During the summer, there might not be too much Eurovision news—but that doesn’t mean nothing is happening. In fact, this is the perfect time to prepare for the next Eurovision season and thinking about the songs that will could be submitted to represent various countries.
That’s exactly what is happening in Germany, where the Berlin Song Fest is getting ready to create even more potential Eurovision entries for 2026.
This year, the country was represented by Abor and Tynna with “Baller,” which finished in 15th place in the grand final.
Berlin Song Fest
Berlin Song Fest is a songwriting camp focused specifically on the Eurovision Song Contest. It’s a new and exciting initiative designed to strengthen the connection between the German music scene and the broader European contest. The first edition of the camp took place in April 2025, bringing together around 40 national and international artists, songwriters, and producers. Now, the team is preparing for a new edition, set to be held in August.
During its debut in April, the camp produced 30 songs, many of which are intended for submission to national selections and pre-selections for Eurovision 2026. The camp’s goal is to foster the creation of strong songs, encourage excellent team collaboration, and build long-term partnerships across Europe.
The inspiration for Berlin Song Fest
The German songwriting camp was inspired by another well-known Eurovision songwriting initiative: Rena Song Fest in Norway. In fact, the idea behind Berlin Song Fest was directly influenced by the success of Rena. Not many people know that during last year’s edition of Rena Song Fest, EMMY’s song “Laika Party” was created—the very track that went on to represent Ireland at Eurovision 2025.
Looking ahead, the organisers aim to expand the songwriting camp model across Europe. For example, The Woods, the team behind Rena Song Fest, are planning a collaborative songwriting camp that will unite Norwegian and Romanian songwriters. This event, called Normania Songwriting Camp, is scheduled to take place in October in Snagov, Romania. The Romanian national broadcaster TVR has also been invited to participate.
Talks with Germany’s broadcasts
If you’re wondering whether German broadcasters are aware of the ongoing songwriting camp in their country—the answer is yes. There are currently ongoing discussions with Germany’s national broadcaster, SWR. And it’s not just the broadcaster involved—other key industry players such as GEMA (the society for musical performing and mechanical reproduction rights), BIMM (British and Irish Modern Music Institute), Popakademie (Germany’s public conservatory for popular music), and several other music industry networks are also part of the conversation.
The central focus of these discussions is the shared vision of strengthening Eurovision as a brand within the German music market and integrating it more deeply into the country’s contemporary music landscape
Organisers
Berlin Song Fest is organised by Marcel Schicken, a German music manager and songwriter, in close collaboration with The Woods Norway.
Led by Carl-Henrik Wahl (DJ Astronaut), The Woods have contributed over 30 songs to both national and international Eurovision selections. Wahl himself produced “Give That Wolf a Banana” by Subwoolfer, Norway’s Eurovision entry in 2022, and even performed live on the Eurovision stage in Turin.
Participants and vision
Artists, songwriters, and producers from both Germany and abroad are more than welcome to take part in the upcoming August edition of the camp. The goal is to have at least 50% of participants from Germany or German-speaking countries, ensuring a strong national presence—while also embracing international talent.
The camp takes place at Noisy Rooms, located inside the House of Music Berlin. Participants not only collaborate on new songs but also benefit from professional input, mentoring, and coaching sessions designed to strengthen both their craft and their careers. Beyond songwriting, the camp fosters an international network of creatives, opening doors for future collaborations and projects across Europe.
Those interested in applying can find all the necessary information on The Woods’ official website or via Berlin Song Fest’s Instagram page.
What expectations do you have from Germany’s next entry? Which artists would you like to see applying? Let us know in the comments bellow.
