Barbara Schoeneberger and Hazel Brugger present ESC pre-selection in Berlin - Nine acts battle to represent Germany at Eurovision 2026 in Vienna
Germany’s national final for the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 will take place on February 28 in Berlin. Nine acts will compete for the chance to represent the country at the grand final in Vienna. Barbara Schöneberger and Hazel Brugger will host the event, which follows last year’s victory by Austrian countertenor JJ in Basel.
The nine competing artists include Sarah Engels with Fire, Malou Lovis performing When I’m With You, and Dreamboys The Band singing Jeanie. Also in the running are wavvyboi from Liechtenstein (Black Glitter), Ragazzki (Ciao Ragazzki), BELA (Herz), Laura Nahr (Wonderland), Molly Sue (Optimist), and MYLE (A Ok). Six of the contestants—BELA, Dreamboys The Band, Laura Nahr, Malou Lovis, MYLE, and Ragazzki—are based in Berlin.
A 20-member jury will first narrow the field to three finalists. After that, a public vote will decide the winner. The selected artist will then head to Vienna, where 35 countries will participate—the smallest number in over two decades due to a boycott by some nations over Israel’s inclusion.
The winner of Germany’s final will join 34 other acts in Vienna for the Eurovision grand final. The contest’s reduced lineup marks a notable shift from previous years. The decision will rest on both jury scores and audience votes.
