She’s favourite to top the Jury vote which gets her close to winning Eurovision, but there’s one detail people can’t get their head around.
“How is Australia allowed to enter a European singing competition?”
It has been over 10 years since Australia was invited to join the annual contest and it’s still the burning question on everyone’s lips – today especially given Delta Goodrem has landed herself in Sunday’s grand final. And as one of the favourites to win the jury vote, no less!
Water cooler conversations around the office are dominated by the question. Social media is flooded with comments from people absolutely appalled to see us there.
“Australia shouldn’t be competing #Eurovision,” one person insisted on X.
“Eurovision is just adding anyone. Australia’s in it too. Why the f**k are we there?” another questioned.
We’re so glad you asked. And the answer is rather simple.
SBS, the national broadcaster for Eurovision, is an associate member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), allowing us to participate in the annual contest.
After broadcasting the event since 1983, Australia was invited to compete for the first time back in 2015 as a special guest for the contest’s 60th anniversary (with Australian Idol winner Guy Sebastian our token representative). Think of it as a little ‘thank you for supporting us’.
With SBS being active members of the EBU, the invitation was extended on a year-to-year basis.
Speaking to news.com.au, a SBS spokesperson said Australia’s affiliation with Europe isn’t anything new but something they’re incredibly proud of given the multicultural country we live in.
“SBS has broadcast Eurovision since 1983, fostering a uniquely strong connection between Australian audiences and the event for over 45 years. As a broadcaster that champions diversity, creativity and cultural storytelling, SBS is a natural home for Eurovision in Australia,” they said.
“Australia participates in the Eurovision Song Contest through SBS’s status as an Associate Member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the organisation behind the contest. In 2015, the EBU invited Australia to compete as a special guest for Eurovision’s 60th anniversary, recognising the country’s longstanding passion for and engagement with the competition. Australia has remained part of Eurovision ever since through ongoing agreements between SBS and the EBU.”
Dami Im, Isaiah Firebrace, Jessica Mauboy and Kate Miller-Heidke all followed in Guy’s footsteps representing Australia in previous years, with former X-Factor winner Dami getting us the closest to a win in second place with her track, Sound Of Silence.
Now, Australia waits anxiously for another run with Delta.
Speaking to the waiting media following her spectacular semi-final performance, the Born To Try songbird admitted she felt the jitters as she waiting to hear her fate.
“Oh my goodness, my heart was racing. I was like ‘ooh’. But so grateful to be going through to the grand final and really really excited to get it going,” she said.
“I’m so thankful for everyone getting up early in Australia … but we’re going to have to do it again. Get up early again!”
For diehard Eurovision fans, that isn’t even a question.
But while Aussies are hoping to bag a win, there is a downside to landing on top.
If Australia wins the competition, they are sadly unable to host the following year’s event, meaning the host country would be another European nation – and more early mornings for us viewers Down Under.
The Eurovision grand final airs on SBS and SBS On Demand at 5am AEST Sunday.
Delta Goodrem has emerged as a frontrunner to take out top honours Sunday’s Eurovision finale.
The Australian singer, 41, wowed audiences with her epic ballad Eclipse during the semi-finals on Friday morning, which propelled Australia to the grand final for the first time in three years.
Prior to the stunning performance, Eurovision World, which aggregates betting odds from a raft of sites around the world, had placed Delta as the fourth most likely to win, with an eight percent chance of glory.
However, following the semi-final, Delta’s chances have improved significantly, with the singer now ranked second most likely to win, with a 19 per cent chance.
Aussie bookmaker Sportsbet has also placed Delta as the second-favourite to win behind Finland.
She still has a fair bit of work to do, however, as Finland’s Linda Lampenius & Pete Parkkonen remain the clear favourites with a 42 per cent chance of winning Eurovision.
Former Australian Idol judge Mark Holden, credited with helping to launch Delta’s career, told the Daily Mail he believed she has what it takes to bring Australia glory.
‘Delta works at her career every single day,’ he said.
