Reinhard Mey, a German Liedermacher (singer-songwriter) born on 21 December 1942, has set a new record on the German album charts. His album "Schatzhauser" entered at number one in the chart week counted as week 40 of 2026, according to data compiled by GfK Entertainment on behalf of the German music industry association BVMI.
At 83, Mey is now described by German chart media as the oldest national artist ever to top the official German album chart. "Schatzhauser" is his 30th studio album and the fifth of his career to reach number one.
A solo album after six decades
Mey has performed since 1965, when he first appeared at the Waldeck Castle Liedermacher festival, and built his catalogue with 29 studio albums recorded alongside musicians and arrangers. "Schatzhauser" breaks that pattern: it is the first album in his career that he recorded completely on his own, featuring, as described by chart outlets, only his voice and his guitar, without a band or orchestral arrangement.
The release also departs from decades of habit in its timing. For about 40 years Mey had published new albums in May; "Schatzhauser" instead arrived in September 2026.
The record includes a new acoustic version of "In meinem Garten," a song from his 1970 debut album. The original track had returned to the singles chart in 2025, reaching number 15 after a documentary about German rapper Haftbefehl brought it renewed attention — a gap between original release and chart debut that chart reporters described as the largest of its kind in German-speaking charts.
Not a farewell, Mey says
Asked whether the album marks a goodbye, Mey rejected the idea, saying he wanted to make sure that "nothing remains unsaid."
He has said he remains in good health and intends to keep working, according to German coverage of the album's release.
Where the chart stood that week
Mey's album led a chart week that also featured Till Lindemann's live album "Live In Krakow" at number two. Taylor Swift's album climbed back to number six after a reissue added four new songs, while she simultaneously took the top spot on the singles chart with "Patient Zero," her fourth German number-one single; her catalogue reportedly filled a quarter of the singles top 20 that week.
German Official Album Chart, Week 40, 2026 — Top Positions| Position | Artist | Release |
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| 1 | Reinhard Mey | Schatzhauser (new studio album) |
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| 2 | Till Lindemann | Live In Krakow (live album) |
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| 6 | Taylor Swift | Reissued album with four added tracks |
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Background
Mey is best known internationally for his 1974 song "Über den Wolken," one of the most widely covered pieces in German-language popular music. In France he has recorded under the name Frédérik Mey. His songwriting over nearly six decades has frequently touched on pacifism and animal welfare. The official German charts are compiled by GfK Entertainment on behalf of the Bundesverband Musikindustrie (BVMI).
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