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Next year may see the absence of Raab and RTL, according to the Committee of the Regions' perspective.

The ESC's preliminary decision this year was handled by the chief, signifying Stefan Raab's departure as the prospective selector for Germany's Eurovision Song Contest entry in 2026.

,   and  ASMedia
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Next year may proceed without the presence of Raab and RTL, as per the Committee of the Regions'...
Next year may proceed without the presence of Raab and RTL, as per the Committee of the Regions' viewpoint.

Next year may see the absence of Raab and RTL, according to the Committee of the Regions' perspective.

In a surprising development, Stefan Raab, the man behind Germany's Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) preselection for the past year, will reportedly step back from his role for the 2026 competition. Raab, along with RTL, had been instrumental in the search for Germany's entry in the ESC 2025, which was themed 'Chefsache ESC 2025 - Who will sing for Germany?'.

The ESC final for 2025 was held in Basel, Switzerland, where the duo Abor & Tynna represented Germany with their song 'Baller'. Despite a valiant effort, they placed 15th in the competition.

In a significant change for the upcoming ESC preselection, ARD will host the event alone in 2026, with the Southwest Broadcasting Corporation (SWR) taking the lead, replacing the North German Broadcasting Corporation (NDR). The format of the preselection will not be a casting format, according to GEMA, the German copyright collection society.

Instead, both viewers and a jury of experts will decide on Germany's entry in the 2026 ESC preselection. The finale of the German preselection is reportedly planned for late February 2026, marking a departure from the casting format that has been used in previous years.

GEMA has expressed a desire for a fair and friendly competition among the participating artists and other involved partners in the 2026 ESC preselection. As of now, no specific artist has been named for the German representation in the ESC 2026.

Regarding the involvement of RTL in the 2026 preselection, no comment has been received. The exact date of the 2026 German ESC preselection finale is not specified, but the change in format and leadership promises an exciting new chapter in Germany's Eurovision journey.

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