Proposals have been put forth by the Committee of the Regions.
Stefan Raab, a key figure in Germany's Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) history, will not be involved in the German preliminary round for the ESC 2026. The Southwest Broadcasting Corporation (SWR) will lead the selection independently for the first time, organizing a single final show.
ARD, a long-time partner in the ESC preliminary round, and RTL have jointly decided not to cooperate for the 2026 event. This decision marks a significant shift, as SWR takes over the responsibility for the music spectacle.
In previous years, Raab, a popular TV entertainer, had been instrumental in the German ESC selection process. He organized the preliminary round, selected Lena Meyer-Landrut in 2010, who brought Germany its first ESC victory since 1982, and served as the chief juror in several shows.
Raab's involvement in the ESC selection process was reinstated in 2025, with the aim of improving Germany's chances of success. However, the 2026 preliminary round will follow a different format, with only one preliminary round in the first, instead of the previously used format with several shows.
The sibling duo Abor & Tynna emerged as the winner from the preliminary round led by Raab in an unspecified year. Despite Raab's announcement of a victory, the siblings only reached 15th place in the ESC. Raab also composed the title 'Guildo hat euch lieb' for Guildo Horn in 1998, which finished seventh in the Grand Prix Eurovision de la Chanson.
Raab himself achieved fifth place with 'Wadde hatte dudde da?' in 1998. He largely withdrew from the public in 2015 and returned to the camera in September 2024. The preliminary round for the ESC will be broadcast at the end of February in the first. The details of the partners for the German preliminary round are still not decided.
The next ESC will take place in May 2026 in Vienna. It remains to be seen how the change in leadership will impact Germany's performance in the contest.
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