The excitement surrounding the Chefsache ESC 2025 has heightened as the finalists for the Grand Final are now confirmed! Last night, the third show, known as the Semi-final, took place at the NRW studio in Hürth, Cologne, featuring 14 diverse acts eager to secure their place.
The following artists have successfully qualified for the Grand Final:
- Feuerschwanz – "Knightclub"
- Benjamin Braatz – "Like You Love Me"
- COSBY – "I’m Still Here"
- Abor & Tynna – "Baller"
- LEONORA – "This Bliss"
- JULIKA – "Empress"
- LYZA – "Lovers On Mars"
- Moss Kena – "Nothing Can Stop Love"
- The Great Leslie – "These Days"
Hosted by the charismatic Barbara Schöneberger, the event was marked by stellar performances, as contestants showcased their Eurovision hopefuls for the first time throughout this selection process.
The Chefsache ESC 2025, also known as ‘Who sings for Germany?’, is co-organized by RTL, NDR, ARD, and prominent entertainer Stefan Raab. This year’s format involves four televised shows where 24 acts will compete. Initial auditions took place with cover songs or older hits, leading to the creation of two Heats, which were followed by the Semi-final last night.
The chosen finalists were vetted by a special jury, which included well-known personalities such as Stefan Raab and television host Elton, alongside German singers Yvonne Catterfeld and Max Giesinger. This four-member jury wielded the power to select the contestants who advanced from the Semi-final to the Grand Final.
The Grand Final is set to take place on March 1, 2025, at 8:15 p.m. on Das Erste after the first three pre-eliminatory shows aired on RTL. The competition follows this timeline:
- Heat 1: February 14, 2025
- Heat 2: February 15, 2025
- Semi-Final: February 22, 2025
- Final: March 1, 2025
This innovative approach to the national selection heralds new possibilities for Germany at the Eurovision stage. Over the years, Germany has participated 67 times since 1956, with only one absence due to the unique selection process used then.
Historically, Germany has achieved two significant victories — the first by Nicole with “Ein Bißchen Frieden” in 1982 and the second with Lena’s “Satellite” in 2010. Despite this success, the German act has endured nine last place finishes, making their performance at the annual contest and the success of Acts chosen through Chefsache even more pivotal.
Germany’s automatic placement in the Grand Final, being part of the Big-5 of the contest, gives them considerable advantage, yet the pressure remains to impress both the jury and the audience. The composition of the jury during the Semi-finals retained 100% power over the selected acts, whereas the audience will have the final say during the Grand Final.
With much anticipation building, fans across the nation are eagerly awaiting which of the remarkable finalists will earn the chance to represent Germany on the grand stage of the Eurovision Song Contest 2025.