Australia returning for Eurovision 2017

Australia will compete at the Eurovision Song Contest for the third time in May 2017.

A record high 43 countries will participate in Kyiv, equalling the total set in 2008 and 2011.

The Ukraine city fought off strong competition from Odesa and Dnipro to host the 2017 contest following Jamala’s win in Sweden this year with her song 1944. Australia finished in second place, in only its second entry.

SBS Managing Director Michael Ebeid said. “Dami Im’s magnificent Grand Final performance in Stockholm earlier this year secured Australia the runner up position on the world’s largest stage, a testament not only to her amazing singing prowess but the humbling way the European community has embraced our entry into the competition.

“Australia has celebrated Eurovision for over 30 years on SBS; this joyous event is the perfect example of the SBS charter in action with its celebration of diversity, culture, and inclusion and we are honoured to have been invited to compete once again.”

Australian Head of Delegation, Director of Blink TV, SBS’s Eurovision production partner, Paul Clarke said: “Dami Im’s performance in Stockholm felt like a truly historic moment for Australian music, a moment when Europe really opened its arms to us. We are thrilled to be back, and we can’t wait to see what’s in store for us this year.”

Australia’s return comes despite the 2015 inclusion being designate a “one-off” event for the 60th Anniversary of ESC. But SBS is also an associate member of the European Broadcasting Union and the event attracts plenty of publicity for the broadcaster.

The 43 countries includes Romania and Portugal who are returning after a year’s absence. Bosnia & Herzegovina will not participate due to restructuring within the national broadcaster BHRT. Austria, Denmark and the United Kingdom will all mark the 60th anniversary of their first participation in 1957.

Kyiv plans to host the 2017 contest at the International Exhibition Centre, the largest venue of its kind in Ukraine with capacity for 11,000 spectators. The Ukrainian capital previously hosted the Eurovision Song Contest in 2005 as well as the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in 2009 and 2013.

Jon Ola Sand, the EBU’s Executive Supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest, said: “We are delighted that 43 national broadcasters have signed up for the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest equalling our record highest participation. We have not had this many countries in one contest since 2011 in Düsseldorf. The Eurovision Song Contest still unites audiences like no other show, reaching over 200 million people in 2016. We’re looking forward to three fantastic shows in Kyiv next May”.

The live shows will take place on Tuesday 9th May (First Semi-Final), Thursday 11th May (Second Semi-Final), with the Grand Final on Saturday 13th May.

Countries represented in the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest:
Albania
Armenia
Australia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Belarus
Belgium
Bulgaria
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Georgia
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Latvia
Lithuania
F. Y. R. Macedonia
Malta
Moldova
Montenegro
The Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia
San Marino
Serbia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Ukraine
United Kingdom

Meanwhile 12 year old Alexa Curtis will represent Australia in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in Malta on November 20.

SBS has also announced an Asia-Pacific Eurovision event to be held in 2017 but is yet to release further details.