‘She has created a live gig universe for herself in Europe and I have so much respect for her work ethic and her ability to commit to it every day.
‘That’s what it takes.’
Australia joins second-round winners Ukraine, Bulgaria, Romania, Norway, Cyprus, Malta, Albania, Denmark and Czechia in the finals.
They will compete against first-round winners: Finland, Sweden, Greece, Moldova, Israel, Belgium, Serbia, Lithuania, Croatia and Poland.
Following Friday’s performance, Delta received widespread praise from Eurovision fans online.
‘So errr.. Delta Goodrem really just came out here and said “Eurovision winner? That would be me.” A vocal masterclass. Her stage presence is UNMATCHED!! Australia, 12 points!!!!’ one user enthused.
‘No doubt who gave the best performance in the two Semi Finals of the ESC – tonight Delta Goodrem knocked it out of the ball park for Australia. Repeat that on Saturday night & she has a great chance of first Aussie win,’ another agreed.
‘Delta just SMASHED the stage of #eurovision. That’s what an artist means,’ another user commented.
However, some fans have taken to social media to question Australia’s involvement in the famed song contest.
‘Need to change it to WorldVision. I’m Aussie, but come on Oz is not Europe,’ complained one X user.
‘I still don’t get why Australia is doing EUROvision,’ added one international fan on the same thread.
‘Eurovision is just adding anyone. Australia’s in it too,’ commented a third person who then moaned, ‘Why the f*** are we there?’
Australia’s participation in what was once traditionally a European event is thanks to its broadcaster Down Under – SBS.
Since the multicultural network is a member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the organisation allows Australia to compete as a ‘guest’.
‘SBS has broadcast Eurovision since 1983, fostering a uniquely strong connection between Australian audiences and the event for over 45 years,’ an SBS spokesperson explained to news.com.au.
They continued, ‘Australia participates in the Eurovision Song Contest through SBS’s status as an Associate Member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the organisation behind the contest.
‘In 2015, the EBU invited Australia to compete as a special guest for Eurovision’s 60th anniversary, recognising the country’s longstanding passion for and engagement with the competition.
‘Australia has remained part of Eurovision ever since through ongoing agreements between SBS and the EBU.’
Delta will compete in the Eurovision grand final, airing from 5am on Sunday, 17 May on SBS and SBS On Demand.
The eyes of the world will be on the Austrian capital of Vienna on Saturday night, as the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest comes to a thrilling climax with the grand final. And one of the big tips to win – Delta Goodrem from Australia – has been given a major boost to her chances of taking home the trophy.
Having excitedly accepted to perform as a guest, Australia officially competed in Eurovision for the first time in 2015, when they were represented by Guy Sebastian. Just a year later they came really close to winning, with Dami Im finishing second to Ukraine in Stockholm. The last few years haven’t been so good for the Aussies, with two non-qualifications in a row, however their fortunes have been turned around no end by ex Neighbours star Delta this time round.
As soon as she debuted her entry Eclipse at the start of March, many Eurovision fans were not only hailing it as Australia’s best song in years but also predicting it could do VERY well in Vienna. Delta was in fine form as she performed in Thursday’s second semi final and, having dipped as low as sixth in the odds earlier in the week, was put right back in contention, climbing into second with some bookies, behind long time favourites Finland.
The Eurovision 2026 final will take place at the Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna on Saturday, with Delta 8th in the running order, as fans across the globe will cast their votes. However, the jury show for this year’s contest was actually held in the arena on Friday, when juries from all the delegations cast their votes.
And it was the response to her performance in that that has given Delta a huge boost over her rivals when it matters most, with her finishing both top of polls of press and fans who watched Friday night’s show. The press poll had Delta on top on 450 points, nearly 100 ahead of Finland, in second on 354 and Bulgaria in third on 326.
She also took number 1 in the audience poll too, topping the rankings thanks to getting 562 votes from fans, with Bulgaria second on 417 and Finland third on 365.