sports
Eurovision 2026: why is Australia competing
After Goodrem’s Eclipse performance in the semi-final, the country’s odds shot up to second. But what would an Australian win mean for Eurovision – and what happens next?
TL;DR
- Delta Goodrem's performance of 'Eclipse' in the Eurovision 2026 semi-final boosted Australia's odds to second place.
- Australia's inclusion in Eurovision is attributed to its multicultural population's viewership and a business case for the EBU, which sees SBS's strong local ratings.
- The Eurovision winner is decided by a combination of jury votes and public televotes, with specific criteria like vocal capacity, performance, and song originality.
- If Australia wins Eurovision, they must co-host with a European country, likely the runner-up, due to time zone differences and Australia's associate membership status.
- Juries are unlikely to vote against Australia simply because it is not a European country, as the EBU aims to maintain the competition's objectivity.