Lexi Webster
Australia has never won the Eurovision Song Contest. The country first participated in 2015 with Guy Sebastian's Tonight Again, which placed fifth. Australia's highest placement to date was second place in 2016, with Dami Im's performance of Sound of Silence. Australia has placed in the top ten five times. In 2025, Australia will be represented by Go-Jo, performing Milkshake Man.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Best result | 2nd place in 2016 |
| Song for best result | "Sound of Silence" |
| Artist for best result | Dami Im |
| Number of times in the top ten | 5 |
| Number of times participated | 10 |
| First appearance | 2015 |
| Latest participation | 2025 |
| Participating broadcaster | Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) |
| Has Australia ever won Eurovision? | No |
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What You'll Learn
Australia's first Eurovision entry
Australia's first entry to the Eurovision Song Contest was in 2015, with Guy Sebastian singing "Tonight Again". Australia's participation in the 2015 contest was initially announced as a one-off event to celebrate the contest's 60th anniversary. However, due to positive feedback, Australia was invited to participate again in 2016.
Australia has a long history of enthusiasm for the Eurovision Song Contest, with SBS broadcasting the show every year since 1983. In 2009, SBS sent Julia Zemiro and Sam Pang as commentators for the first time, and they covered every contest until 2016. Over the years, Australia has also had a number of high-profile individuals compete in the contest for other nations, including Olivia Newton-John and Gina G for the United Kingdom, and Johnny Logan, a two-time winner for Ireland.
In 2014, Jessica Mauboy performed as an interval act during the semi-finals, further showcasing Australia's love for the contest. The following year, Guy Sebastian made history as Australia's first official entry to the contest, placing an impressive 5th overall. Since then, Australia has continued to participate in the contest, with their second entry, "Sound of Silence" by Dami Im, finishing as the runner-up in 2016 and making it into the list of all-time top scorers.
Australia's participation in the Eurovision Song Contest has added a unique and infectious enthusiasm to the event, and the country has consistently turned out top-class results. Despite not having won the contest yet, Australia's influence has even seeped into other countries' national finals, with Sweden's Melodifestivalen incorporating elements from Guy Sebastian's "Tonight Again" into their 2016 pre-selection.
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Australia's best result
Australia's participation in the Eurovision Song Contest has been a source of surprise and intrigue for many, given that the country is not located in Europe. However, Australia has a strong connection to the competition, with many Australians of diverse backgrounds passionately following the contest each year. In 2015, Australia was invited to participate in the 60th-anniversary competition as a one-off event to reward the country for its dedication to the contest. Guy Sebastian represented Australia with the song "Tonight Again", finishing in an impressive fifth place.
Following their success in 2015, Australia was invited back to compete in the 2016 contest, where they achieved their best result to date. Dami Im's performance of "Sound of Silence" wowed audiences and judges, and her second-place finish solidified Australia's place as a serious contender in the competition. This success continued in subsequent years, with Australia cracking the top ten four more times as of 2023.
In 2017, Isaiah Firebrace represented Australia with the song "Don't Come Easy", finishing in ninth place. In 2019, Kate Miller-Heidke's performance of "Zero Gravity" also placed ninth, marking another strong result for the country. Australia's most recent participation in the 2023 contest saw the band Voyager finish in ninth place once more with the song "Promise".
While Australia has yet to take home the top prize at Eurovision, their consistent placement in the top ten and their passionate fan base ensure that they remain a notable presence at the competition.
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Australians representing other countries
Australia has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest since 2015. The country has placed in the top 10 five times, with its best result being a second-place finish in 2016 with "Sound of Silence" performed by Dami Im.
However, Australians have represented other countries at Eurovision long before 2015. Here are some examples:
Olivia Newton-John represented the United Kingdom in 1974. Newton-John is an Australian singer, actress, and songwriter. She is known for her role as Sandy in the musical "Grease."
Johnny Logan represented Ireland in 1980 and 1987 and is a two-time winner of the contest. Logan was born in Australia to an Australian father and an Irish mother. He moved to Ireland at a young age and began his music career there.
Gina G represented the United Kingdom in 1996. She was born in Australia but moved to the UK in the 1990s to pursue a music career. Her song "Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit" became a hit in several countries, including the UK and the US.
Jane Comerford was the lead singer of Texas Lightning, who represented Germany in 2006. Comerford was born in Australia but moved to Germany in 2001, where she gained fame as the lead singer of the country music band Texas Lightning.
Peter Doyle and Marty Kristian, both Australians, represented the United Kingdom as part of the New Seekers in 1972.
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Australia's broadcaster
SBS is an associated member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Australia is the only country outside the European Broadcasting Area to have ever competed in Eurovision.
SBS received special approval from the EBU to participate in the contest. Australia's first appearance in the international broadcast of the Eurovision Song Contest occurred on 14 May 2013 during the first semi-final in Malmö, Sweden. A short pre-recorded video titled "Greetings from Australia" (also referred to as "Why Australia Loves Eurovision"), submitted by SBS and hosted by Julia Zemiro, was broadcast during the interval acts.
In 2015, Australia officially competed at Eurovision for the first time. Guy Sebastian was Australia's first-ever Eurovision entrant, with the song "Tonight Again", finishing in fifth place. Australia's best result to date was in 2016 when Dami Im finished in second place with "Sound of Silence".
SBS has continued to select Australia's entrants for Eurovision, including Isaiah Firebrace in 2017 and Go-Jo in 2025. In 2019, SBS opened up the selection process to the Australian public with a national competition, "Eurovision – Australia Decides".
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Australia's participation in 2025
Australia's participation in the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest marks its 10th year in the competition. The country first officially competed in 2015, with Guy Sebastian's performance of "Tonight Again", which placed fifth. Australia's participation in 2015 was initially announced as a one-off event to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the contest. However, Australia has since participated every year, with the exception of 2021.
Australia's best result in the competition was in 2016, when Dami Im's performance of "Sound of Silence" placed second. Australia has cracked the top ten four more times, with "Zero Gravity" by Kate Miller-Heidke and "Promise" by Voyager finishing ninth in 2019 and 2023, respectively, and "Tonight Again" by Guy Sebastian and "Don't Come Easy" by Isaiah placing fifth and ninth in 2015 and 2017, respectively.
Australia's 2025 entry is Go-Jo, who will perform the song "Milkshake Man". Go-Jo's participation has sparked interest in the country community he grew up in. His replacements, Courtney Act and Tony Armstrong, were announced just over a month before the 2025 contest.
Australia's involvement in the Eurovision Song Contest, despite being a country outside of Europe, can be attributed to various factors. Firstly, the Australian broadcaster Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) has been an associated member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and has consistently broadcast the contest since 1983. Secondly, Australia has had a strong viewing audience for the contest, with Australian artists participating in the competition as representatives of other countries before their official entry in 2015.
While there are no confirmations regarding Australia's continued participation beyond 2025, the country's decade-long involvement in the contest has contributed to its cultural and political ties with Europe.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Australia has never won Eurovision. Their highest placement was second place in 2016 with Dami Im's performance of "Sound of Silence".
Yes, Australia has placed in the top 10 five times.
Sheldon Riley represented Australia in the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest with the song "Not The Same". He placed 15th.
Guy Sebastian was Australia's first-ever Eurovision entry in 2015. He placed 5th with his song "Tonight Again".
Australia's broadcaster, Special Broadcasting Service (SBS), is an associated member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Australia is the only country outside the European Broadcasting Area to have ever competed in Eurovision.
