“I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!” is poised for a significant revamp as the 19th season prepares to launch on RTL January 23, 2026. The long-running German reality competition, consistently a ratings driver for the network, will introduce a split-camp format and stricter rules designed to increase tension and challenge its celebrity contestants. This year’s changes mark the most significant alterations to the show’s structure in its nearly two-decade run, signaling RTL’s commitment to evolving the programme for a continued audience.
Get ready for a shakeup in the jungle. The 19th season of “I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!” is set to premiere January 23, 2026, on RTL, but this year’s installment promises some significant changes to the long-running format. The reality competition, a staple of German television, is known for its grueling challenges and celebrity drama.
Instead of the usual group arrival, RTL is splitting the contestants into two separate camps. While one group will settle into the familiar main camp, the other will be sent to “Snake Rock” – a significantly more basic location with limited water and minimal comforts.
The two teams will live independently, each with their own campfire, and compete separately for stars and food. Initial challenges will be team-based, with the losing team facing a diet of rice and beans. The goal, according to RTL, is to increase competition and heighten the tension.
However, the separation won’t last forever. RTL is keeping the timing of the eventual camp merge under wraps, but confirms that the show will revert to its classic format once the celebrities are reunited.
Stricter Rules for the Jungle
The changes aren’t limited to the camp setup. RTL has also implemented a much stricter set of rules for the contestants. Participants must remain in the camp center at almost all times, conversations are limited to German, and microphones can only be removed while showering or sleeping. Daytime naps are prohibited, and a mandatory fire watch will be assigned each night.
Rule violations will be met with penalties, ranging from the removal of personal items to potential disqualification from the show. Each celebrity is limited to bringing only two personal possessions, with the production providing only essential supplies.
What’s New for “I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!” 2026?
Contestants can also expect a host of new challenges this year. “Of course, we have a few recurring classics like ‘Creek of Stars,’ but around 90 percent of the trials are new,” announced RTL Head of Entertainment Markus Küttner. He also teased “a bigger change” that is yet to be revealed.
Details about the surprise are being kept secret. “This surprise will come directly in the first show,” Küttner promised.
