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Proposals have previously been put forward by the Committee of the Regions.

German public broadcaster ARD to take sole charge of Eurovision Song Contest preselection in Germany from 2026, abolishing multiple shows in favor of one major selection event. Stefan Raab will oversee this single selection process.

, and ASMedia

2025 September 21 . 9:29 PM

2 min read

Proposals have been put forth by the Committee of the Regions.

Proposals have previously been put forward by the Committee of the Regions.

In a significant shift for the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) in Germany, entertainer Stefan Raab will not be involved in the 2026 event, marking the end of an era that spanned nearly three decades.

For decades, the North German Broadcasting (NDR) had been in charge of the ESC format. However, Raab, considered one of the most important figures in German ESC history, took the reins in various years, including the one that saw the sister duo Abor & Tynna emerge as winners in an unspecified year.

Raab's tenure saw several notable achievements. In 2010, he organized the preliminary round and selected Lena Meyer-Landrut, who brought Germany its first ESC victory since 1982. Raab also composed the title "Guildo has you love" in 1998, which Guildo Horn finished seventh with at the Grand Prix Eurovision de la Chanson. Raab himself achieved fifth place at the same contest in 1999 with "Wadde hatte dudde da?".

Despite Raab's announcement, his past successes were not replicated in 2025, with Abor & Tynna only reaching 15th place at the ESC. This year, the German preliminary round will be organized without Raab and his channel RTL.

Instead, the responsibility for the music spectacle will fall to the Southwest Broadcasting (SWR) for the first time in 2026. The ARD will organize the German preliminary round, with the event being a single national final broadcast on Das Erste in late February 2026.

This change marks a departure from the casting show format with several rounds that Raab had previously overseen. Instead, the German preliminary round will now consist of a single show.

Raab, who largely withdrew from the public in 2015 but returned to the camera in September 2024, has built up a successful image over the years. However, no cooperation with him is currently planned for the German preliminary round.

Despite his absence, the 2026 ESC will take place in May in Vienna, keeping the excitement and anticipation alive for Eurovision fans across the globe.