The BBC is inviting bids from private companies to make the religious show under the terms of its new charter.
It means the BBC's in-house team can apply to make the Sunday afternoon programme but other organisations must be given a fair chance to take over production.
Songs of Praise is thought to be the longest-running religious television programme in the world and has been a key part of the BBC's schedule since 1961.
It is one of four shows being put out to tender - the others being A Question of Sport, Holby City and Horizon.
In a statement the BBC said Songs of Praise was one of the first shows being offered to external producers because it was "approaching recommissioning decisions".
"The BBC will retain all Intellectual Property rights for the programmes put to tender, which will all continue to be shown on BBC television, but the tendering process will decide which supplier makes those series," the statement said.
Bal Samra, Managing Director, BBC Television and Commercial Director, said: "We are incredibly proud of all these titles and our decision to put them to tender in the first batch is a pragmatic one, so we can move quickly.
"These are BBC shows that will still be on BBC Channels and we will still own the rights.
"We have nurtured and cherished them over many years, our audiences love them and they are precious to us, but we hope the tendering process will offer an opportunity to test value for money and ensure we are delivering the very best programmes for viewers."
In November 2014 Songs of Praise announced it was broadening the churches it featured and now includes services from Pentecostal, Roman Catholic and Salvation Army churches.
