Germany Passes the Eurovision Baton: SWR to Take Charge for Austria 2026

Germany is packing its bags for Eurovision 2026 in Austria – with a new broadcaster now calling the shots.

It’s official: Germany will compete in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026, to be held next spring in Austria. But this time, the Teutonic delegation is doing things a little differently. After years under the stewardship of NDR, the responsibility for steering Germany’s Eurovision ambitions now falls into the hands of SWR, another regional broadcaster within the ARD network.

For those wondering whether a change of broadcaster equals a change of luck – well, it can’t hurt to try. Germany’s recent Eurovision track record has, let’s say, left room for improvement. With results in the bottom tier more often than not, and sometimes in the TOP 15, a fresh approach may be just what the doctor (or music producer) ordered.

SWR has already set the wheels in motion for Germany’s Eurovision 2026 selection, though the exact method – national final, internal selection, talent show, or perhaps a televised arm-wrestling contest – remains to be confirmed. What we do know is that expectations will be high.

NDR Bows Out – with Grace and… Silence?

After overseeing the German Eurovision operation for years, NDR officially handed over the baton. While they’ve been responsible for some memorable moments (and even a few points), their departure may be met with both nostalgia and quiet relief by fans who’ve sat through ballads with more staging than melody.

SWR now inherits the task of reviving Germany’s Eurovision fortunes ahead of the 2026 contest in Austria – a country that knows a thing or two about musical reinvention.

Whether this broadcaster swap will translate into a better scoreboard position remains to be seen. But at the very least, there’s hope. And in Eurovision, as in life, that’s half the battle.

Source: ESCToday