A process for preparing divinyl ethers by reacting compounds having two hydroxyl groups (referred to hereinafter as diols) with acetylene, characterized in that reaction of the hydroxyl groups with acetylene is incomplete and the product mixture obtained therefore comprises not only the divinyl ether but also the monovinyl ether and the monovinyl ether is separated from the product mixture by an extractive distillation in the presence of an extractant.