ADAC is looking for the "Camper of the Year 2026": Preliminary round in Hesse scheduled for June

The ADAC (German Automobile Club) has officially launched the search for the best camper in Germany for 2026. As the media Giessener-allgemeine and Op-online unanimously report, the competition aims to identify and recognise an outstanding personality from the camping community. A key component of this selection process is regional preliminary rounds, with the date for the state of Hesse already set. According to the available information from Giessener-allgemeine and Op-online, the pre-selection for Hessian applicants will be held on 12 June.

Regional pre-selection for participants from Hesse

For camping enthusiasts from Hesse, 12 June marks a central date in the nationwide competition. On this day, the specific pre-selection will take place, which will decide on advancement in the elimination organised by the ADAC. As both Giessener-allgemeine and Op-online emphasise in their reporting, this regional qualification is a necessary hurdle for all applicants from the Hessian region who aspire to the title of “Camper of the Year 2026”. The competition is thus structurally designed so that the most suitable candidates are first selected at the state level before the national final comes into focus.

High demands on applicants

With regard to the criteria and level of the competition, the reports from Giessener-allgemeine and Op-online leave no doubt that the participants will face demanding tasks. The sources explicitly point out that “a great deal is required” of the applicants as part of the search. This suggests that the ADAC is relying on comprehensive skills and practical abilities in the field of camping when determining the winner for 2026. The participants must therefore be prepared to prove their skills in order to successfully pass the pre-selection on 12 June and meet the high standards of the jury.

Attractive main prize for the overall victory

A particular incentive to participate in the search for Germany's best camper is the reward on offer. According to Op-online and Giessener-allgemeine, the ultimate winner of the title can look forward to a so-called “dream prize”. Although the sources do not provide specific details on the exact nature of this prize, its attractiveness is highlighted as a key motivation for applicants. However, the focus of the current reporting is initially on the organisational process and the upcoming date of the pre-selection in Hesse, which is considered an important milestone on the way to overall victory and the associated prize.

In summary, it can be stated that the ADAC has initiated an event with the search for the “Camper of the Year 2026” that has both regional and national significance. As Giessener-allgemeine and Op-online report, the event on 12 June marks the start for Hessian participants. The combination of high demands on the participants and the prospect of a valuable prize underscores the professionalism of the competition. The reporting of both sources makes it clear that preparations for the Hessian pre-selection are already underway in order to find a worthy representative for the next stage of the competition.