Overview
- SWR takes over Germany’s ESC effort from NDR and will stage a single prime‑time national final on February 28 on ARD.
- Head of Delegation Tina Sikorski leads an internal multi‑stage selection that included SWR songwriting camps and reviews by music experts, an international jury and public jurors, with the lineup due in January.
- Kimmig Entertainment is reported to produce the German final, marking the end of the 2025 ARD/RTL collaboration with Stefan Raab’s company.
- Iceland has joined Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands and Slovenia in withdrawing after the EBU confirmed Israel’s eligibility, with the final participant list expected before Christmas.
- ORF and the EBU plan to hold the 70th contest in Vienna with semifinals on May 12 and 14 and the final on May 16, projecting roughly 35 participants and indicating the production budget will remain stable.