Germany: It’s Semifinal Time for Chefsache ESC 2025!

With high ambitions and big expectations, Germany continues its search for the perfect act to represent the country at the Eurovision Song Contest 2025! Tonight, the semifinal of Chefsache ESC 2025 will take place, bringing us one step closer to finding out who will fly the German flag in Basel, Switzerland.

Chefsache ESC 2025 – A Revamped National Selection

Germany’s broadcaster NDR has once again opted for a national final to determine the country’s Eurovision act. However, Chefsache ESC 2025 comes with some major format changes compared to previous years.

With the legendary Stefan Raab leading the project, the competition consists of:

✅ Two qualifying rounds (February 14 & 15)
✅ A semifinal (February 22)
✅ The Grand Final (March 1)

The qualifiers and semifinal air on RTL, while the Grand Final will be broadcast on Das Erste.

Voting Process & Jury Panel

The selection process follows a unique voting system:

In the qualifiers & semifinal: A jury panel decides which artists advance to the next round.
In the final: The German public has full control, as the winner will be determined exclusively by televote.

‍⚖️ The Jury Panel

The main judging panel consists of three well-known figures:

Stefan Raab – A Eurovision icon with a legendary track record, including writing “Guildo hat euch lieb!” (1998), competing with “Wadde hadde dudde da?” (2000), composing Max Mutzke’s “Can’t Wait Until Tonight” (2004), and leading Lena to victory with “Satellite” in 2010.

Yvonne Catterfeld – German singer and former judge in Unser Star für Oslo (Germany’s 2010 national final).

Elton – TV host who played a key role in Germany’s Eurovision selections in 2010 and 2018, as well as the country’s Eurovision spokesperson in 2023.

Additionally, guest judges join the panel in each round:
⭐ Max Mutzke (Germany’s 2004 Eurovision representative) for Qualifier 1
⭐ Johannes Oerding (German singer-songwriter) for Qualifier 2

Tonight’s Semifinal – Meet the Artists

A total of 14 artists will compete tonight, with 9 of them advancing to the Grand Final. The contestants performing a mix of original songs and covers are:

JULIKA
Benjamin Braatz
Cage
Feuerschwanz
Abor & Tynna
COSBY
Jonathan Henrich
JALN
LEONORA
Cloudy June
From Fall To Spring
Moss Kena
The Great Leslie
LYZA

With a diverse lineup and varied musical styles, the competition is fierce as the finalists fight for their spot in the March 1st showdown!

Host & Show Details

Bringing her signature charisma, the beloved Eurovision host Barbara Schöneberger will once again present all Chefsache ESC 2025 shows.

Showtime: 20:15 CET
Where to Watch: Live on RTL

The semifinal is expected to last approximately 2.5 hours, setting the stage for next week’s Grand Final.

Germany at Eurovision – Aiming Higher in 2025?

Last year, Isaak represented Germany with “Always on the Run”, finishing in 13th place in the Eurovision Grand Final.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVOHTxFOhak

Can this year’s winner achieve an even better result in Basel?

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the latest updates on Chefsache ESC 2025 and Germany’s road to Eurovision 2025!