Eurovision Song Contest 2027 German selection opens as Austria prepares potential 2026 host city

The 2026 Eurovision Song Contest will feature 35 nations, including ten from Central and Eastern Europe. Austria’s mayor announced that Vienna is ready to host the event after its 2015 bid, highlighting the city's enthusiasm despite the costly logistics traditionally associated with the competition.

Germany’s Southwest Broadcasting Service (SWR) has opened the application phase for the national pre‑selection to choose the country’s representative for Eurovision 2027. Musicians, bands and songwriters may submit entries online until 21 September 2026. The selection will involve several stages, with the final show planned for February 2027 and broadcast on ARD and the ARD Mediathek. An expert panel – including Jules Kalmbacher, Pele Loriano, Florian Müller, Celina Spanier and Lilly Behling – will evaluate the entries. The winner will compete at the Eurovision Song Contest in May 2027, which will be hosted by Bulgaria.