Australia’s Eurovision Comeback: SBS Secures Its Spot for Basel 2025
In a move that reignited excitement among Australian Eurovision fans, SBS has confirmed that Australia will compete at the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest in Basel, Switzerland. The big reveal took place at the annual SBS Upfronts, hosted at the iconic Sydney Opera House, where they unveiled their 2025 programming slate. This upcoming participation is doubly significant, marking both the 50th anniversary of SBS and 10 years since Australia’s groundbreaking debut at Eurovision.
Australia’s Eurovision journey has been unique from the start. Unlike European nations with automatic entry rights, Australia’s participation relies on annual special permissions from the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) since SBS is an associate member. From 2019 to 2023, the EBU granted Australia an extended pass to Eurovision, but recent years have required SBS to secure permission on an annual basis.
The Quest for a Winning Formula in Basel
Details about Australia’s selection process for Basel are still under wraps. Historically, most Aussie entries have been hand-picked via internal selection, though 2019, 2020, and 2022 allowed the public to weigh in with the national final, Eurovision – Australia Decides. There’s strong anticipation that SBS might revisit the audience-driven approach, as fans are eager to have a say in who represents them on the Eurovision stage.
2024 marked a challenging year for Australia, as the group Electric Fields, performing their song “One Milkali (One Blood),” narrowly missed the Final, placing 11th in the first Semi-Final. Despite the setback, Australia’s Eurovision fan base remains enthusiastic, remembering iconic past performances like Dami Im’s “Sound of Silence,” which earned a historic 2nd place in 2016.
Australia’s Eurovision journey has become an enduring reminder of SBS’s dedication to cultural connection and musical diversity. With 2025 around the corner, all eyes are on Basel to see if Australia will deliver another unforgettable performance.
Source: Sbs
