Shifting mechanism for a gearbox, having: a shift activation unit which has a shift activation actuator which is movable along a shift activation axis in order to establish s gear-specific connection within the gearbox in a specific shift gate by way of a specific shift fork (19, 19'), and a selector unit which is connectable to the shift activation actuator, wherein the selector unit has: a selector element for selecting a specific shift gate of the gearbox, wherein, in a direction that is not parallel to the shift activation axis, the selector element is configured to assume different positions so as to be connectable in the different positions to different shift forks (19, 19') for displacing gearbox components for shifting of gears, and a switchover actuator having a switchover actuator axis which defines a switchover movement of the switchover actuator to move the selector element into the different positions, wherein the switchover actuator axis and the shift activation axis are aligned so as to be mutually parallel, wherein the selector element is configured in the different positions to couple a shift rod of the gearbox in operative connection with shift activation actuator to the different shift forks (19, 19') in an axially displaceable manner, wherein the gear-shifting mechanism has a rotary drive which is connectable to the selector element in order to rotate the selector element into the different positions, wherein the rotary drive has: the switchover actuator, which is configured to generate a linear movement along the switchover actuator axis, and a converter unit which is connectable to the switchover actuator and is configured to convert the linear movement of the switchover actuator into a rotary movement of the selector element about a rotation axis of the converter unit, characterised in that the selector element is configured to rotate the shift rod by way of a lever mechanism, wherein the shift fork (19, 19') can be coupled or decoupled in an axially displaceable manner by way of cams (18, 18') on the shift rod and complementary clearances in the shift forks (19, 19') depending on the position of the selector element and thus on a rotary angle of the shift rod. a shift activation unit which has a shift activation actuator which is movable along a shift activation axis in order to establish s gear-specific connection within the gearbox in a specific shift gate by way of a specific shift fork (19, 19'), and a selector unit which is connectable to the shift activation actuator, wherein the selector unit has: a selector element for selecting a specific shift gate of the gearbox, wherein, in a direction that is not parallel to the shift activation axis, the selector element is configured to assume different positions so as to be connectable in the different positions to different shift forks (19, 19') for displacing gearbox components for shifting of gears, and a switchover actuator having a switchover actuator axis which defines a switchover movement of the switchover actuator to move the selector element into the different positions, wherein the switchover actuator axis and the shift activation axis are aligned so as to be mutually parallel, wherein the selector element is configured in the different positions to couple a shift rod of the gearbox in operative connection with shift activation actuator to the different shift forks (19, 19') in an axially displaceable manner, wherein the gear-shifting mechanism has a rotary drive which is connectable to the selector element in order to rotate the selector element into the different positions, wherein the rotary drive has: the switchover actuator, which is configured to generate a linear movement along the switchover actuator axis, and a converter unit which is connectable to the switchover actuator and is configured to convert the linear movement of the switchover actuator into a rotary movement of the selector element about a rotation axis of the converter unit, the switchover actuator, which is configured to generate a linear movement along the switchover actuator axis, and a converter unit which is connectable to the switchover actuator and is configured to convert the linear movement of the switchover actuator into a rotary movement of the selector element about a rotation axis of the converter unit, characterised in that the selector element is configured to rotate the shift rod by way of a lever mechanism, wherein the shift fork (19, 19') can be coupled or decoupled in an axially displaceable manner by way of cams (18, 18') on the shift rod and complementary clearances in the shift forks (19, 19') depending on the position of the selector element and thus on a rotary angle of the shift rod.