Australia will once again compete in the Eurovision Song Contest, it has been confirmed.
Last year, Australia made its debut in the singing contest, to commemorate its 60th anniversary.
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While it was initially billed as a one-off, it has now been revealed that Australia will once again be singing for Eurovision glory in 2016, though it is yet to be decided whether this will be a permanent move for future years.
Australia will take to the stage once again
Michael Ebeid from SBS, who broadcast the annual event Down Under, said: “SBS is thrilled to have secured this opportunity for Australia to compete at Stockholm in 2016 and thank the European Broadcasting Union for their invitation.
“The Eurovision Song Contest is a wonderful example of cultural diversity and social inclusion and our continued participation offers a fantastic opportunity to showcase Australian musical talent in a truly international multicultural celebration.”
Because Australia’s involvement in future Contests is still being decided, if they’re crowned winners in 2016, the 2017 contest will be held “somewhere in Europe”, in a collaboration between SBS and a European broadcaster.
In the 2015 contest, Guy Sebastian became the first act to ever represent Australia in Eurovision, with his song ‘Tonight Again’, eventually finishing in a respectable fifth place.
Conchita Wurst, who famously won the competition in 2014, recently backed the inclusion of Australia in future years, telling Australia’s 774 Melbourne: “I think it's just necessary, basically.”
Next year’s Eurovision final will be broadcast live from Stockholm, on 14 May 2016.