can you watch?
Mostly in Bayrischzell: the vicarage, Café Hagen, the village helper station, and right in the village center. You are welcome to watch at the officially announced dates. Please keep your distance and let the crew work. The current filming days are listed at the top of this page.
Are any episode titles or plot details known yet?
The working titles yes, the plot no. The industry database Crew United lists the six episodes with their German working titles: „Verliebt, verlobt, verschwunden“ (roughly: in love, engaged, vanished) and „Wenn aus Freunden Feinde werden“ (when friends become enemies), both directed by Thomas Kronthaler; „Kleine schmutzige Geheimnisse“ (little dirty secrets) and „Du merkst nicht, wenn ich dich heimlich besuche!“ (you will not notice when I secretly visit you!), directed by Michael Karen; „Die Kinder gehören mir!“ (the children are mine!) and „Du sollst nicht für immer tot sein!“ (you shall not stay dead forever!), directed by Helmut Metzger. These are working titles from the production, ZDF may still change the final titles before broadcast. There are no official plot details, the only certainty is that the open threads from season 15 will be picked up.
Is Simone Thomalla returning?
Yes, Simone Thomalla is back in front of the camera as village helper Katja Baumann, which you can regularly see around the village.
Have a question that is missing here? On my FAQ page I keep answering reader questions about the series, the filming locations, and the valley.
Frühling FAQ, straight answers
The most common questions about the series, continually updated, plus the option to send me your own question.
