The family entertainment show Small vs. Big – The Incredible Duel
celebrates its 15th anniversary with a new episode on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at 8:15 p.m. Airing on ORF 1 and Das Erste, the production pits athletes, musicians, and comedians against young challengers in various physical and mental contests.
Celebrities Face Young Challengers in Skill Duels
The upcoming broadcast includes specialized competitions where age often dictates the advantage.
Ruppert, a 29-year-old specialist in the 3,000-meter obstacle race and the 5,000-meter run, must climb through a course faster than his 14-year-old challenger, Mika, to win.
The show features several other skill-based duels:
- Dance: The “Let’s Dance” stars will appear together as a dance pair for the first time. They will compete in the “Dance Duel” against Christoph (12) and Anni (11), attempting to perform as many “Promenade Walks” as possible.
- Science: Journalist Mai Thi Nguyen‑Kim, known for reaching wide audiences through her YouTube channel and the TV format
MaiThink X – The Show
by making science understandable, will test her knowledge in the “Molecule Duel”. - Film: Palina Rojinski, who served as the German voice for Lola Bunny in the 2021 animation “Space Jam: A New Legacy”, will face 11‑year‑old Fleur in the “Film Animal Duel” to see how well she knows other animal film heroes.
- General Knowledge: Multiple‑time quiz champion Sebastian Klussmann will compete against 11‑year‑old Julian to test his knowledge of the countries of the world.
- Artistry: An Argentinian artist, who recently celebrated the one‑year anniversary of Cirque du Soleil ALIZÉ in Berlin, will engage in a “Pole Climbing Duel” against 11‑year‑old Emilia.
Musicians and Comedians Compete for the Anniversary
Musicians Peter Maffay and Johannes Oerding will compete as both contestants and performers. They must identify tracks even when band members play parts with a time delay, and they will perform an exclusive joint show act for the audience.
Comedian Michael Mittermeier will take on 13‑year‑old Joshua. Mittermeier, who has filled large halls for decades with his views on society and everyday chaos, often incorporates his enthusiasm for the “Star Wars” galaxy into his comedy.
In the Small vs. Jan Josef
segment, Jan Josef Liefers and his Tatort
colleague Axel Prahl—known as Thiel
and Boerne
—will face Tilda (13) and Juliane (13). The duo must recognize famous guest roles in Tatort
episodes based on a single read sentence.
High-Profile Guests Join the Milestone Event
The 15th-anniversary festivities include several high‑profile figures participating in specialized tasks.
| Guest | Activity/Context |
|---|---|
| Mats Hummels | Participating in a penalty shootout from a height of twelve meters |
| Otto Waalkes | A film duel where he must recognize and continue scenes from eight of his own “Otto” movies using a single sentence |
| Elyas M’Barek | A film duel featuring movie scenes that have been re‑synchronized by children |
| Lena Gercke | Part of the high‑profile group of congratulators for the anniversary |
| David Garrett | A string quartet duel with 13‑year‑old Elina prior to his large world tour starting in February 2027 |
| Tobias Moretti | A duel involving recognizing children’s book classics by their modified covers |
| Mathilde Gremaud | The Swiss freestyle Olympic champion performing forward somersaults from a supine position |
| Julian Weber | Competing in a four‑legged run against 10‑year‑old Maximilian |
Kai Pflaume will conclude the three‑hour Saturday evening program by introducing the Top 10 and welcoming the young challenger from the most popular duel live into the studio.