In a significant decision for Germany at Eurovision, the country has announced it will switch broadcasters from 2026 onwards.
Germany’s participation at Eurovision has been run by the Norddeutscher Rundfunk, or NDR, since 1996. However, from next year, Südwestrundfunk, or SWR, will be taking over the organisation of the German Eurovision entry.
For SWR, it will be their third time organising Germany’s Eurovision participation, and the first time they have done so since 1978.
The reason that Germany can switch their broadcaster is because both NDR and SWR are part of the ARD network of regional broadcasters in Germany. While ARD runs the overall network, programming is made by the regional broadcasters within it.
Announcing the decision in a press release, the ARD have said that “the regional broadcasting companies are increasingly working together”, and that SWR taking over Eurovision from NDR is part of a wider strategy for the regional networks “to specialise” their programming.
ARD have also confirmed that SWR will take over from NDR immediately after Eurovision 2025 in Basel, and that they’ll be involved in this contest too “in order to guarantee a smooth transition.”
ARD’s Programme Director Christine Strobl, said she was grateful to SWR “for being willing to take on this important task”:
The ESC is the ARD’s biggest show event – a symbol of a cosmopolitan Europe and a real campfire moment that inspires millions of people across all generations, whether on classic TV or in the media library. This is largely thanks to the NDR, which has continued to develop the brand with enormous commitment and will now, in collaboration with Stefan Raab, put a sure grand finale into it. I am grateful to the SWR for being willing to take on this important task and lead the ESC successfully into the future.
NDR will continue to organise Germany’s entry for Eurovision 2025. Together with commercial broadcaster RTL and TV producer Stefan Raab, they have created a new national selection for Germany this year – Chefsache 2025.
It’s also been confirmed that, if they won Eurovision 2025, NDR would organise the hosting of Eurovision 2026 in Germany.
The Programme Director of the outgoing broadcaster, Frank Beckmann, said that while they didn’t want to let the contest go, they planned to bring the Eurovision trophy to Germany in their final year:
The NDR has been supporting the ESC with great passion for many years. We won with Lena, but we also often came in lower places. Many strategic considerations were made, but the ESC always remains a little unpredictable – and that’s a good thing. At ARD, we promised ourselves to set priorities. We look for synergies and division of labor. This sometimes means having to let go of things we love – like the ESC. 2025 will be another highlight, I’m sure of that. The goal is clear: Together with Stefan Raab and RTL, we will bring the trophy to Germany.
SWR, the incoming broadcaster, has struck a more pragmatic tone. Clemens Bratzler, SWR’s Programme Director, says in the press release that the broadcaster “cannot spend any additional money” on Eurovision. But by making internal budget reallocations, Bratzler says SWR “will do everything we can to ensure that the ESC remains exciting.”
With great anticipation, but at least as much respect, the SWR is taking over the leadership of the Eurovision Song Contest on behalf of the ARD. We are aware that we are following in big footsteps and that the many fans are rightly demanding and critical. The ESC is fantastic entertainment and fits very well with the values and goals of the SWR. Nevertheless, we cannot spend any additional money on it.
This year, Germany will select its Eurovision entry through a new national final. The show, Chefsache ESC 2025, is a major expansion of Germany’s Eurovision selection.
A total of 24 acts will compete in Chefsache ESC 2025. The participants will be split across the two heats, with seven acts from each heat advancing to the semi-final. From there, nine finalists will be selected to compete in the Grand Final.
The dates of the selection are:
- Heat 1: February 14 (live on RTL)
- Heat 2: February 15 (live on RTL)
- Semi-Final: February 22 (live on RTL)
- Final: March 1 (live on Das Erste)
During the heats and semi-final, the artists will showcase their talents across multiple singing rounds and disciplines. A professional jury, featuring TV producer Stefan Raab, will determine who progresses to the final stage.
In the Grand Final, the winner — and Germany’s representative for Eurovision 2025 in Basel — will be chosen solely through public voting.
Image Source: EBU / Alma Bengtsson | Source: Eurovision.de
Germany was one of seven countries to participate in the first Eurovision Song Contest in 1956. The country has taken part in every contest since then, apart from in 1996, when they failed to make it through the qualifying round. To date, Germany has won the contest twice. The first time was in 1982 when Nicole sang “Ein Bisschen Frieden” in Harrogate, which later became a global hit. Germany didn’t win again until 2010 when Lena sang “Satellite” in Oslo. She received 9 sets of 12 points, scoring 246 points overall.
