Katya Adler was born on 3 May 1972 in London, England, to German Jewish parents. She grew up bilingual and attended South Hampstead High School before studying German and Italian at the University of Bristol.

She began her journalism career in the mid-1990s, working for Austrian broadcaster ORF before joining the BBC in 1998. Over the years, she reported from across Europe and the Middle East, covering major global events and conflicts.

In 2014, she became the BBC’s Europe Editor, a key role in reporting on European politics, including Brexit. She also co-presented the BBC podcast and programme Brexitcast on BBC One.

Adler has presented several documentaries, including Europe on the Edge with Katya Adler, which aired on BBC Two in 2026 and explores political and social challenges across Europe.

She is married with three children and keeps her family life relatively private while continuing her journalism career.