Why Europe’s most famous song contest wants to put Australia centre stage

It’s no secret the Eurovision Song Contest loves a wild card. Take monster-masked death-metal rockers and off-key turkey puppets winning over audiences. Or US rapper Flo Rida co-representing the tiny nation of San Marino. We have even seen a tie for victory between not two, not three, but four countries.

Its most perplexing wild card to date, however, was arguably the decision to bring Australia, from 14,000km away, into the mix. Now, it is touring here.

Australia has been competing in the contest for nearly a decade, first appearing as a special guest in 2014 and as a permanent competitor since 2015. It’s part of the competition that some can’t wrap their heads around, but for long-time fans, it’s a no-brainer.

Australia competing in a European song contest? Eurovision superfans Matt Merlino (right) and partner Owen Lambourn are certain it makes sense.Credit: Wayne Taylor

“It’s just like, ‘why not?’” says Marcus Davey, a 46-year-old Melburnian who has seen Eurovision live several times since 2013. “We have such an ensconced history with Eurovision. SBS has been covering it for over 40 years, so it has built such a strong following all the way across the world.”

As a result, a travelling version of Eurovision – Eurovision On Tour – is coming to Australia this month, offering fans a chance to see 18 past contestants perform their hits. Australia is the only country outside Europe on the tour and the only one with multiple dates, in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.

When Australia was officially added to Eurovision in 2015, more than 4 million Australians tuned in across all three broadcasts, making it SBS’ most-watched Eurovision broadcast to date.

This figure has since dipped, with around 2.2 million people tuning into SBS’s live primetime broadcast this year. However, this is still impressive reach given no Australian artist made it to the finals, and the way in which people consume the contest is shifting (for example, more may watch it via social media).

“It’s more about attitude than geography”: Eurovision fans Marcus Davey (left) and friend Paul Basilio believe Australia was destined to be in Eurovision.Credit: Joe Armao

Australian fans aren’t just watching Eurovision; they’re hosting Eurovision dress-up competitions, planning watch parties, and forming fan clubs. Angela Cafe, a 57-year-old superfan from Sydney, hosts a Eurovision party every year and is also part of an Aussie fan club of around 600 to 800 members.

“We have friends sleep over every year before the final. Others arrive at around four in the morning the day of,” Cafe says. “We always have a theme and get dressed up. Australia’s involvement has just increased our love for Eurovision. It was always there, but now it has a beating heart.”

Fans also travel to Europe to see the song contest in person – no expense spared. Cafe says she spent between $1500 and $1800 on tickets alone to see the full week of shows (six in total) in Portugal in 2018 and again in Sweden this year. Meanwhile, Davey says he has paid about $2500 for just three shows in the past.

Angela Cafe (right) and wife Lisa Gilbert host a Eurovision watch-party every year. This year, they dressed as “Nemo” in honour of the Swiss winner.Credit: James Brickwood

Eurovision may have begun as a distinctly European competition in 1956; however, Robyn Cartwright, a 59-year-old Brisbane-based fan, says it has always resonated with Australian audiences.

“Australians have always been a bit irreverent, we love a good party and things that are slightly off-centre. To me, that describes Eurovision,” Cartwright, who saw the contest live in Sweden this year, says.

“We relate to the quirkiness of it, the sheer exuberance, the unusual outfits. And, of course, we’ve always loved a big event, the spectacle of it all.”

Davey agrees, noting that Eurovision is more attitude than geography. “Those on Eurovision aren’t afraid to take the piss out of themselves sometimes, which Australians are known for. So, it just works.”

Robyn Cartwright represented Australia with pride at Eurovision in Sweden this year.

The fact that Australia has performed so well helps build the fandom, adds 42-year-old Matt Merlino. Seven of the nine Australian contestants, including Guy Sebastian, Dami Im, Kate Miller-Heidke and Jessica Mauboy, have progressed to the final.

“Many Australians feel connected to Europe because of their cultural heritage,” Merlino says. “Eurovision also has such a strong queer community vibe, which links to Australia’s focus on diversity and acceptance. It’s just hard not to love.”

In fact, Eurovision is so popular among Australians that SBS created a spin-off, Australia Decides, to determine the country’s representative. It ran between 2019 and 2022 and was the reason many followers became “hardcore” fans.

“We’re so far removed from Europe, so it was the closest many of us could get to going to the contest,” Merlino says. “Supporting our local acts, it was such a special thing to be involved in.”

Australian fans are now planning outfits and deciding whether they’ll travel to Switzerland for Eurovision 2025 in May. If they can’t, Merlino says, there’ll be plenty of celebrations down under to suffice.

Eurovision On Tour plays in Brisbane (The Tivoli) on November 13, Melbourne (The Palais) on November 15, and Sydney (The Enmore) on November 17.