EUROVISION EXPLAINED · AUSTRALIA

Why is Australia in Eurovision?

Australia is not in Europe, but Eurovision participation has never been determined by geography alone. The key is broadcaster eligibility under the European Broadcasting Union's rules — plus Australia's unusually long relationship with the Contest.

The short answer

Eurovision is a competition between participating broadcasters, not a membership club defined only by the borders of Europe. EBU rules link eligibility to broadcasters and allow exceptional participation outside the EBU's usual territory when approved through the Contest's governance process.

Australia was a Eurovision audience long before it was a contestant

Australian broadcaster SBS began showing Eurovision in 1983. That created a large, long-running Eurovision audience on the other side of the world decades before an Australian act appeared on the scoreboard.

Australia's Eurovision country profile →

Why Australia joined in 2015

For Eurovision's 60th anniversary in Vienna, Australia received a special invitation to compete. Guy Sebastian represented the country with Tonight Again and finished fifth in the Grand Final.

The 2015 invitation was unusual in another way: Australia went directly into the Grand Final rather than qualifying through a Semi-Final.

Eurovision 2015 results →

What happened after the one-off invitation?

Australia returned after 2015 and became a recurring participant rather than disappearing after the anniversary edition. From 2016 onward, Australia had to qualify through the Semi-Finals like other countries that do not hold an automatic Grand Final place.

Dami Im immediately showed how competitive the country could be, finishing second in 2016 with Sound of Silence.

Eurovision 2016 results →

Is Australia part of the Big Five?

No. The Big Five are France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom. Their broadcasters receive automatic Grand Final places under the Contest rules, alongside the Host Broadcaster. Australia's special direct-to-final place in 2015 did not make it part of the Big Five.

What is the Eurovision Big Five? →

Could any country outside Europe enter Eurovision?

Not automatically. Geography alone does not decide eligibility, but that does not mean every broadcaster in the world can simply enter. Participation depends on EBU membership rules or an exceptional invitation/approval under the Contest's governance framework.

This distinction explains why Australia's participation does not create an automatic open door for every non-European country.

Australia at Eurovision FAQ

Why is Australia allowed in Eurovision?

Eurovision eligibility is based on participating broadcasters and EBU rules rather than a simple map of Europe. The EBU can also approve or invite broadcasters outside its usual territory in exceptional circumstances.

When did Australia first compete at Eurovision?

Australia made its Eurovision debut in Vienna in 2015 after being invited for the Contest's 60th anniversary celebrations.

Did Australia watch Eurovision before competing?

Yes. SBS had been broadcasting the Eurovision Song Contest in Australia since 1983, decades before the country first entered the competition.

Did Australia automatically qualify for the Grand Final?

Australia was placed directly in the Grand Final for its special 2015 debut. In later editions it competed through the Semi-Finals like other non-automatic finalists.