Why isAustrali a in Eurovision? of Australia’shistoryatEurovisio n.

The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual music competition organised by the European Broadcasting Union, which began almost 70 years ago in 1956.

What started as an experiment in live, transnational broadcasting across Europe is now the world’s longest-running annual international televised music competition! Member states of the EBU and invited associate members (see: Australia) are eligible to compete in the event, and a total of 52 nations have participated in the competition’s history.

Before we go any further, it’s common knowledge that Australia is not at all situated in (or even near) Europe. So, why on earth are we involved in Eurovision? The European Broadcasting Union’s biggest annual music event.

The short answer is, we were invited for a one-time gig, and they liked us so much that they wanted us to stay! The long answer, however, involves other details.

For that, here’s a sweet timeline of Australia’s involvement at Eurovision.

Words and Design by Harley Lorenzo Wood

Edinburgh, UK

1972

Australians take to the Eurovision stage for the first time.

Australians Peter Doyle and Marty Kristian compete in Edinburgh as part of band The New Seekers, representing the UK with Beg, Steal or Borrow. This is the first time Australians make it to the Eurovision stage.

1974

Olivia Newton-John represents the UK. Beloved Australian star, Olivia Newton-John represents the UK with Long Live Love. Olivia was born in the UK, but migrated to Australia with her family at age five. She finished 4th, behind ABBA who won with ‘Waterloo’.

Brighton, UK

Stockholm, Sweden

1975

An Australian represents the UK again. UK band, The Shadows represents the UK in Stockholm with Let Me Be the One, among them is Australian John Farrar.

Hague, Netherlands

1979

SBS joins the EBU.

The Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) was founded in 1978 to serve Australia’s growing migrant communities with multilingual programming. The following year, they joined the EBU as associate members.

1980

Australian-born Johnny Logan wins the Eurovision Song Contest.

Johnny Logan wins for Ireland with What’s Another Year?. Logan was born to Irish parents in Frankston, Victoria, Australia before migrating back to Ireland at age three. He is the first and only Australian to win the competition.

1987

Johnny Logan wins Eurovision a second time.

Johnny Logan secures another win for Ireland with Hold Me Now, becoming the first artist in history to win Eurovision twice.

Oslo

1996

1983

SBS broadcasts

Eurovision in Australia for the first time. Eurovision is hosted in Munich, Germany and is aired by SBS for the first time on Australian TV. SBS has continued to broadcast Eurovision to Australian audiences for 40 years now.

1992

Johnny Logan wins again as a songwriter.

Linda Martin wins with Why Me written by Logan, bringing him to 3 total wins - 2 as an artist and one as a songwriter.

Australian Gina G competes for the UK.

Brisbane-born Gina G goes to Eurovision, representing the UK with Ooh Aah… Just a Little Bit. Although it didn’t win in Oslo, the song went on to achieve commercial success, hitting no. 1 in the UK and no. 5 on the Australian charts.

2006

An Australian represents Germany. Jane Comerford from Newcastle competes for Germany as part of the band Texas Lightning.

2009

, Russia

Athens,

SBS sends Australia’s first full commentary team, Sam Pang and Julia Zemiro.

SBS sends Australian commentary team Sam Pang and Julia Zemiro to Moscow, covering Eurovision on the ground for Australia for the first time. They would return as SBS commentators every year until 2016.

2013

Australia appears for the first time with ‘Greetings from Australia’.

Australia makes its first broadcast appearance at Eurovision via a pre-recorded Greetings from Australia video that aired during the interval of the first semi-final in Sweden. The presentation marked 30 years of broadcasting the Eurovision Song Contest in Australia.

2014

Live Australian interval act with Jess Mauboy. Host and Danish broadcaster, DR gave SBS permission to perform as an interval act in the second semi-final of the 2014 competition. Australia sent Jess Mauboy who performed Sea of Flags live after a comic Down Under skit during the interval.

V ienna Austria 2015

Australia makes their competition debut! In commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the competition, Australia was officially invited to compete for the first time in 2015. The appearance was intended as a one-off, however Australia was later approved to participate until 2023.

2015

Guy Sebastian makes the Top 5. Guy Sebastian was chosen to compete for Australia with Tonight Again, placing 5th. He progressed straight to the grand final due to the special circumstances of Australia’s participation so as not to ‘reduce the chances’ of the existing semi-final entrants making the final.

2015

Mary-Jean O’Doherty competes for Armenia.

American-Australian Mary-Jean O’Doherty represents Armenia as part of the Armenian diaspora group Genealogy with Face the Shadow

2016

Dami Im places second with Sound of Silence. Australia is invited to return to Eurovision, sending Dami Im with Sound of Silence. After an incredible live performance, the song won second place behind winners Ukraine. Dami Im’s runner-up finish is the highest Australia’s ever placed.

2017

Anja Nissen competes for Denmark. Winner of The Voice Australia, Anja Nissen represents Denmark with Where I Am

Kyiv, U kraine

2017

Isaiah secures another Australian Top 10 result. Isaiah Firebrace is chosen as Australia’s third representing artist. He places 9th with Don’t Come Easy.

Kyiv U ine

2017

Joel and Myf replace departing Julia and Sam.

After eight years, Julia Zemiro and Sam Pang pass the commentator baton on to Joel Creasey and Myf Warhurst. The pair remain Eurovision commentators for SBS today.

2018

Jess Mauboy returns as a competitor. Jess Mauboy returns to the Eurovision stage, but this time as a competitor with We Got Love. Mauboy secured enough votes to progress to the grand final where she placed 20th.

2019

Kate Miller-Heidke defies gravity. After winning the first Australian public Eurovision selection Australia Decides, Kate Miller-Heidke took her gravity-defying staging to Tel Aviv. She finished 9th with pop-opera song Zero Gravity while flying around the stage on a giant bendy stick.

2021

Montaigne performs remotely.

After the 2020 contest was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many 2020 hopefuls recompeted in 2021 with different songs. Montaigne was no different, representing Australia with Technicolour. Due to travel restrictions at the time, Montaigne performed remotely via live video from SBS’s Sydney studio in 2021, but did not progress to the grand final.

Turin, It

2022

Sheldon Riley brings us back to the Grand Final Sheldon Riley wins the second edition of Australia Decides and goes on to perform Not The Same in Turin. He brought Australia back to the grand final for the first time since 2019, finishing 15th on the night.

2023

Andrew Lambrou competes for Cyprus. Competing for Cyprus with Break A Broken Heart, Andrew Lambrou was born in Sydney to Greek-Cypriot parents. He competed in Australia Decides in 2022.

2023

Voyager takes a Promise to Eurovision. Australia sends its first ever group act to Eurovision: Perth band Voyager, who took the runner-up spot at Australia Decides 2022. They went on to place 9th in the grand final with their song Promise.

Will Australia be back again?

2023 marks the final year of Australia’s multi-year agreement with the EBU to compete at Eurovision. An official comment from the EBU on Australia’s future at the contest is still pending as of May 2023. Fingers crossed they want us back for more!

eurovision.tv/story/australia-to-compete-in-the-2015-eurovision-song-contest en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurovision_Song_Contest aussievision.net/post/australia-s-history-with-the-eurovision-song-contest en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia_in_the_Eurovision_Song_Contest eurovision.tv/country/australia