After a VT in Malmo in 2013 showing Europe how much Australia loves Eurovision, and having Australian superstar Jessica Mauboy (pictured above)as the interval act in the second semi-final in Copenhagen in 2014, Eurovision.tv has revealed that Australia will participate in Vienna as a competing country! A proposal was made by SBS, the Australian broadcaster, and it was accepted by the Eurovision Reference Group.

Australia will compete directly in the final and is able to vote in both semi finals, and all other competing countries are able to vote for Australia as they do for everyone else. This means that there will be 27 songs in the Grand Final on 23 May. Due to the time difference between Europe and Australia, Digame,  the EBU’s international voting partner is currently looking into possibilities to allow the Australian public to vote.

The details were revealed on Eurovision.tv this afternoon and it has already caused shockwaves among Eurovision fans.

It has been clearly stated that this is a one-off initiative to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the Eurovision Song Contest, and if Australia are lucky enough to win, the 2016 contest will be held in a European city, and will be co-hosted by SBS.

Here is Julia Zemiro from SBS explaining more:

So who will represent Australia in Vienna? That has yet to be decided, but stay tuned for more news!