Germany’s national broadcaster SWR pulls out the heavy artillery for Eurovision 2026 in Vienna: Ruslana, Eurovision 2004 winner, will serve as a judge in “Das Deutsche Finale 2026” and help choose Germany’s next entry.
Germany achieved remarkable success in 2025 with the song “Baller” (in English: “Shooter”) performed by Abor & Tynna, which became a hit and ranked fifth in Spotify streams. The country has no plans to ease off the gas. The German national broadcaster, SWR, announced this morning a dazzling new addition to the jury panel that will select Germany’s entry for Eurovision 2026 in Vienna: none other than Ruslana. The Ukrainian star, who brought her country its first-ever victory in 2004 with “Wild Dances”, is joining the international jury of Germany’s national selection contest.
Searching for the Voice to Conquer Europe
The choice of Ruslana is no coincidence. In recent years, Germany has been looking for songs with individuality, charisma, and strong stage presence — exactly the traits that turned Ruslana into a Eurovision legend. According to reports, Ruslana will play an active role in evaluating the finalists’ live performances and awarding scores that will be combined with the audience vote.
Ruslana said in response to the national broadcaster:
“I’m thrilled to join the German Eurovision family, […] I’m looking for the fire in the eyes, the authenticity, and the energy that can capture Europe. Germany has tremendous potential, and I’m here to help them find their next diamond”.
Strengthening the Ukrainian-German Bond
The inclusion of Ruslana also reinforces the growing connection between Germany and Ukraine. In recent years, Germany has become one of Ukraine’s strongest supporters, and selecting a Ukrainian icon to judge the national pre-selection sends a message of cultural solidarity.
For Eurovision fans, this is a great opportunity to see Ruslana in action once again. Will she award her famous “douze points” to a heartfelt ballad, or perhaps to a wild pop anthem reminiscent of her own style? Stay tuned.
Germany Isn’t Playing Around
This year, Germany’s selection process includes multiple stages, among them songwriting camps organized by SWR. During these camps, artists aspiring to represent Germany have been collaborating with well-known and experienced producers and performers, all with one clear goal – to secure Germany’s best Eurovision result in years, or possibly even a victory. Several songs submitted to compete in the national final were reviewed by industry professionals, international judges, and selected members of the public who were invited to preview the entries before official release. After an intensive selection process, only the strongest songs were chosen to advance to the final stage and compete for the right to represent Germany in the major contest.
Tina Sikorski, head of Germany’s Eurovision 2026 delegation, emphasized the cultural significance of the competition, describing music as “a universal language that continues to resonate powerfully throughout Europe.” Sikorski shared that the German national final will feature “outstanding performances” and promised that the show will reveal the song capable of making Germany “shine in the 70th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest”.
Further details regarding the show format, participating artists, and other production aspects will be revealed in January. Until then, Eurovision fans can only wait and anticipate what Germany has in store for the milestone 70th edition of the competition.
Germany at Eurovision 2025:
“Baller” (in English: “Shooter”) is the title of the song performed by duo Abor & Tynna, who represented Germany at the Eurovision 2025. The pair finished 15th in the Grand Final with a total of 151 points. The public televote ranked them 11th, while the professional juries placed them 13th.
This marks the second consecutive year in which Germany has achieved a relatively successful Eurovision result, avoiding the bottom of the scoreboard. Last year, singer Isaak secured 12th place in the Grand Final with his song “Always on the Run”.
Eurovision 2026: This will be Germany’s 69th participation in Eurovision. Germany joined the competition in 1956, was one of the seven founding countries, and has won twice over the years. Germany’s last victory was in Eurovision 2010 with the song “Satellite” performed by singer Lena Meyer-Landrut.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +972-50-9441919
Ilay Gaist is a leading Israeli content creator and writer specializing in the Eurovision Song Contest. He is a well-known commentator with extensive expertise in the contest’s history, rules, and dynamics. His passion for Eurovision drives him to deliver rich, professional, and innovative content to his audience.
Ilay holds a bachelor’s degree in Arabic and has a multilingual background. He also engages in cultural research, with a particular focus on global culinary traditions and the evolution of local cuisines around the world.
